Doc Is Waiting To Long?

Just found out my friend has liver cancer. Been reading online for the past 24 hours trying to learn anything I can. His Doc is waiting over 30 days to start treatment, all tests are done and my friend feels great so that just seems like wasted time. He is late stage and it's my understanding that the cancer spreads much faster at end stage....just does not make sence. He has no insurance but the hospital helped him apply for medicaid, could the good Doc be waiting for the medicaid to kick in. He told his girlfriend that if he can't make it till the end of the month, no need in doing anything. Heartless, rude and unprofessional way to answer her and still did not say why he is waiting. Anyone have any thoughts? Just seems to me the sooner the treatment starts the better the chances of slowing the cancer cells. Am I just tired, worn out and wanting him better now, or does what I think make perfect sence?

I'm with you.  I sometimes think that the docs just care about the insurance.  I'm in my 40's now, but sit and think that I wish I would have went into oncology or something like that to help people and try to make a way to help people that needs help that does not have insurance or alot of money. 

Cynthia

 

 

 

On 8/3/2007 SAVEMYFRIEND wrote:

Just found out my friend has liver cancer. Been reading online for the past 24 hours trying to learn anything I can. His Doc is waiting over 30 days to start treatment, all tests are done and my friend feels great so that just seems like wasted time. He is late stage and it's my understanding that the cancer spreads much faster at end stage....just does not make sence. He has no insurance but the hospital helped him apply for medicaid, could the good Doc be waiting for the medicaid to kick in. He told his girlfriend that if he can't make it till the end of the month, no need in doing anything. Heartless, rude and unprofessional way to answer her and still did not say why he is waiting. Anyone have any thoughts? Just seems to me the sooner the treatment starts the better the chances of slowing the cancer cells. Am I just tired, worn out and wanting him better now, or does what I think make perfect sence?

hi there

i know exactly how you feel.

my dad got sick suddenly late january after the doctors having theyre suspicions as to what he had they should have done something straight away they delayed treating him and he quickly deteriorated he passed away on april the 14th. the doctors were heartless. We didnt want him to know how serious his condition was but i now think that my dad knew.

we kept saying to him that they were going to fix him and he would be alright but in the end my beautiful dad suffered and slipped away from us so quickly.

Call the oncologist and/or the nurse treating the patient and say that you want to know why he is waiting for 30 days to begin treatment because you don't understand the wait.  You don't say what the treatment is going to be but I presume it is some sort of chemotherapy.  Someone treating him should be able to tell you the reason for the wait.  If you are not satisfied with the response, you can try to get an appointment with another oncologist.  Also, some drug companies supplying chemotherapy regimens have programs to supply the drugs to those with financial need.  Ask about this as a possibility as well.  Be a firm but aggressive advocate in seach of answers.

 

 

On 8/4/2007 Athena wrote:

Call the oncologist and/or the nurse treating the patient and say that you want to know why he is waiting for 30 days to begin treatment because you don't understand the wait.  You don't say what the treatment is going to be but I presume it is some sort of chemotherapy.  Someone treating him should be able to tell you the reason for the wait.  If you are not satisfied with the response, you can try to get an appointment with another oncologist.  Also, some drug companies supplying chemotherapy regimens have programs to supply the drugs to those with financial need.  Ask about this as a possibility as well.  Be a firm but aggressive advocate in seach of answers.

 

Thanks for the advise. This is all so overwhelming, a few days ago life was normal, now it's anything but. I can't help but feel so much for these poor unfortunate souls who have been struck with this horrible disease. I am in a daze and can't even imagine what it is like for them to have to deal with actually having cancer and trying to learn all they can. I just want to learn all I can to help my friend to know what to do next, I'm afraid I am failing him because I don't know what to do.  God help us all. Thanks

You are not failing your friend because you are there and trying to learn as much as you can to help him or her.  That support is enormous in itself.  There are no answers to this horrible disease as far as I have been able to discern, though some are fortunate enough to be able to have a transplant or resection.  But most will not qualify for those procedures.  Do the best that you can.  It is a difficult disease and things do not get any easier as the days and months pass.  But by being there, you will be helping so much.