Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxe.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihuxe!chrz
From: chrz@ihuxe.UUCP (p. chrzanowski)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Cnacer, and physician arrogance.
Message-ID: <1219@ihuxe.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Sep-85 15:12:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxe.1219
Posted: Tue Sep 17 15:12:57 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 04:17:46 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 34

*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***


  I have cancer.  I was diagnosed 29 months ago, at age 35, as
  having metastatic (stage III) seminoma.  I was initially treated
  with chemo (cisplatin and VP-16) and a lymphadenectomy; this bought
  me a one year full remission.  Since then I have had 2 additional
  metastasis.  Both of these spread through the lymph; one was needle
  biopsied as "pure seminoma", and both were successfully treated with
  radiation.

  Having discussed this with several M.D.s, I have been told that I
  can probably expect more metastases, more remissions, but not long
  term survival.

  Info I would like is:

   1. If anyone has had similar experiences, perhaps they could be shared.
   2. Info on any experimental treatments from which I might benefit.

  Info of the "wholistic" kind will not be appreciated.  I read some
  of this stuff once; it read rather like Von Daniken's
  Chariot_of_the_Gods:  a mass of self-serving non-logic based on an
  absence of evidence.

  I have had to shop for M.D.s, and not just for competence.
  Altogether too many have felt that info about MY body, which I paid
  for, belongs to THE DOCTOR, not to ME!!  I'd guess full disclosure
  is more of a problem with serious illnesses; some M.D.s apparently have
  the opinion that it is their right to decide if the patient can handle 
  really bad news.

  Comments and/or methods of dealing with this sort of physician
  arrogance would also be appreciated.