Fords stroke highlights fears over diagnosis
Former president Gerald Ford's stroke should be a wake-up call to the whole
medical
community ("Ford recovering after having stroke," News, Thursday).
Apparently, Ford had gone to the hospital earlier and complained of facial
pain and
was diagnosed with a sinus infection.
If a fanner president - a figure known around the world - can be taken
to an emergency
room, have a misdiagnosis given and be released, only to be readmitted later
for a much
more serious problem, it's even scarier for the average American when it
comes to getting
answers from doctors when they’re sick.
As one who had to search for years – with CAT scans and all kinds of other
tests – for
the cause of pain, weigh loss and other symptoms, I know how scary things
can be.
Finally, in May 1995 I was diagnosed with carcinoid
cancer.
Thanks to the wonderful care
I receive from my doctor and the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, I now
have two doctors
working with me to maintain a great quality of life.
Susan L. Anderson
Tempe, Ariz.
USA TODAY
AUGUST 11, 2001
Diagnosis awareness
It was very enlightening to see a letter from a woman who suffers from
the same disease as
my wife, who also suffered from years of being misdiagnosed ("Ford's stroke
highlights fears
over diagnosis," Letters, Tuesday).
Like USA TODAY reader Susan L Anderson, my wife went through unnecessary
surgeries,
years of pain, debilitation and improper medication before her carcinoid cancer was diagnosed
and modern medicine was able to provide hope and relief.
The rare disease strikes a few thousand Americans each year, and you can
almost bet that
many physicians will spend years trying to make the symptoms fit more familiar
afflictions
such as Crohn's disease.
One of the more ironic errors was that she was placed on Prozac for several
months, as it
was assumed that the illness was imagined. It's unfortunate, but maybe someday
a famous
person will be afflicted with carcinoid cancer, and the publicity will bring
about better education
and shorten the average diagnostic cycle by a few years, since the disease
can be identified
with a couple of simple tests.
Glenn McGinnis St. Petersburg, Fla.
Lynn McGinnis died 11 Oct. 2001
USA TODAY
AUGUST 23, 2001
Correct diagnosis
I'm writing in response to comments by USA TODAY reader Susan L. Anderson
of Tempe, Ariz.
concerning the misdiagnosis of President Ford ("Ford's stroke highlights fears
of diagnosis,"
Letters, Aug, 8).
I suffer from carcinoid syndrome and,
like so many others, had been diagnosed for many years
as having irritable bowel syndrome and stress.
Last September, when I was finally diagnosed as having carcinoid syndrome, it was a relief to
know what had been causing all of my problems for so many years.
Thanks to some wonderful and caring physicians at Ohio State University's
james Cancer
Hospital, I'm enjoying a much-improved quality of life.
Pamela S. Cole
Portsmouth, Ohio
USA TODAY
AUGUST 23, 2001
Carcinoid a 'brutal killer'
Carcinoid is a little-known rare cancer. It's a silent but brutal killer and is very difficult to diagnose.
My father suffered from it -with symptoms such as severe dehydration caused
from excessive
diarrhea -for more than two years before being correctly diagnosed.
But it is too late now to effect any real change in his condition.
We are dealing with just getting through each day -one day at a time. His
tumors are inoperable
because they have metastasized into the surrounding tissue and organs in
his abdomen.
He is taking the drug Sandostatin daily, which is his only saving grace.
Chemotherapy is being done, and we are hoping for something.
This is tearing our family apart while disintegrating our father pound by pound.
Elizabeth Mason
Waianae, Hawaii
Leonard Peters died 13 June 2001
USA TODAY
AUGUST 21, 2000
John McCain:
A U.S. role model
My heart goes out to Sen. john McCain. R-Ariz., and his family during his
ordeal with skin cancer.
I know that he is a gutsy guy and a fighter who will do all that is necessary
to become 'stable or in
remission" again ("McCain diagnosed with skin cancer a 2nd time, "News, Thursday).
Many oncologists now say there is no such thing as a "cure," but that close
follow-up can check the
disease when it is most treatable. I am thankful that McCain has been faithful
in doing the necessary
follow-ups since his earlier surgery in 1993. As someone for whom it took
years to get a carcinoid-cancer
diagnosis in 1995 and who four years later was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I speak from experience.
I know that those of us who are optimists are also real fighters - as is
McCain. We are never passive,
but proactive in our search for the best doctors, information and treatment
for our kind of cancer.
McCain is a role model for all Americans.
Susan L. Anderson
Tempe. Ariz.
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
AUGUST 21, 2000
Sympathy for McCain
My heart goes out to Arizona Sen. John McCain and all of his family with
news that the senator has
been diagnosed with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. I know
Sen. McCain is a gutsy
guy and a fighter who will do all that is necessary to become stable, or
in remission, again.
Many oncologists now say there is no such thing as a "cure," but watch
and follow-up. I am thankful
Sen. McCain has been faithful in doing the necessary follow- ups since his
surgery in 1993.
As someone for whom it took years to get a diagnosis (carcinoid cancer, 1995) and four years later
was diagnosed with breast cancer, I speak
from experience. I know that those of us who are optimists
and real fighters (as is Sen. McCain) and are pro-active in our search for
the best doctors, information
and treatment for our kind of cancer do much better than the passive patients.
Sen. McCain is a role model for all Americans.
Susan L. Anderson
Tempe