CancerCompass message board discussion started by Travelfromhm on 9/1/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15792,0.htm Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I've written a few messages is regards to my Mom's 11 year off and on battle with metastatic breast cancer. over 7 years were cancer free. her nutritional regimen is listed in those messages, I hope it helps someone. I have only received one reply, but she was thrilled that I was posting an account of her success. July 30th all blood work and CT scan showed no cancer anywhere in her body.August 12th at 10:45 pm My stepfather called me , my mom was struggling to breathe in the background. I told him not to wait for me call 911!. I live down the street and arrived in just 3 minutes. My Mother was talking but very anxious that she could not get a full breath. The 3 of us thought it was an anxiety attack, her first.When the local fire rescue EMT and one paramedic arrived, the world became surreal. They were at my Mom's house 40 minutes, never taking her vitals- except for pulse rate 240. No one took charge, I called her doctor 3x hoping to get someone to direct the paramedic. They kept badgering her to conrtol herself & her breathing, she would tell them she was trying. The EMT & Paramedic stood about five feet away chit chating and joking.Suddenly, 38 minutes into the call for EMS, Mom turned to me on her left side, she looked at me closed her eyes halfway and dropped into unconscienousness. I kind of yelled for whoever has medical training to get over here this isn't normal. When the f...ing jerks decided to take the situation seriously, they put a monitor & leds on her chest, pulse rate 30bpm. It was chaos, the EMT stopped using the ambu bag to breathe for her while he fiddled with straps on the backboard. I picked up the ambu bag and lokked at the paramedic asking what the hell while I breathed for her. There were 10 documented fire rescue people in Mother's bedroom, too many. They never gave her O2 while going from the bed to the rescue truck. We picked this medium sized town because the hospital is just 1.5 mile away. I put my dad in the front cab of the rescue truck and followed in my car. I had her registered at emergency room at least 4 minutes before they brought her from the ambulance through the doors. Paramedic riding on the gurney doing CPR - NO Oxygen!. 2 minutes later they let me in the treatment room. The doctor said CPR's been done for 15 minutes, we can't bring her back to the way she was. My beautiful, lively mother and friend was gone- onto glory! With victory over cancer, her heart had been affected. We had a really fun day shopping that Sunday & having lunch, & making plans.Please, please realize that the treatments have side effects, her oncologist & my sister the nurse reckon she started throwing bloodclots in the last 24 hours. Please include a regular checkup with a cardiologist to track your heart's health. think of it like a mamogram. If you're undergoing chemo infusion (even hormone inhibitor), radiation fractions, or have undergone these things to fight cancer, just imagine what stress is being added to your daily life and body. Remember the heart!!!!!! AND LUNGS!! Meanwhile, as my whole family grieves from the shock of losing such a courageous cancer survivor, remember there are nutritional choices to help compliment the conventional treatments and defeat the cancer. Next week when we receive the death certificates, well lets just say, I 've got legitimate reasons to demand the firing of the paramedic and on scene commander. I want to reduce the chances of another woman's physical cardiac arrest symptoms being reduced by discrimination and disparate judgements as another anxious, over emotional woman. Thank you Jesus for taking her so calmly to eternity.  Travelfromhm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT I am so sorry that no one has responded to you. I am also a nurse and am sorry that you were so poorly treated by the medical community.You are sending a good warning to everyone. People don't realize that treatment for cancer is a killer. The hope is that the cancer is killed before the patient. Which was not true for one of my very best and most important friends. So again I thank you. freckles39 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT i like to read thru the message board to get suggestions and get encouragement from those who have it to offer.  I read your story & it brings me to tears. I can't imagine what like would be like for my newly diagnosed mother.  .. I applaud your courage to talk about it!.. This will definitly be something i share w/ my mom & make sure we get done annually.  Again thank you.... support system 4 mom Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 9/19/2007 support system 4 mom wrote:i like to read thru the message board to get suggestions and get encouragement from those who have it to offer.  I read your story & it brings me to tears. I can't imagine what like would be like for my newly diagnosed mother.  .. I applaud your courage to talk about it!.. This will definitly be something i share w/ my mom & make sure we get done annually.  Again thank you....Hi,I just had to reply to you. Most patients put their trust in their PCP to coordinate treatment or referrals during their battle(s), with cancer. I would advise a patient, or their advocate to identify gaps  - they are there. Take notes at appointments & discuss them among your Mother's support group. Have questions identified for the oncologist. They may try to put the Kbash on your questions as though they are the Great and Powerful Oz, but this is real life and it's your Mom! Ask for a consultation with a cardiologist, and ask to have them included in the treatment team, notified when drug or other therapies are prescribed. Oncology- Cancer Battle Central, Cardiology- Heart - Cancer Battle Command Center. I wish the best for your Mother, and I want to really encourage you, your family and your Mom... There's a ton of HOPE, Information and PROMISE to aid her in her strategy building to beat Cancer! If you would like to read about my Mother's nutritional regimen, it's available under breast cancer and/or nutrition (I think). It wasn't bizzarre or outlandish, and it helped give her 12 more years. It may help give someone else 20+ more years.Good Luck, Strong Heart, God be with you!,   Joan  Travelfromhm Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT