Cancer???? Perhaps...

[monarch64]

Thanks Tim, for weighing in and bumping this topic, and of course for providing some of your expertise.

Anything I can do to help. I greatly enjoy these forums and wealth of knowledge I have gained in reading the posts of the many experts that comment here so I would love to add to a topic that I actually have some knowledge in. The biggest thing is to encourage and support her to pursue the answers that she seeks. As someone earlier pointed out, not knowing was the most painful part of my family's ordeal and after we got the answers we so desperately wanted, we accepted what we could and tried to make the most of the time we had. In the end, my mom had a wonderful 17 months of life and we were all appreciative of all the time we had. I just hate the thought of her not knowing and possibly all this stress being over something that really is of no concern at all. Some physicians don't communicate as well as others and they don't realize how that affects the lives of of their patientss so my biggest recommendation is to PLEASE seek out a second opinion of someone who can give you the answers that you deserve. I will be following.

Second opinions are paramount! My father is still alive because he sought many opinions for his advanced colorectal cancer. My screenname has everything to do with his cancer and he has BEAT IT. he had many organs removed, was pronounced dead on the table at one point for 39 minutes, and after a long stint in ICU, lived to tell at age 64. If he could do it, anyone can. He is still living at age 70!

 

[risingsun]

I had a bloodwork done by my PCP. One of the tests came back with a level higher than it should have been. They called me on a Friday afternoon and explained the situation and told me that they had made an appointment for me at the Regional Cancer Center, for further evaluation, the following Monday. I was at the Cancer Center for over five hours on that first visit. They were extremely thorough. I have a precancerous blood disorder and am monitored at the Cancer Center every six months and will be for the rest of my life. Seven years prior to this experience, a different doctor had picked up the same elevated level and told me I should get bloodwork done every few years. He was extremely vague about the whole thing. It was just, by chance, that I asked my PCP to run this particular test. That is why I say it is necessary to advocate for your medical care.

 

[beebrisk]

While the PS community has sent prayers, dust, good thoughts and expert opinions to the OP here, looks like she's been.....shopping?
[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/just-bought-my-dream-wedding-band-so-excited.155843/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/just-bought-my-dream-wedding-band-so-excited.155843/[/URL]

 

[ForteKitty]

so? retail therapy helps me feel better too.

 

[zhuzhu]

I don't see how shopping for a band have anything to do with having a potential medical issue to be dealt with.
Should she be depressed and sobbing every single day during the wait? I think not.

 

[katamari]

Thinking of you, stci.

 

[Arkteia]

Wish you the best, stci.

Risingsun - best of luck.

 

[risingsun]

Wish you the best, stci.

Risingsun - best of luck.

Thank you, crasru. I posted my story in an effort to demonstrate to Sylvie the importance of advocating for your own healthcare. Before I retired from my profession as a therapist, I worked on this issue with a number of my clients. We are consumers of medical care and need to insist on receiving the best level of care available.

 

[Demon]

so? retail therapy helps me feel better too.

Absolutely. I had some scary health issues last year (all turned out good, but with some major surgery involved), and anything that can help take your mind of things is good, IMO. As long as it isn't destructive to your life or finances, of course.

Best of luck to you stci and rising sun!

 

[Novel]

Wishing good luck and better tomorrows to you, Stci, and to RisingSun. Stci, I hope you'll come back and let us know whats going on. As a PSer with some significant health issues, advocating for yourself can be terrifying and feel disrespectful, but no one else will do it for you and sometimes we have to make the system value us! Good luck.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think Sylvie is in Canada and their healthcare system is different. This is why some of us really don't want to see socialized medicine here.

 

[risingsun]

Wishing good luck and better tomorrows to you, Stci, and to RisingSun. Stci, I hope you'll come back and let us know whats going on. As a PSer with some significant health issues, advocating for yourself can be terrifying and feel disrespectful, but no one else will do it for you and sometimes we have to make the system value us! Good luck.

Thank you, Demon and Novel. I appreciate your good wishes. I did not mean to threadjack Sylvies's thread. I will just say I'm having my six month follow up this week and next. So far, things have been stable.

 

[risingsun]

I think Sylvie is in Canada and their healthcare system is different. This is why some of us really don't want to see socialized medicine here.

You make an excellent point, diamondseeker. I would like to hear from others who are dealing with socialized medicine and how they are able to advocate within that system.

 

[Imdanny]

Would you like to hear horror stories about health insurance companies? I'd rather not share my story about our health care system but you can be assured (if that's even the right word) that plenty of people in the US (as in millions) don't get the health care they need. For one thing, 50 million people here have no health insurance at all.

Best wishes to you and thank you for your update.

 

[risingsun]

Would you like to hear horror stories about health insurance companies? I'd rather not share my story about our health care system but you can be assured (if that's even the right word) that plenty of people in the US (as in millions) don't get the health care they need. For one thing, 50 million people here have no health insurance at all.

Best wishes to you and thank you for your update.

I have no doubt about what you have said. As both a patient and a health care provider, I have experienced the difficulties of working within the US healthcare system. I have advocated for patients, as well as myself. I am interested in the different challenges experienced between socialized medicine and managed care, as it relates to Sylvie's situation.

 

[Gypsy]

Wish you the best, stci.

Risingsun - best of luck.

Ditto. I've been watching this thread and praying for you both.

 

[Jennifer W]

I think Sylvie is in Canada and their healthcare system is different. This is why some of us really don't want to see socialized medicine here.

You make an excellent point, diamondseeker. I would like to hear from others who are dealing with socialized medicine and how they are able to advocate within that system.

I live in a country with healthcare free at the point of delivery. I'm not 'dealing' with socialised medicine, I'm fortunate enough to be benefiting from it. I'm grateful for it. I've never had to advocate, I've only received fast and first rate treatment for myself and my family. There are formal patient advocate organisations who will support people who feel they aren't getting what they need.

When my daughter needed investigations and treatment, her consultant acted as case manager and advocate for her, co-ordinating tests and chasing up anything not happening fast enough. I would have been able to advocate for her if needed, but the system in his clinic assumes that not everyone can, so the basic approach is that he does it as a default.

The NHS is far from perfect, but it's there. It's a high quality safety net regardless of status and income. My main criticisim is that it is patchy - there are parts of the UK where standards are not so high. My own experience has been only positive though.

ETA sorry - this thread is about Stci. Maybe we could discuss this in another thread?
Stci, still thinking about you and hoping that you can come back with good news soon.

 

[Lula]

I think Sylvie is in Canada and their healthcare system is different. This is why some of us really don't want to see socialized medicine here.

Oh, please. Read "Where is the Mango Princess" by Cathy Crimmins, for one woman's experience with both the Canadian and U.S. medical systems, before you buy into myths about socialized medicine.
http://januarymagazine.com/nonfiction/mangoprincess.html

 

[missy]

I have a number of friends in Canada and Europe and many of them have unbearable waits for what their country deems non- emergency surgeries! For example, one friend who could barely walk because she needed hip replacement had a 36 month wait for that surgery in her country and she ended up coming to the USA for the surgery and paying out of pocket. So she could resume a quality of life. I call that unacceptable. So many are willing to bash the US healthcare system but believe me, there is no perfect system and I urge you to come up with a plan that would be perfect. It just doesn't exist.

Stci, thinking of you and sending you healthy vibes. Hope you are doing well!

 

[Jennifer W]

I don't think anyone is claiming that the perfect healthcare system exists. For every negative story about socialised medical care, there will be another one about unacceptable standards of care in a country without it. The point here probably isn't the system you're living in, but getting what you need out of that system - in this case,whether or not stci is able to get the investigations and care that she needs at the right time. I truly hope that she will, and that we'll hear some good news from her soon.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have a number of friends in Canada and Europe and many of them have unbearable waits for what their country deems non- emergency surgeries! For example, one friend who could barely walk because she needed hip replacement had a 36 month wait for that surgery in her country and she ended up coming to the USA for the surgery and paying out of pocket. So she could resume a quality of life. I call that unacceptable. So many are willing to bash the US healthcare system but believe me, there is no perfect system and I urge you to come up with a plan that would be perfect. It just doesn't exist.

Stci, thinking of you and sending you healthy vibes. Hope you are doing well!

My grandfather is in Canada and had to wait a month to see a specialist after he had a heart attack! My grandparents won't come down into the states AT ALL because if something happens, they won't have health coverage.

We're lucky that we have health insurance, but pay a lot! Even though my DH's employer pays 1/2, it's painful to see how much comes out of his paycheck.

 

[risingsun]

Wish you the best, stci.

Risingsun - best of luck.

Ditto. I've been watching this thread and praying for you both.

Thank you, Gypsy. In my situation, I am followed very closely. If anything starts to change, it will be treated in the earliest stages. For Sylvie, this seems not to be the case and the reason for my concern. If a doctor suspects pancreatic cancer, that is a very serious condition and she needs to have follow up immediately. I can't understand a healthcare system's rationale for waiting under these circumstances.

 

[rosetta]

hold on everyone.

it is actually very difficult to judge what's going on from stci's posts.

what we can tell is she is very worried, and rightly so.

stci, if pancreatic cancer is suspected, all your tests should be completed within weeks, not months. this is an extremely serious illness and time is of the essence.

has there been anything from any scans you have had that support a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?

has there been an abnormal blood test? if so, can you remember which one it was?

can you describe where and the nature of the pain you are having?

i don't make diagnoses over the internet, but if you can give me some more information, i will try to help you.

i believe your native language is French, non? can you tell me what you know in french if that's easier for you, and i will see if my colleagues can translate (i will have to take your anonymised information to another website as i don't speak medical french)

even if your tests have been scheduled far in the future, can you please GO BACK to your doctor and ask why? get a second opininon if you don't get a satisfactory answer from your first doctor. this is your right.

 

[iLander]

hold on everyone.

it is actually very difficult to judge what's going on from stci's posts.

what we can tell is she is very worried, and rightly so.

stci, if pancreatic cancer is suspected, all your tests should be completed within weeks, not months. this is an extremely serious illness and time is of the essence.

has there been anything from any scans you have had that support a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?

has there been an abnormal blood test? if so, can you remember which one it was?

can you describe where and the nature of the pain you are having?

i don't make diagnoses over the internet, but if you can give me some more information, i will try to help you.

i believe your native language is French, non? can you tell me what you know in french if that's easier for you, and i will see if my colleagues can translate (i will have to take your anonymised information to another website as i don't speak medical french)

even if your tests have been scheduled far in the future, can you please GO BACK to your doctor and ask why? get a second opininon if you don't get a satisfactory answer from your first doctor. this is your right.

@ Rosetta: This is very nice of you to try and help, BRAVA!

 

[Ella]

Please remember no political discussions and in particular no political discussions in a thread that is meant to be supportive.

Remember what the focus is.

 

[iLander]

You have a TON of support here, we're all rooting for you and praying for you!

 

[rosetta]

Sorry if I'm late to reply to your posts stci.

I'm in the uk and there is a rather large time difference.

I'll keep a beady physician's eye on this thread.