chrz@ihuxe.UUCP (p. chrzanowski) (09/17/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I have cancer. I was diagnosed 29 months ago, at age 35, as having metastatic (stage III) seminoma. I was initially treated with chemo (cisplatin and VP-16) and a lymphadenectomy; this bought me a one year full remission. Since then I have had 2 additional metastasis. Both of these spread through the lymph; one was needle biopsied as "pure seminoma", and both were successfully treated with radiation. Having discussed this with several M.D.s, I have been told that I can probably expect more metastases, more remissions, but not long term survival. Info I would like is: 1. If anyone has had similar experiences, perhaps they could be shared. 2. Info on any experimental treatments from which I might benefit. Info of the "wholistic" kind will not be appreciated. I read some of this stuff once; it read rather like Von Daniken's Chariot_of_the_Gods: a mass of self-serving non-logic based on an absence of evidence. I have had to shop for M.D.s, and not just for competence. Altogether too many have felt that info about MY body, which I paid for, belongs to THE DOCTOR, not to ME!! I'd guess full disclosure is more of a problem with serious illnesses; some M.D.s apparently have the opinion that it is their right to decide if the patient can handle really bad news. Comments and/or methods of dealing with this sort of physician arrogance would also be appreciated.