My Creed
I learned a long time ago that a physician's most powerful medicine is REASSURANCE.
Upon learning my diagnosis of NHL, I consulted with two expert oncologists. I was reassured that they were in agreement. Unfortunately, it was not the agreement that I sought.
They agreed on two points; firstly, that "no one knows the best way to treat NHL" and secondly, Stage IV disease is incurable.
One suggested "no treatment until your vital organs are affected". The second oncologist recommended immediate treatment.
How did I make my decision? I went back to my basic principles, my core values, my CREED.
My core values are: 1. I refuse to yield to this disease. 2. I want to attack this cancer as early and as hard as I can. 3. I shall have a positive attitude. 4. I shall not accept standard therapy since standard therapy does not cure the malignancy.
Therefore, I started my search for an experimental clinical trial.
Mort
.
How should the NHL patient respond to this blunt truth?
What were the factors that inflluenced my decision?
Mort
Comments
I was diagnosed with NHL Large B cell, diffused and in stage 4. Please explain more about the idea that stage 4 cannot be treated or have any real effect.
Posted by: Buce R. Abrahams | May 21, 2006 3:02 AM