Re: The worst side effect I ever had...

[Guest guest]

> Aside from temporary incontinence and ED (which is getting better as

> time goes on), the worst side effect to cancer I had was discomfort

> from other people constantly telling me what I should or should not

> do or be doing based on their own personal opinions, bigotries,

> biases and/or prejudices.

>

> I like this forum for the support, camaraderie, information and

> " helping each other find ways to cope without being pushy " as put

> forth in the group description, but I dislike reading continual posts

> from people telling other people (especially unsolicited) what they

> think they should be doing.

Mick is absolutely on the mark.

The 'net is a wonderful place to find advice from phonies all the way

from those who want to dip into a desperate patient's bank account to

well-meaning folks who think that they know more than they really do.

Not one of the folks who post on support groups -- not one -- is

qualified to give medical advice to anyone. Yet it happens, often from

the best of intentions. Which might very well harm one who relies upon them.

Anecdotes and war stories are just swell, so long as everyone

understands that such stories have little to no relevance to the status

or treatment of any individual patient.

Briefly, what helps A might harm B; and vice versa.

That's why, saint that I am ;-) I refer folks to authoritative and

reliable sources of information. Medical advice from me (and others) is

worth exactly what you pay for it.

Regards,

Steve J

" Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own

outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and

contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the

uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis. "

--Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled

" The Empowered Patient's Guide. "