Guest HerSon Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 After weeks in the ICU, my mom finally lost her battle. She was diagnosed with NSCLC Stage III in Nov. '03, and had been staying in a rehab center while getting radiotherapy. The doctor was horrible and did little to help her with the pain. The final blow was the day she fell down and had slurred speach, and was sent to the ER. Instead of evaluating her for possible stroke, the doctor discharged her! Next morning she went into respiratory arrest from a stroke, and spent weeks on a ventilator, with the docs all trying to convince me to withdraw life support! Why do doctors all just give up on LC patients? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 So sorry-- I wish there were words to convey how badly I feel for you and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 So sorry about your mom, and especially the way she was treated. She deserved much better. It irks me too that many doctors and staff have the attitude that if you have LC, you're terminal, so let's get on with preparing for the death. When my wife contracted pneumonia last August, there were staff who were ready to put her in hospice care. She showed them! I guess we have to continually educate these people and bring them into the 21st century. My heartfelt sympathies on your loss. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 I, too, am so very sorry for your loss. Come back and let us know how you are doing. God bless you, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 I am so sorry for your loss of your beloved mother. Even more, I am sorry her final days were not as peaceful as they should and her care was less than deserved. I wish I had an answer for your questions. I wish I knew why doctors continue to practice medicine long after their passion for healing and their empathy for patients has died. I realize that doctors need to distance themselves from patients otherwise they would experience too much pain and loss in their professions, but I wish I knew why some doctors equate distance with giving up and not trying or caring for patients on at least the minimum acceptable level that all humans deserve. Too many times, I've heard of patients being treated as less than beings who possess feelings, fears, and needs. I don't know why it happens, but it is too common. I am sorry your sweet mother had to be one of those who suffered at the hands of a heartless doctor. Try not to dwell on the details of her passing. It serves no purpose to hold that anger inside and feeling bitter. I'm sure your mother loved you very much and would want you to heal and live life to its fullest in her memory. Honor her by being the person she always loved and wished for you. The grief is enormous and normal. But she will always be with you, and is free from pain now. Love is a bond that can never be broken regardless of distance or death. You are in my prayers Carleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HerSon Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 Thank you everyone for your kind words. An attorney told me that many doctors do not want to treat coexisting medical conditions in LC patients who they consider to be terminal, because hospitals lose money on medicare patients (especially in ICU). It's also difficult to prosecute such cases against hospitals, Drs. and insurance companys. I am going to try to find an attorney to respresent me though, and will file a complaint with the State dept. of health and medical board. If I can't find a lawyer to represent me, I will file the suit myself. Something has got to be done to protect cancer patients from doctors who will just give up on them, and destroy even their small chances of recovery or survival. It's insane to let Medicare spend untold thousands of dollars on radiation and chemo treatments, only to let the patient die of another medical condition that could have been treated! Perhaps all the people who have lost relatives because of a doctor giving up on them should unite and start a class action suit, and maybe then we can protect future cancer patients from being given up for dead. Thanks again for all your kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 So sad. I am sorry you lost your Mom. It just may be that the lung cancer caused the stroke. Tumors cause changes in the clotting mechanism which lead to blood clots. If they travel,they go to the lungs or brain. Many people find out they have lung cancer because they have had clots. It seems that you are saying that her clots or stroke was never treated? So sad. Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 How very sad and hard for you to lose your mother...especially under the circumstances you describe. I wish I could ameliorate your pain, but can only offer my condolences. Wishing you the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaf Posted April 26, 2004 Share Posted April 26, 2004 I am very sorry for your loss. I am glad you are going to make every attempt to let that doctor know how wrong he was. I know this makes it that much harder for you at this time. Sending prayers your way. Dona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolsdaughter Posted April 27, 2004 Share Posted April 27, 2004 To Herson, I am so sorry for the untimely loss of your mother. I can feel your pain. Your mother was treated unfairly and thus you will never really know what may have been. I have also felt a similar anger with doctors. My mom had a physical in Jan 03 and everything was GREAT! Before the end of March 03 she was gone! This same doctor had been treating her for YEARS and HE KNEW of her health history still he did nothing to detect the cancer until in Feb she had such pain in her side she couldn't move. The cancer had spread to her rib and caused it to break! Stupid Pathetic Doctor. Becareful who you trust with your life ((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))) Shelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 27, 2004 Share Posted April 27, 2004 It often appears that Doctors give up on anything that is going to take any effort. This of course is not all doctors, but I have experienced my share of the slackers. It is both the patient and the doctors responsibility to work on the problem together and try to reach a viable treatment, however it doesn't seem your mom was given that opportunity. Oncologist are exactly that and nowhere in their title does it say Lung Cancer Specialist. That is why it is very important to have communities for caregivers and patients to be able to talk to others having the same problem and take the valuable information back to their doctor. It is ashame that their titles dont say Lung Cancer Specialist, seeing that there are every other kind of specialists out there and Lung Cancer should be included. Sorry for Ranting, however when I read your post, it really made me angry at the medical profession and their lack of compassion when it comes to LC. I am sorry for your loss and the complete frustration surrounding the circumstances. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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