Re: Autopsy/Cancer/EDS

[Guest guest]

What a hard decision to have to make and to do it alone is even

harder. I know that your mum has asked for this not to be done BUT I

am sure if she could think of it without being so close and involved

and thought it through and new that it was DEFINATELY after she has

passed (I think this is a worry for some peopl and the reason that

people don't like the idea of organ donation they think they might

still be alive but in some sort of coma or something but anumber of

differnt doctors and ones who don't know her or her case have to

certify you dead, before they will do these sort of operations/tests).

Is your Mum under an Onocologist (cancer specialist???) if so I would

ask this doctor what differences it would make to know or not know if

this is what your Mum has/had to the rest of her genetic family).

I am VERY glad that I know of ALL of my family hisotry of different

cancers and have to start taking precautions already (mammograms at

age 33, regular checks for colon cancer, skin cancer checks, checks

for cervical cancers and MORE) as I know that my risk for these

problems is slightly elevated due to the family history (and I have a

pretty strong one with numerous different cancers, from Breast to

Cervical, lymphatic and melonomma as well as other less viralent skin

cancers).

I would want to know and after Mum is gone the tests are only being

done on the shell she leaves behind and you can ask just for the

colon cancer tests to be done or you can ask for an abdominal and

bowel autopsy done to rule out other abdominal cancers (my mother

died of abdominal lymphoma).

Good Lucka nd when the time comes you will make the best decision for

you and your family.

If it were me I think I would have the testing done to put my mind at

ease and to know for sure if I need to have the regular " family

hisotry " testing done (i.e frequent colonoscopies etc) or if it was

something else entirely that is or is not genetic/ hereditary.

But that is me and with the family history I have it is better to

know so that every precasution can be taken and to remove the worry

and what if factors.

Remember you won't be having this test done on your Mother, while she

is alive and feeling anything, it will be an Autopsy done to the

shell she leaves behind after she has passed ans is out of pain.I am

sure that your Mum would understand that the worry and knowing is

THAT important to you and wouldn't have a problem. I can fully

understand that she doesn't want any more tests done while she is

alive as she has had enough and I can fully understand that, but if

having this test done after her passing could save one of her

children or grandchildren I am sure she would be all for it (if she

was able to think objectivaly about it, but it could be that this is

just to much for her to think about (what will be done after she

passes etc).

Good luck and when the time comes I am sure you will make the right

decison for you and your family and future family members as well.

Sharon

> I think maybe I explained my question wrong. I wasn't asking if she

should have the colon tests now, just after she passed. I would never

put her through any tests again as long as she is here, mom wants to

go " home " . Tomorrow is not soon enough for her. My question was after

she passes, should I have an autopsy to find out if she did indeed

have colon cancer. Is that was realy important for the rest of us to

know? I suppose when the day comes, I will just have to go with my

gut instint and hopefully a Dr to stear me right at the time. Thanks

all to your responces. They are diverce as my feelings on the matter.

I guess what I need to find out, is how important is it to know if

she does/did have it. I'll ask a DR. or two.

> Thanks all,

> Cindylouwho

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