Aa
Anyone that can quell my fear...Please Help???
Once again, I write because I feel so helpless and truly need a shoulder upon which to cry!
Some may recall when posing questions in an earlier thread back in January….problems encountered with my brother’s miss-diagnosis and how all the medical fraternity involved with his problems/illness gave him the run-around! After a lot of “untruths” trying to cover their failings and inadequacies, my brother’s diagnosis was finally given to him by his own GP, this being 9 months post an eight week stay in hospital, numerous MRI scans, tests etc, etc……..as a very rare form of Hepatocellular carcinoma, prognosis terminal max 12+ months.
That was just 5 weeks ago!!!! Sadly, the news was given in such an uncaring and blunt manner, which led from a question posed by my brother…, and so very characteristic off the complete medical profession involved with his miss-diagnosis, feet shuffling, passing the buck, and shifting responsibility….nobody has done a thing to help him!
Sadly, his face is getting so very thin, drawn & yellow whilst his body exploding outwards due to what they called lymphedema. In the speight of four weeks, he has gained approx 10-12 inches on his waistline, his legs look like the elephant man and he is getting very weak and tired due to weight of swelling and appears to be going downhill very fast! Unlike the US, nobody appears to be doing anything to help or comfort him, not even giving the basic duty of care that every human being is entitled to receive!
Luckily, with God on his side, he was able to make his wedding last week. However, this weekend a marriage blessing was due to take place but currently looks as though this is now off the agenda and will not be able to go ahead due to my brother feeling so weak and ill!
Just yesterday, they (brother and wife) had to call an emergency medic, as his own GP seems to have abandoned him (suppose he is only worried about draining his budget!). The doctor gave him tablets in order to try to reduce fluid retention; others to reduce pain experienced in his chest and side and in general, tried to make him a little more comfortable…yet another failing by his own GP! The medic told my brother he thought pain was due to fluid now having reached his lungs, which in turn is pressing against his chest cavity causing the pain. He left informing them he was going to contact the local hospice himself so that they could monitor his drugs. He also told them; whilst my brother felt he was able to cope, he would not have to go in????
Today, my brother says he now feels like death warmed up, very weak & sleepy and very unsteady on his feet and light-headed as though he is floating on air, which he thinks is the cancer having travelled. Due to which, they phoned his GP and despite my brother being so very ill, his GP requested to see him at his surgery tomorrow....not that he will duly visit my brother in his home… obviously a such a very caring, conscientious man!!!!!!
….. from being given a year plus to live, it now appears to me to be just weeks away if not days away!!! I do so hope I’m wrong….Both my head and especially my heart are exploding with living grief...
…Is this now truly the start of the beginning of the end?
Some may recall when posing questions in an earlier thread back in January….problems encountered with my brother’s miss-diagnosis and how all the medical fraternity involved with his problems/illness gave him the run-around! After a lot of “untruths” trying to cover their failings and inadequacies, my brother’s diagnosis was finally given to him by his own GP, this being 9 months post an eight week stay in hospital, numerous MRI scans, tests etc, etc……..as a very rare form of Hepatocellular carcinoma, prognosis terminal max 12+ months.
That was just 5 weeks ago!!!! Sadly, the news was given in such an uncaring and blunt manner, which led from a question posed by my brother…, and so very characteristic off the complete medical profession involved with his miss-diagnosis, feet shuffling, passing the buck, and shifting responsibility….nobody has done a thing to help him!
Sadly, his face is getting so very thin, drawn & yellow whilst his body exploding outwards due to what they called lymphedema. In the speight of four weeks, he has gained approx 10-12 inches on his waistline, his legs look like the elephant man and he is getting very weak and tired due to weight of swelling and appears to be going downhill very fast! Unlike the US, nobody appears to be doing anything to help or comfort him, not even giving the basic duty of care that every human being is entitled to receive!
Luckily, with God on his side, he was able to make his wedding last week. However, this weekend a marriage blessing was due to take place but currently looks as though this is now off the agenda and will not be able to go ahead due to my brother feeling so weak and ill!
Just yesterday, they (brother and wife) had to call an emergency medic, as his own GP seems to have abandoned him (suppose he is only worried about draining his budget!). The doctor gave him tablets in order to try to reduce fluid retention; others to reduce pain experienced in his chest and side and in general, tried to make him a little more comfortable…yet another failing by his own GP! The medic told my brother he thought pain was due to fluid now having reached his lungs, which in turn is pressing against his chest cavity causing the pain. He left informing them he was going to contact the local hospice himself so that they could monitor his drugs. He also told them; whilst my brother felt he was able to cope, he would not have to go in????
Today, my brother says he now feels like death warmed up, very weak & sleepy and very unsteady on his feet and light-headed as though he is floating on air, which he thinks is the cancer having travelled. Due to which, they phoned his GP and despite my brother being so very ill, his GP requested to see him at his surgery tomorrow....not that he will duly visit my brother in his home… obviously a such a very caring, conscientious man!!!!!!
….. from being given a year plus to live, it now appears to me to be just weeks away if not days away!!! I do so hope I’m wrong….Both my head and especially my heart are exploding with living grief...
…Is this now truly the start of the beginning of the end?
Thank you for responding…
... whilst my brother was still feeding well, still active and fending for himself, defection changed from extremely loose to almost constipation level. The day I emailed, I was in sheer desperation as he had pain in his back, had discomfort in his chest, and had effort with his breathing. An emergency medic was called. He said my brother had fluid on his lungs. However, next morning, his own GP visited and said he had not and that the other Dr did not know what he was talking about, he did not know my brother's medical history or case so how could he possibly make a correct diagnosis!
Early hours of that morning, the emergency Medic had to be called again upon which the decision was made to call an ambulance. He felt my brother needed to be hospitalised as in his expert opinion, my brother did have fluid on the lungs. Upon its arrival, my brother walked down the stairs, was chatting etc; he stayed in hospital for the duration of the night, transferred onto a ward in the morning. At approx 2.00pm the hospital then decided to transfer him to Willen Hospice (5 miles away); they said he would be more comfortable. He arrived at 2.30pm they settled him in and made him comfortable….at 3pm….my lovely kind brother fell into eternal sleep!!!!!!!
Ironically…… the date & time I and my youngest son nearly died during his birth - eighteen years ago….so he passed on my sons eighteenth birthday…
The hospice told us that he died due to his kidney’s failing….potassium levels – sky-high! However, this is not reflected on his death certificate, there is no mention of kidneys…it only states he died of hepatocellular cancer. I understood, by law, the actual/correct cause of death has to be stated on certification???
This now raises very big questions….Did the drugs that were not monitored on his release from hospital cause the cancer/kidney failure? They (hospital doctors – confirmed by the hospice) are quite adamant that cancer was not present during his initial stay in hospital…these drugs were given upon his release?? His own GP states that he was give a far too higher dose of this drug, which caused his kidney’s to shrink. Did the hospital think they could be sued for negligence, so hence transferred him to the hospice obviously knowing full well he was about to die…thus avoiding the need for a post mortem???????
... whilst my brother was still feeding well, still active and fending for himself, defection changed from extremely loose to almost constipation level. The day I emailed, I was in sheer desperation as he had pain in his back, had discomfort in his chest, and had effort with his breathing. An emergency medic was called. He said my brother had fluid on his lungs. However, next morning, his own GP visited and said he had not and that the other Dr did not know what he was talking about, he did not know my brother's medical history or case so how could he possibly make a correct diagnosis!
Early hours of that morning, the emergency Medic had to be called again upon which the decision was made to call an ambulance. He felt my brother needed to be hospitalised as in his expert opinion, my brother did have fluid on the lungs. Upon its arrival, my brother walked down the stairs, was chatting etc; he stayed in hospital for the duration of the night, transferred onto a ward in the morning. At approx 2.00pm the hospital then decided to transfer him to Willen Hospice (5 miles away); they said he would be more comfortable. He arrived at 2.30pm they settled him in and made him comfortable….at 3pm….my lovely kind brother fell into eternal sleep!!!!!!!
Ironically…… the date & time I and my youngest son nearly died during his birth - eighteen years ago….so he passed on my sons eighteenth birthday…
The hospice told us that he died due to his kidney’s failing….potassium levels – sky-high! However, this is not reflected on his death certificate, there is no mention of kidneys…it only states he died of hepatocellular cancer. I understood, by law, the actual/correct cause of death has to be stated on certification???
This now raises very big questions….Did the drugs that were not monitored on his release from hospital cause the cancer/kidney failure? They (hospital doctors – confirmed by the hospice) are quite adamant that cancer was not present during his initial stay in hospital…these drugs were given upon his release?? His own GP states that he was give a far too higher dose of this drug, which caused his kidney’s to shrink. Did the hospital think they could be sued for negligence, so hence transferred him to the hospice obviously knowing full well he was about to die…thus avoiding the need for a post mortem???????
Hi
Its a very uncaring world we live in, I pray for you and your brother, I too am going thru a hard time.. We had an excellent surgeon when my husband had cancer, and he is now been tested to see if it has reccured as his cea is up.....but these doctors are not like the first one, he was so caring. Keep the faith and try to help your brother is this time of ordeal.
Miri
Its a very uncaring world we live in, I pray for you and your brother, I too am going thru a hard time.. We had an excellent surgeon when my husband had cancer, and he is now been tested to see if it has reccured as his cea is up.....but these doctors are not like the first one, he was so caring. Keep the faith and try to help your brother is this time of ordeal.
Miri
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Cancer Community
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
New cervical cancer screening guidelines change when and how women should be tested for the disease.
They got it all wrong: Why the PSA test is imperative for saving lives from prostate cancer
Everything you wanted to know about colonoscopy but were afraid to ask
A quick primer on the different ways breast cancer can be treated.
Get the facts about this disease that affects more than 240,000 men each year.
