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I have a very good friend who recently was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has been through so much torture from what she calls, "science experiments". Now the doctor she has doesn't really do anything. They bring her in drain out contents from her face and send her home. She has now developed what I think is a very unhealthy addiction to pain pills. The doctors refuse to give her any and the road has been really ruff. The doctors don't seem to want to help address her addiction, nor do they want to find a better aproach to the problem. My friend is not an addict. Well not normally. She is in pain 24/7 all in and around her mouth. This leads to her skipping many meals. She started by taking vicodines 30 minutes before a meal. Next it lead to her not being able to sleep with out taking something. Now it has developed to multiple pills a day with her having a complete anxiety attack if she is not sure where the next dose is coming from. I sent emails to different cancer orginazations trying to find a resource to help. I was lead to Hospice Care. They can truly help my friend in ways my life will not allow the time for. I convincered her to give it a try. Well she was crushed. She can have Hospice Care only if she gives up her current treatment. That is a horrid catch 22. If she wants help with her pain management she has to give up any chance of getting better. I don't find that humane in the least. Well now the doctors have diagnosed her with Cachexia. Now that I understand the disease, I don't understand why the doctors are not doing more. I think that if the doctors are not going to be doing a whole lot for total patient health care for the terminally ill; the government should at least allow a patient to seak both. A person with little means still has the right to die peacefully and with grace. My friends current doctor doesn't even try to give her peace. They sent her to a grief person that told her to just accept that she was going to die. They offered her tranqs because they feel she should be in bed resting all day. That way she may live longer. Who wants to live longer if you are imprisoned to your bedroom.

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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