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Hospice

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Hospice

  • Post
    • November 9, 2015 at 7:24 pm
    Debbieamccoy
    Participant

       So I stayed out of the ER a whole 24 hours and came back for vomiting. The ER dr walks in after all testing and announces I am very sick I am septic with a Wbc of  12 . 4 a febrile stable vitals. I have pnuemoniaMy liver enzymes are out of wack . Duh I have liver mets. Then he tells me I have wide spread mets to the lung ( I don't remember any biopsys!)then he asks have you and your family discussed hospice . I'm so mad scared and confused at this point. I'm getting transferred to Washington u where my oncologist is and he's out of town until day after tomorrow . Wish me luck . If it is melanoma I hope I can continue Ipi/nivio 

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 9, 2015 at 10:05 pm
        jbronicki
        Participant

          So sorry again, but make sure you don't listen to the ER doctor.  They are not specialists and they have a completely different reference point for treatment.  Please try to hold on until you see your specialist at Washington U.  That is who will have a better idea of what is truly going on.  The ER is not always the place to get medical advice, I've had several experiences with both my parents (one that was even featured on NPR) where they were completely wrong.  They have a focus of dealing with acute situations, not long term treatment plans so I wouldn't think about hospice yet.  I'm assuming they are treating you with antibiotics for sepsis and pneumonia (but not sure what is up with the WBC 12 (depends on what range values they are using).  Just hold on until you see your melanoma specialist. 

          Best of Luck! 

          Jackie

          • November 9, 2015 at 10:05 pm
          jbronicki
          Participant

            So sorry again, but make sure you don't listen to the ER doctor.  They are not specialists and they have a completely different reference point for treatment.  Please try to hold on until you see your specialist at Washington U.  That is who will have a better idea of what is truly going on.  The ER is not always the place to get medical advice, I've had several experiences with both my parents (one that was even featured on NPR) where they were completely wrong.  They have a focus of dealing with acute situations, not long term treatment plans so I wouldn't think about hospice yet.  I'm assuming they are treating you with antibiotics for sepsis and pneumonia (but not sure what is up with the WBC 12 (depends on what range values they are using).  Just hold on until you see your melanoma specialist. 

            Best of Luck! 

            Jackie

            • November 9, 2015 at 10:05 pm
            jbronicki
            Participant

              So sorry again, but make sure you don't listen to the ER doctor.  They are not specialists and they have a completely different reference point for treatment.  Please try to hold on until you see your specialist at Washington U.  That is who will have a better idea of what is truly going on.  The ER is not always the place to get medical advice, I've had several experiences with both my parents (one that was even featured on NPR) where they were completely wrong.  They have a focus of dealing with acute situations, not long term treatment plans so I wouldn't think about hospice yet.  I'm assuming they are treating you with antibiotics for sepsis and pneumonia (but not sure what is up with the WBC 12 (depends on what range values they are using).  Just hold on until you see your melanoma specialist. 

              Best of Luck! 

              Jackie

                • November 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm
                msitz
                Participant

                  Immunotherapy may cause tumours to grow before they shrink. My father's initial CT scan showed "significant disease progression". It took some time before the tumours started to shrink. Wait until you have spoken to your oncologist before making any drastic decisions. My father was given a "grave" prognosis by an ER doctor in April and is currently doing excellently on Keytruda living a normal quality of life with his tumours 70% gone. The treatment of melanoma is evolving so rapidly that there is no way for non-melanoma specialists to keep up with it.

                  – msitz

                  • November 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm
                  msitz
                  Participant

                    Immunotherapy may cause tumours to grow before they shrink. My father's initial CT scan showed "significant disease progression". It took some time before the tumours started to shrink. Wait until you have spoken to your oncologist before making any drastic decisions. My father was given a "grave" prognosis by an ER doctor in April and is currently doing excellently on Keytruda living a normal quality of life with his tumours 70% gone. The treatment of melanoma is evolving so rapidly that there is no way for non-melanoma specialists to keep up with it.

                    – msitz

                    • November 9, 2015 at 10:41 pm
                    msitz
                    Participant

                      Immunotherapy may cause tumours to grow before they shrink. My father's initial CT scan showed "significant disease progression". It took some time before the tumours started to shrink. Wait until you have spoken to your oncologist before making any drastic decisions. My father was given a "grave" prognosis by an ER doctor in April and is currently doing excellently on Keytruda living a normal quality of life with his tumours 70% gone. The treatment of melanoma is evolving so rapidly that there is no way for non-melanoma specialists to keep up with it.

                      – msitz

                    • November 9, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                    Patina
                    Participant

                      I agree. Don't listen to the ER doctor with regards to this.  My Mom was admitted to the ER a few times during her initial treatment and the ER doctor diagnosed her first with meningitis then pneumonia a few hours later. He wanted to admit her to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, but we had her transferred to USC in LA.  

                      She didn't have meningitis or pneumonia, but did need to be under observation while her specialist determined what treatment she needed to combat her side effects from Yervoy. One was thrush, which my Mom says was what was going to KILL her. NOT the cancer.  LOL! 

                      I'd also recommend that you go back to that ER doctor later and show him or her just how wrong they were about hospice.  

                      • November 9, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                      Patina
                      Participant

                        I agree. Don't listen to the ER doctor with regards to this.  My Mom was admitted to the ER a few times during her initial treatment and the ER doctor diagnosed her first with meningitis then pneumonia a few hours later. He wanted to admit her to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, but we had her transferred to USC in LA.  

                        She didn't have meningitis or pneumonia, but did need to be under observation while her specialist determined what treatment she needed to combat her side effects from Yervoy. One was thrush, which my Mom says was what was going to KILL her. NOT the cancer.  LOL! 

                        I'd also recommend that you go back to that ER doctor later and show him or her just how wrong they were about hospice.  

                          • November 9, 2015 at 11:35 pm
                          Debbieamccoy
                          Participant

                            Forgot to add it was a CT 

                            • November 9, 2015 at 11:35 pm
                            Debbieamccoy
                            Participant

                              Forgot to add it was a CT 

                              • November 9, 2015 at 11:35 pm
                              Debbieamccoy
                              Participant

                                Forgot to add it was a CT 

                              • November 9, 2015 at 10:43 pm
                              Patina
                              Participant

                                I agree. Don't listen to the ER doctor with regards to this.  My Mom was admitted to the ER a few times during her initial treatment and the ER doctor diagnosed her first with meningitis then pneumonia a few hours later. He wanted to admit her to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, but we had her transferred to USC in LA.  

                                She didn't have meningitis or pneumonia, but did need to be under observation while her specialist determined what treatment she needed to combat her side effects from Yervoy. One was thrush, which my Mom says was what was going to KILL her. NOT the cancer.  LOL! 

                                I'd also recommend that you go back to that ER doctor later and show him or her just how wrong they were about hospice.  

                                • November 10, 2015 at 2:45 pm
                                emagdnim83
                                Participant

                                  So sorry to hear that. I wish you the best.

                                  Regarding hospice treatment i can just say that my father is in palliative care since 3 weeks now and is doing great at the moment. Sure, since he has multiple braint mets he hasn't much time left but these days now really are great for him and the rest of the family. If cancer treatments just make your quality of life so miserable, hospice or palliative treatment is definitely something to think about. But as the others already wrote: see your oncologist first, maybe your immune system is just escalating the war against cancer now.

                                    • November 10, 2015 at 7:20 pm
                                    Debbieamccoy
                                    Participant

                                      Oh I'm far from hospice . My dr said ignore the generalists as they were clueless 

                                      • November 10, 2015 at 7:20 pm
                                      Debbieamccoy
                                      Participant

                                        Oh I'm far from hospice . My dr said ignore the generalists as they were clueless 

                                        • November 10, 2015 at 7:20 pm
                                        Debbieamccoy
                                        Participant

                                          Oh I'm far from hospice . My dr said ignore the generalists as they were clueless 

                                          • November 10, 2015 at 7:55 pm
                                          tschmith
                                          Participant

                                            Please keep us posted.  My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep up that fierce fighting attitude!!!!!  We're with you.  

                                            All my best!

                                            Terrie 

                                            • November 10, 2015 at 7:55 pm
                                            tschmith
                                            Participant

                                              Please keep us posted.  My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep up that fierce fighting attitude!!!!!  We're with you.  

                                              All my best!

                                              Terrie 

                                              • November 10, 2015 at 7:55 pm
                                              tschmith
                                              Participant

                                                Please keep us posted.  My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep up that fierce fighting attitude!!!!!  We're with you.  

                                                All my best!

                                                Terrie 

                                                • November 10, 2015 at 11:47 pm
                                                jenny22
                                                Participant

                                                  That is GREAT to hear…….so happy for you…..just find the experts and stick with 'em…no more  info from general ER docs!

                                                  They're fine  if you get in car accident or fall off a ladder……BUT not for "our" stuff.

                                                  Here's to better days ajead!

                                                  • November 10, 2015 at 11:47 pm
                                                  jenny22
                                                  Participant

                                                    That is GREAT to hear…….so happy for you…..just find the experts and stick with 'em…no more  info from general ER docs!

                                                    They're fine  if you get in car accident or fall off a ladder……BUT not for "our" stuff.

                                                    Here's to better days ajead!

                                                    • November 10, 2015 at 11:47 pm
                                                    jenny22
                                                    Participant

                                                      That is GREAT to hear…….so happy for you…..just find the experts and stick with 'em…no more  info from general ER docs!

                                                      They're fine  if you get in car accident or fall off a ladder……BUT not for "our" stuff.

                                                      Here's to better days ajead!

                                                      • November 27, 2015 at 8:29 pm
                                                      gregor913
                                                      Participant
                                                        How are you doing debbie? Hope you are feeling better.
                                                        • November 27, 2015 at 8:29 pm
                                                        gregor913
                                                        Participant
                                                          How are you doing debbie? Hope you are feeling better.
                                                          • November 27, 2015 at 8:29 pm
                                                          gregor913
                                                          Participant
                                                            How are you doing debbie? Hope you are feeling better.
                                                          • November 10, 2015 at 2:45 pm
                                                          emagdnim83
                                                          Participant

                                                            So sorry to hear that. I wish you the best.

                                                            Regarding hospice treatment i can just say that my father is in palliative care since 3 weeks now and is doing great at the moment. Sure, since he has multiple braint mets he hasn't much time left but these days now really are great for him and the rest of the family. If cancer treatments just make your quality of life so miserable, hospice or palliative treatment is definitely something to think about. But as the others already wrote: see your oncologist first, maybe your immune system is just escalating the war against cancer now.

                                                            • November 10, 2015 at 2:45 pm
                                                            emagdnim83
                                                            Participant

                                                              So sorry to hear that. I wish you the best.

                                                              Regarding hospice treatment i can just say that my father is in palliative care since 3 weeks now and is doing great at the moment. Sure, since he has multiple braint mets he hasn't much time left but these days now really are great for him and the rest of the family. If cancer treatments just make your quality of life so miserable, hospice or palliative treatment is definitely something to think about. But as the others already wrote: see your oncologist first, maybe your immune system is just escalating the war against cancer now.

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