<p>LTS, as a (former) lawyer I was amazed at the editorializing I sometimes found when reading medical charts. The comments you describes are a CYA maneuver by a physician accustomed to putting self-serving remarks in the charts – that way (he thinks), down the line, no one can blame him for whatever consequences flow from your decision to deviate from his choices. But it can be very harmful, because those comments are read by others, who in turn draw false conclusions & expectations – once you have been tagged by one MD as “uncooperative”, the next one will assume from the start that there is a problem and perhaps be less forthright because of it. So you are 100% right to insist on exercisicn your legal right to see & read your own medical charts, and to insist on accuracy there. </p>
<p>I also think your post #63 is an illustration of where some of those negative statistics come from – too many people end up ingesting with a combination of different meds with a a different array of effects and possible side-effects without even knowing or appreciating what they are on and what it may do. Pretty soon you can get into the situation where you are being prescribed drugs to treat the side-effects of the other drugs. So at the very least it is important for you to be well informed on exactly what you are taking, even if you decide to continue taking it. </p>
<p>The point is – you are not a statistic, you are a person – and aside from the cancer, you are probably in remarkably good health for your age – which means that you probably have excellent stamina and a much better ability than average to withstand the impact of chemotherapy on your body. </p>
<p>Anyway… the point of all this is to simply add a “you go girl!” to the chorus – I am glad you have found an oncologist that you like. A psychologist or psychiatrist who doesn’t know or understand you is rather worthless – they should be starting by asking you how you feel and listening, not by telling you how they thing you ought to feel and prescribing. </p>
<p>Thinking of you, LTS, and pray that you get to the other side of treatment as quickly as possible!! We’ll be waiting for you when you feel like being back.</p>
<p>Another person who just found this thread and has followed bits of LTS amazing story. You ARE the person that the next chapter of the treatment of this disease will be about. It is what I believe and what you know. This disease has not met the likes of you.</p>
<p>Sending prayers your way. When a dear relative was ill, it was so comforting to have prayers from people she didn’t even know. Those prayers helped in so many ways.</p>
<p>Thoughts and prayers and lots of positive thoughts going out to you.<br>
When you’re researching supplements, look at curcumin - my H is taking it (melanoma), MD Anderson is doing studies on it - doesn’t seem like it has any negatives.<br>
Georgiamom</p>
<p>(You might ask your doc about low-dose naltrexone - the early studies are amazing, though there is not much as yet in terms of clinical trials.)</p>
<p>(Wife is finally done with treatment we hope! and is doing great. There IS life after chemo!)</p>
<p>Hey, good looking. I get back to find this. It well and truly sucks. Put your best cyber house-robe on, I’m heading over to your place.
I’m taking this to p.m. .
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Mini, good to hear about your esposa.</p>
<p>Latetoschool, you’re going to survive based on attitude alone. I really hope these doctors learn a thing or two from you. My prayers are with you for strength and health.</p>
<p>LTS, I am a six year survivor of uterine cancer. A great oncologist is the best thing. Oncology nurses are also a great help and a great source of information and support. I truly believe that a positive attitude trumps everything. I always believed I would finish treatment and would be “cured”, so far, so good. </p>
<p>One thing I found helpful was that I kept working. Fortunately, I had a job that I could miss time and there were some people to provide backup, but there were several things that only I could do. And I went to work and did them every time.</p>
<p>After all the treatments were over, the medical people told me they were all amazed that I had continued to work. I knew they had been tracking my work hours (asked me at every appointment), but I didn’t know it was unusual. It was the only time I felt “normal”, because I had something else to focus on. Working helped keep me sane.</p>