Another day at the Pancreas Multi-Disciplinary Clinic up at Hopkins. Eight patients, some who are newly diagnosed and some who have been living with their disease for many months, coming to this single day gathering of really good doctors, nurses, pain specialists, and dieticians.
They come with loving family members who need answers too. Is there a chance that their loved one is a candidate for surgery? Can chemotherapy shrink the disease that is choking the life out of this vital organ? What kind of radiation is available to kill the tumor?
Will any treatment for this bad cancer really help?
I study the faces looking back at the doctor, as he explains that each case is considered carefully and individually. Depending on what each patients’ scans reveal, treatment will vary. But these faces reflect only worry. They’re trying to listen, but most of them have that “How did I end up here?” look in their eyes.
By the end of the day, when the exam doors open and close and open again, these patients, one by one, have learned where they stand with their cancer. Most of them won’t hear good news, but they will be given a course of treatment that will suit the stage of their disease. It will probably be the most aggressive approach possible. That’s the way it is in this clinic. Never think about giving-up. It’s all about hope. It’s all about living.
July 21, 2011 @ 6:28 am
My brother in law Rick has started his chemo following surgery. He had chemo and part of the protocol was to have anti nausea drugs. They sent him home with no antinausea drugs because there were none available and you can imagine how he spent the rest of the day. We live in the Washington DC suburbs. The surgeon says that nation wide there is a problem getting antinausea drugs. They are made in China. There is some talk that the antinausea drug came off patent and there is not enough financial interest to develop a generic replacement.
I think if a drug company had to provide to entire drug package a patient needs they would find a way to develop the generic rather than losing the $4800.00 they get each time he takes their chemo drugs ( a total of 13 sessions currently planned).
This whole business is enough to make you sick.
July 21, 2011 @ 2:12 am
Everything is all about hoping for the best but expecting the worst, at least you are prepared whatever happens. Great post!
July 20, 2011 @ 4:22 pm
They are at the best hospital in the US.