Penni - Question for you

[Iluvharleys 15]

My nephew just stopped in here and said his girlfriend's best friend called her the other day and said her side was hurting a little. She decided to go to the Doctor and have it checked. Her Doctor said she is full of cancer and had one week to live. She has a couple of small children (she is about 30-35) and told the Doctor she was going to take her children on a curise. He told her she better take someone with her because she probably wouldn't make it back.

I have been so upset since I heard this, and I don't even know her. It just breaks my heart.

My question is: Wouldn't she feel something before that? Or was she just denying any signs? That is pretty scary to think you could just get a small pain in your side and be told you have a week to live.

Betty

[Vera 7]

Betty

So sorry to hear of this, My thoughts are with you.

Last year I had some nipple pain and demanded a mamogram immediately! After the tests the doctor explained that some cancers have no pain involved. It's pretty scary. Everything was fine

I'm sure Penni knows more....

[LOVEMEACB4E 0]

I'M SORRY TO HERE ABOUT THAT. I ALMOST STARTED CRYING WHEN I READ IT. SOMETIMES YOU MAY NOT RELIZE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG UNITL IT IS TO LATE. I AM A FRIM BELIEVER THAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON. WHEN THE LORD CALLS ON YOU,YOU MUST GO. BUT I THINK SHE SHOULD GET A SECOND OPINION IMMEDIATLY. MABYE THEY CAN DO SOMETHING TO SOOTHE THE PAIN OR EXTEND HER LIFE OR CURE HERE. I WILL KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN MY PRAYERS.

GOD BLESS!

[Iluvharleys 15]

This is a sad story, but it is not one of my family members. I have never met this person, it is just that my heart goes out to her. I just can't imagine someone telling you you have a week or less to live. I just can't seem to get her off my mind. It is funny how you can feel that way without even meeting the person.

Thanks for you kind words.

Betty

[La_madam 20]

It can happen Betty..My 17yr old son had a pain in his shoulder..10 days later it was a tumor the size of a deflated basketball, only through them trying chemo did he live 9 weeks otherwise he would of died sooner. He died 9 weeks from the day he was diagnosed. He had such a rare fast spreading cancer there was nothing they could do, it took them a week to figure out what kind of cancer it really was..it was such a rare cancer that a 17yr old having it the docs told us his chances of getting struck by lightning were greater..I'm sorry to hear of your news..I know how devastating it can be trust me I do. I had 2 children with cancer at the same time, one lived and one died. 2 totally diffeent types of cancer. Do they know what type of cancer she has..my son had liposarcoma it is approx 2% (only 600-770 cases of it in the world a year we were told) of all cancers and it happens in your soft tissue (fatty areas) arms, legs and stomach and usually in people in their 50's & 60's not a 17 yr old and it spreads like a wild fire, my sons spread to his lungs, liver and the tumor was so large growing so fast daily it was splitting him in 2 all of this occured in the first 2 weeks he was diagnosed, the chemo for the next 6 weeks was the only thing that kept him alive that long .....I will pray for her

[Iluvharleys 15]

I don't know what kind she has, I was just told about her this morning. Michelle, I am sorry about your son. That must have been really hard for you. Thank you for answering my question. It was really hard for me to believe it could happen so fast and without any pain. That gal must be going through hell right now knowing she hasn't even had time to prepare. I am praying for her too.

Betty

[Penni60 45]

Betty: SOrry I just read this post. And to answer your question yes it can happen that fast. I do agree with the Doctor to have her take someone with her just in case. I do think it was highly insensitive and unprofessional for a doctor to give a definitive time frame as to when she will die. NO ONE can predict that. We can all speculate based on what we experience. I worked for 8 years as a Cancer nurse and could sometimes come with in 24 hours of someone passing. I could never ever predict and NOT even a Cancer Doctor can predict within much more than 24 hours.

I certainly would suggest for her to get a second opinion IMMEDIATELY. And yes, sometimes cancer's show no signs of pain or the person simply ignores the signs and symptoms. Some Leukemias and Lymphoma cancers can simply show initial signs of Flu like symptoms. It is so important to be IN TUNE with your body and know when something is wrong.

My heart goes out to her and her family. Being told you have cancer is one thing but being told you have a week to live is another entirely. That just makes me mad. You have two extremes wiht Cancer docs and some nurses. The kind like your friend has experienced, the "doom and gloom" and the other more hurtful kind, the rosy "everything can be treated no matter what and we will do EVERYTHING to keep you alive" kind.

FInd out what kind of cancer she has and encourage her to get a second opinion IMMEDIATELY. She should still go on that cruise but only after the second opinion.

HOpe this helps.

[Iluvharleys 15]

Thanks Penni - I am going to call my nephew and tell him to inform her she really needs a second opinion. I would always get a second opinion, I have seen too many doctors that didn't know what they were doing.

Thanks again,

Betty

[Iluvharleys 15]

Well, I just called him and told him to have her get another opnion. He said she has it everywhere, all her internal organs, and also has two large ones in her brain. They also think she has had one stroke because of it. I guess maybe the Doctor knew what he was talking about. I am beginning to think she just ignored some of the signs now that I have learned she has had a stroke. My heart goes out to her.

Betty

[New Hope 37]

What a sad story! My heart goes out to her and her family. It's so scary knowing that our health can drastically change without any notice.

[Alexandra 55]

Oh, wow, this is so heartbreaking. As a mom my heart goes out to the children, what a terrible tragedy for a young family.

For any family, of course. Michelle, my soul hurts for what your family must have gone through. What pain and trauma.

I guess it was some time back but I still wish your family much peace and healing.

[hagerteresa 3]

My older brother was diagnosed with nueroblastoma when he was right around 6 years old. I was only 2. I guess that is another form of cancer that is rare in children that young but it had spread thru him like wildfire too. Very painful for my parents. That is awful about this family. I sure feel for them. Teresa