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From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

benjamincburns.com

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Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#91

Post by k-mcgrady »

saboot wrote: post #61

I would like to take this opportunity to remind our fellow hackers to be aware of changes within your own body. Being alert to physical and/or mental changes and relaying concerns to your doctor is one the best methods for overcoming several diseases and cancers. As a personal testimony, about ten months ago user ifktaotc made a very helpful comment regarding testicular cancer and it's prevalance among young men warn…

Glad you're doing well saboot. I just had to say I find it pretty amazing that a comment online can have this sort of effect on someone's life!

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#92

Post by navait »

wspeirs wrote: post #90

I am in no way trying to downplay the severity of this post, but I had a very different reaction when I read this. My reaction was, "Why did the head of the division tell the group about his condition in detail?" Maybe it is because I live in America, and maybe it is because I know someone who had cancer and was reprimanded by HR for discussing his cancer -- and survival from it -- on an internal work forum. My prefe…

In general it's ok to do so. I think you're confusing one ancedote for reality.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#93

Post by k-mcgrady »

pawelkomarnicki wrote: post #64

I had very similar situation at work, one day we found out one of the teammates passed away in his sleep (a young, heavy, although sporty person), but I would never make a blog post like the one I'm commenting on. Being Nicole I would be really angry about you invading my privacy, making her tragedy all about yourself and your fear of mortality... Just saying.

Everyone regards their privacy in this kind of situation differently. Some want to keep everything to themselves and others want to share. Considering the OP probably knows the family he's much better placed than any of us to make that call. It also seems like it's generated a nice response so who's to say it won't comfort the family? I guess it would be best to ask permission first but I'm sure the family has more important things to think about at this time.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#94

Post by 3am »

mcphage wrote: post #69
DanBC wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

False positives don't mean a month of visiting a doctor - they mean several months of anxiety inducing "watchful waiting" or invasive biopsies. And false positives are not a rare event. False positives are very common. On top of that the radiation (from CT scans) increase the risk of cancer. Scans for healthy people are strongly discouraged. There's a possible benefit if you have any of the genetic markers for lung c…

> And false positives are not a rare event. False positives are very common. Sure, but if you're scanning daily (or close to it), then you don't need to do anything immediately for a positive. You see a growth that looks like it might be cancer—then have the doctor watch it. If you're scanning often, then you'll see any changes. Does it grow? Then it's something to be concerned about. Does it stay the same? Then you…

That's an insane amount of radiation, and would substantially increase your risk of fatal cancer. A single CT scan is roughly a years worth of normal radiation exposure, and then targeted to a single area of the body.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#95

Post by k-mcgrady »

madaxe_again wrote: post #71
debacle wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why wouldn't your GP even order an ultrasound? If you're experiencing jaundice, and are otherwise healthy, gallstones are the most likely culprit and can be detected via a simple ultrasound in most cases.

Because my GP is... not cut out for his job, to put it nicely. I need to change, but it's irrelevant right now as I've circumvented him. I thought his approach was weird and off, and must have been something I'd bought about: Him: "tell me word by word what you want me to put in your notes" Me: "uh, what? I don't care. I just want you to at least have a crack at figuring out what's wrong with me." Him: "'Abdominal pa…

I've had a similar (albeit much less serious) situation with a GP. Went to one and he put me on some pills. The next day I was in so much pain I went to another who sent me to hospital and he and every doctor I saw for the next couple of days was shocked the first GP hadn't sent me as a precaution as that should be SOP. I've had to see the first GP a few times (just for basic things because other GP's were busy) since then and every time I've regretted it. Change GP asap.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#96

Post by mcphage »

3am wrote: post #94
mcphage wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And false positives are not a rare event. False positives are very common. Sure, but if you're scanning daily (or close to it), then you don't need to do anything immediately for a positive. You see a growth that looks like it might be cancer—then have the doctor watch it. If you're scanning often, then you'll see any changes. Does it grow? Then it's something to be concerned about. Does it stay the same? Then you…

That's an insane amount of radiation, and would substantially increase your risk of fatal cancer. A single CT scan is roughly a years worth of normal radiation exposure, and then targeted to a single area of the body.

Right, I wouldn't want to do it with CT scans. But I think it's an area where a less dangerous, cheaper scanning method might save a lot of lives, even with our current techniques for treating cancer. Frequent scanning would mean people would find tumors when they're smaller, and only treat the ones which behave dangerously.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#97

Post by technofiend »

madaxe_again wrote: post #50

I don't have a brain tumour, but I have had, and am still having, an experience which has made me think seriously about my mortality. I'm 31. About three years ago I started having three/four day long bouts of total delirium, roasting fever, extreme nausea, can't even keep sips of water down when it happens - by day three or four, I'm usually too weak to move, totally dehydrated. Two years on, my GP is still going "c…

Dude... I don't know how you survived that!

My gallbladder died, went necrotic and nearly killed me in the span of a few short days.

Good on you for finally getting the problem fixed and having an iron constitution, mate. Next time a little less waiting for a second opinion may be in order!

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#98

Post by dcherman »

madaxe_again wrote: post #71
debacle wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why wouldn't your GP even order an ultrasound? If you're experiencing jaundice, and are otherwise healthy, gallstones are the most likely culprit and can be detected via a simple ultrasound in most cases.

Because my GP is... not cut out for his job, to put it nicely. I need to change, but it's irrelevant right now as I've circumvented him. I thought his approach was weird and off, and must have been something I'd bought about: Him: "tell me word by word what you want me to put in your notes" Me: "uh, what? I don't care. I just want you to at least have a crack at figuring out what's wrong with me." Him: "'Abdominal pa…

This seriously sounds like malpractice. If I were you, I'd be consulting a lawyer.

Re: From hacker to hospice in seven weeks

#100

Post by cpncrunch »

phkahler wrote: post #60
AznHisoka wrote: post #57

So I'm somewhat confused by the responses to this post. It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease. But ppl seem to be responding as if he had a natural inclination to developing it, and that we should accept it. So there's absolutely nothing to learn here aside from "visit the doctor often"?

>> It seemed to me that his long hours at work contributed to his developing the disease. What on earth makes you say that? Is there a documented link between working long hours and getting cancer? Citation please.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress

"Evidence from experimental studies does suggest that psychological stress can affect a tumor’s ability to grow and spread. For example, some studies have shown that when mice bearing human tumors were kept confined or isolated from other mice—conditions that increase stress—their tumors were more likely to grow and spread (metastasize). "

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