Quote:
Originally Posted by samhass
Well said, Gracie.  |
Teaching hospitals are an excellent choice as Gracie said in earlier post.
However, even they use trials and experimental type procedures that they no doubt know might not end in a happy way for the patient.
We have a family member who was given an extended five years of life via great care and experimental treatment at DUKE UNIVERSITY in N.C. for liver cancer. However, they've now been told they have dementia as a result of the treatment. Early 50 years old and has been told the cancer is chronic but treatable with radioactive isotopes?? However, she has had to seek early retirement and go on disability via medicare. Duke is a great teaching hospital. Very forgetfull and unable to work as a result of the treatment.
Ditto for Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire......to which many of our townsfolk go for their cancers. Lots of experimental treatments.
It may "buy time" but ultimately most are dying eventually. It's sad to see....esp. among the young women in their 40's........all doctors are well aware that the chemo is poison to healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. We know people who've lost all feeling in their hands and feet; neuropathy, due to treatment. It will never return.
We do have an oncology center as part of our hospital, but for the more aggressive types, they send them to Dartmouth or to Boston....or even Mount Sinai in New York City. It's been a sad ending for all of them and their families.
When my mother in law had cancer back in 1970 (and years prior) there was no treatment at all.....she eventually did pass, with no pain at all.
Was able to function up to the end. Painless death. At the time, the family was told that her many cancers were caused by early xray treatment given to her during her pregnancies........30 years prior.