Stargazer Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 This is an update of my topic Colon Cancer from back in November 2012. It has been written: "On Saturday my dear wife, who had been dealing with bad anemia and an apparent intestinal tract infection (on top of her colon tumor), spiked a fever into the 105 degree territory, despite a course of antibiotics prescribed for the infection. I called 911 and she was transported to the hospital. They brought her fever down and did some extensive testing to find out the cause of the trouble. They finally discovered it, and it wasn't good news." The above is actually from a post on my personal blog, and if you want the bad news in full, go read it by clicking HERE. But in short, my wife now wears a permanent colostomy bag because she trusted in so-called "alternative" treatments for cancer. Granted that medical treatments for cancer don't always work, they do have a much better track record. For those who are not blinded by quackery, that is. Not stated in my blog entry is this: I AM VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. ANGRY AT THE QUACKS AND THEIR SHILLS, AND ANGRY AT THE GULLIBLE, WHO BELIEVE DESPITE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. It is well that this life is not all there is.
3DOP Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 This is an update of my topic Colon Cancer from back in November 2012. It has been written: "On Saturday my dear wife, who had been dealing with bad anemia and an apparent intestinal tract infection (on top of her colon tumor), spiked a fever into the 105 degree territory, despite a course of antibiotics prescribed for the infection. I called 911 and she was transported to the hospital. They brought her fever down and did some extensive testing to find out the cause of the trouble. They finally discovered it, and it wasn't good news." The above is actually from a post on my personal blog, and if you want the bad news in full, go read it by clicking HERE. But in short, my wife now wears a permanent colostomy bag because she trusted in so-called "alternative" treatments for cancer. Granted that medical treatments for cancer don't always work, they do have a much better track record. For those who are not blinded by quackery, that is. Not stated in my blog entry is this: I AM VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. ANGRY AT THE QUACKS AND THEIR SHILLS, AND ANGRY AT THE GULLIBLE, WHO BELIEVE DESPITE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. It is well that this life is not all there is. Stargazer hey. May God bless your good wife. I feel your heartache. When our first baby was born, we were listening to quacks. Irene had constant congestion in her chest, and we took her to these people who prescribed some kind of medicine that my medical insurance refused to pay for...rightfully so. Out of our own meagre pockets we bought a bunch of "R-1", "R-8", and even after pouring "R-49" down our poor girl's throat, there was no change at all. But we had friends who had a baby about the same time and told us about this doctor. He was called a pediatrician and didn't have a bunch of chairs set up in his office where you sat down as you would if you needed to go number 2, while they sent "colon cleanser" up your you-know-what. Dr. Paul reminded me of the regular doctor that delivered me and that my parents took me to when I was young. He gave us antibiotics for Irene's respiratory problems, and she was okay in a few days. I have not been very interested in herbs and spices, or coffee enemas as medical remedies since. Maybe our experiences were uniquely negative. But it is a serious question, and if I ever have to make a decision about a really serious medical condition for myself or a loved one, you confirm my experiences which make me lean towards trusting only those medical authorities and procedures which my insurance will pay for.
Stargazer Posted July 29, 2014 Author Posted July 29, 2014 Stargazer hey. May God bless your good wife. I feel your heartache. When our first baby was born, we were listening to quacks. Irene had constant congestion in her chest, and we took her to these people who prescribed some kind of medicine that my medical insurance refused to pay for...rightfully so. Out of our own meagre pockets we bought a bunch of "R-1", "R-8", and even after pouring "R-49" down our poor girl's throat, there was no change at all. But we had friends who had a baby about the same time and told us about this doctor. He was called a pediatrician and didn't have a bunch of chairs set up in his office where you sat down as you would if you needed to go number 2, while they sent "colon cleanser" up your you-know-what. Dr. Paul reminded me of the regular doctor that delivered me and that my parents took me to when I was young. He gave us antibiotics for Irene's respiratory problems, and she was okay in a few days. I have not been very interested in herbs and spices, or coffee enemas as medical remedies since. Maybe our experiences were uniquely negative. But it is a serious question, and if I ever have to make a decision about a really serious medical condition for myself or a loved one, you confirm my experiences which make me lean towards trusting only those medical authorities and procedures which my insurance will pay for. Thankyou. I do not discount some alternative therapies for some ailments. One of the antibiotics which have helped my wife with her infections in the past days is derived from an herb, after all! I also recall that my great grandmother was prescribed and used the drug digitalis for her heart condition, and this is a drug which derives from the foxglove plant (which grows all over Washington state, including in my backyard). There are certainly other herbs which are genuinely useful in medicine, and these generally get undeserved short shrift from many conventional practitioners. But quackery is quackery. The treatment modality you describe in your daughter's case sounds just like one of those concoctions that are rightly labelled snake oil. It is true that some things that medical insurers won't pay for are nevertheless effective, even if not yet generally recognized as such, but one must be supremely careful!
sheilauk Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 Sorry to hear of your wife's health problems. My prayers for you and your family. I understand how "quackery" would make you angry though some alternative therapies can be useful, I go to a chiropractor who helps with my back complaint more than doctors do. But I agree with you, you need to be careful and modern medicine is usually best.
Mola Ram Suda Ram Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 I could go on about this quackery too. Drives me nuts. There is a reason that we have doctors. Perhaps more people should start using them. This is directed to people in my family that chose not to after years and years and years of trying "alternative Chinese medicine".
ERayR Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 Stargazer sorry to hear of your wife's medical problems. I understand, my wife went through serious, chronic health problems for years. May you both have the blessings of comfort and patience.
bluebell Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 I'm so sorry stargazer. I remember when you first wrote about this and how afraid you were because your wife was only interested in "unconventional" treatment. This new turn of events must be a very bitter pill for you to swallow. How is she handling it?
juliann Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 My husband died of colon cancer, I know how debilitating it is and how difficult it is to watch. And you are due to be angry. 1
mtomm Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 I do not blame you for being angry. That's a rough thing to deal with. I wish you and your wife all the best.
Kenngo1969 Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) Condolences to you and your wife, Stargazer. Although I have no direct experience with cancer, I know enough to know that it's a cruel disease. While I (in my limited, second-hand perspective) disagree, I understand why someone might think that the cure is worse than the disease. While all of my health experiences involve "quality of life" issues rather than "quantity of life" issues, I have had extensive personal experience (both negative and positive) with medical science. I understand your distaste for quackery and the quacks who promulgate it. In my opinion, the law needs to draw a more definite line between mainstream and alternative medicine to enable those who are victimized by the latter to obtain redress. Still, while modern medicine is truly miraculous in many ways, often, there are no guarantees. It is well that this life is not all there is. Indeed, it is. I wish you both well. Edited July 29, 2014 by Kenngo1969
Calm Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) removed as off topic and posting this instead: I get the fear of traditional meds and what that might mean to a cancer patient. It is sad when that fear overwhelms the ability to balance the good and bad of all forms of treatment and makes us too dependent on feel good stories of successes rather than weighing all input wisely. I can't imagine the pain of someone watching a loved one make that kind of decision and then living with the consequences. I have a slight comparison in watching my daughter base her own choices often on avoiding anxiety provoking situations so limiting herself from taking advantage of most of her educational and spiritual and social opportunities (so it seems highly unlikely that she will ever be independent or even find someone for companionship and have a family of her own), but the level of watching someone make a choice that means life or death must be way beyond what I experience in frustration and sorrow because I still have decades and decades where she may change. My prayers for both of you. Edited July 30, 2014 by calmoriah
Buzzard Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 I remember your post, and my response to it well. Reading it, I was amazed that a year and a half has passed. I can't do much to assuage the news of Stage 4 cancer, there is no good way to spin it. However, I was "offically" Stage 4 at the end of 2010, and am still alive and kicking, though I can sense cancers slow, inexorable march through my body. I can still do what I want to (took a five mile hike last Saturday, including climbing a local peak), but now, when I do that kind of stuff, I come home wiped out. Went to bed early, and still fell asleep in church.I have dealt with a permanent ostomy since 2008. I won't pretend that it's not a hassle, But it's not the end of the world. And practice really does make perfect. There is a really good forum over on Ostomy.org, where just about any question she has can get answered. Except for which brand to choose, because she will get as many answers as responses. I'm a Convatec Moldable guy myself, but made a few enemies on that board back in 2008 when I promoted my choice. Cancerforums.net is also good, but be advised if she promotes alternative treatments, she will instantly become an ex-poster.Good luck, long life to both your wife and you, and here's hoping that she finally gets some real treatment and that it is effective with minimal side effects. Xeloda/Avastin held the line for me for two years. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. "The Buzzard" 3
Stargazer Posted July 29, 2014 Author Posted July 29, 2014 I remember your post, and my response to it well. Reading it, I was amazed that a year and a half has passed. I can't do much to assuage the news of Stage 4 cancer, there is no good way to spin it. However, I was "offically" Stage 4 at the end of 2010, and am still alive and kicking, though I can sense cancers slow, inexorable march through my body. I can still do what I want to (took a five mile hike last Saturday, including climbing a local peak), but now, when I do that kind of stuff, I come home wiped out. Went to bed early, and still fell asleep in church. I have dealt with a permanent ostomy since 2008. I won't pretend that it's not a hassle, But it's not the end of the world. And practice really does make perfect. There is a really good forum over on Ostomy.org, where just about any question she has can get answered. Except for which brand to choose, because she will get as many answers as responses. I'm a Convatec Moldable guy myself, but made a few enemies on that board back in 2008 when I promoted my choice. Cancerforums.net is also good, but be advised if she promotes alternative treatments, she will instantly become an ex-poster. Good luck, long life to both your wife and you, and here's hoping that she finally gets some real treatment and that it is effective with minimal side effects. Xeloda/Avastin held the line for me for two years. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. "The Buzzard" Thanks for this useful information! No danger that she will post alternative medicine anywhere because she eschews computer use. Maybe I will buy her a tablet so she can get to those forums, though. She bought a Galaxy Tab last year, but took it back after a couple of weeks. 1
Garden Girl Posted July 30, 2014 Posted July 30, 2014 Hello Stargazer... I'm so sorry for your wife's health issues... My husband developed colon cancer, but thankfully had symptoms very early and saw a doctor who caught it... Surgery quickly followed... and then a year of chemo plus a very strong additional med that helped prevent a recurrence... dh survived six years before he passed away from other causes, but some indirectly caused by the cancer/chemo (like a weaker immune system). With his age he just couldn't overcome complications following an unrelated surgery. I had a friend who lost someone dear to him to colon cancer because instead of using traditional medicine, she wasted time with some type of tea-like substance that you brewed that was touted to heal or substantially prolong life... lots of testimonials, etc. from end stage patients. I wonder if anything would have helped because when they finally diagnosed it, the doctor told my friend she had about 4 months... which proved true. But she didn't even try anything else. GG
VideoGameJunkie Posted July 31, 2014 Posted July 31, 2014 I'm so sorry. I hate cancer. It's taken my grandpa before I was even born, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, and my best friend's dad. I wish it wasn't so painful to deal with.
Kind Debater Posted August 1, 2014 Posted August 1, 2014 I'm so sorry to hear this, Stargazer. I'm praying for you and your wife.
Tacenda Posted August 1, 2014 Posted August 1, 2014 This is an update of my topic Colon Cancer from back in November 2012. It has been written: "On Saturday my dear wife, who had been dealing with bad anemia and an apparent intestinal tract infection (on top of her colon tumor), spiked a fever into the 105 degree territory, despite a course of antibiotics prescribed for the infection. I called 911 and she was transported to the hospital. They brought her fever down and did some extensive testing to find out the cause of the trouble. They finally discovered it, and it wasn't good news." The above is actually from a post on my personal blog, and if you want the bad news in full, go read it by clicking HERE. But in short, my wife now wears a permanent colostomy bag because she trusted in so-called "alternative" treatments for cancer. Granted that medical treatments for cancer don't always work, they do have a much better track record. For those who are not blinded by quackery, that is. Not stated in my blog entry is this: I AM VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. ANGRY AT THE QUACKS AND THEIR SHILLS, AND ANGRY AT THE GULLIBLE, WHO BELIEVE DESPITE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. It is well that this life is not all there is.I am grateful for this post, my MIL is full on "alternative" on most everything. She had the "zapper" and she is an essential oils addict, and uses all the concoctions, you name it as far as teas etc. I think some of it is a scam and some maybe not. She talked me into getting my eyes read once. I guess I have a nervous condition and a few other things. After leaving the building I was several hundred dollars lighter, than when I went in. Most of the supplements had to be taken several times a day and required at least 3 or 4 a day. One supplement was pretty funny, it was for use to get off caffeine. But when I read the small print it was straight coffee!!! My MIL is doing well pretty much, she recently relented finally and had some surgery done that no supplement could take care of. But I'm saving your article on the blog about your dear wife in case my MIL decides to ever skip steps suggested by "doctors". I remember my dad years ago when he was suffering daily with pain stemming from breaking his back years ago, he went to a chiropractor and the guy told him to go home and get in the tub and let his wife give him an enema. He never went back!! But I'm not downing the whole of them, just the few. Stargazer, my heart goes out to you both. I pray that your wife will be able to see a bigger picture than that dam* bag. Bless her heart, she was only doing what she thought was best.
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