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StephN · 07-15-2010, 12:59 PM

So sorry to hear about your dad and this new development. I know a woman who had kidney cancer in her early 50's and has been fine since then, but do not know her cancer details.

Does your dad have a Medical Power of Attorney? This would be separate from Advanced Directives and other legal docs.

If he does not, it would be wise to have that done. Should cost about $200 if an attorney does it. Or you can print them on line for less. Takes very little time and does not need to be filed with the court.

If your name is on such a document, his medical team must share any information with you. The "patient privacy" laws make this document necessary to cut through all the protections for patients, doctors and
treatment centers of all kinds.
We did this for my mother, and will for ourselves in the near future.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

07-15-2010, 12:59 PM	#2
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: kidney cancer So sorry to hear about your dad and this new development. I know a woman who had kidney cancer in her early 50's and has been fine since then, but do not know her cancer details. Does your dad have a Medical Power of Attorney? This would be separate from Advanced Directives and other legal docs. If he does not, it would be wise to have that done. Should cost about $200 if an attorney does it. Or you can print them on line for less. Takes very little time and does not need to be filed with the court. If your name is on such a document, his medical team must share any information with you. The "patient privacy" laws make this document necessary to cut through all the protections for patients, doctors and treatment centers of all kinds. We did this for my mother, and will for ourselves in the near future. Good luck and let us know how it goes. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.