rad. onco - made a mistake - ?

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aheyn01

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Hi all,

I've got a question here - would like to hear different peoples opinions.

My father (passed away in 2005) had Multiple Myeloma since 2000. Anyway, after the initial chemo for 5 odd days (a bombardment at the star of the treatment), he then had to have some radiation to the localised area (the cancer tumour was in the femur). Anyway, he had the sessions - about 8 or 9 from memory.

Towards the 5th or 6th session, he explained to his radiation oncologist that he was having quite a bit of pain in the area. Regardless of this, she went ahead and gave him the full 8 or 9 sessions (without altering the timing of the remaining sessions etc). The end result was that he was unable to bend his leg more than about 5-10degrees - it was like this until he passed away. When looking at the thigh, there was a big area of 4in x 4in just black - like it was charred (his skin colour was light brown).

I would like to hear peoples opinions on why this might have happened - if you need more information please ask. Its something that I would really like to address .... the issue is in my mind - and of course the rad. onco never explained why it happened ("just one of those things Tony") she said. Obviously she wouldnt ever admit if/what was the mistake for legal reasons, but I would really like to hear from people in the know about what could have gone wrong.

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just to add to that - i'm not going to hold anyone to what they say or anything

would just like to hear some different people's opinions on what might have gone wrong.
 
with respect, this is not the appropraite place for this question. No one can comment on a medical issue they were not involved with. Further most of the people on this forum are students. I'd suggest that you take the chart to a phyisican to review if need be. Best.
 
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I don't think these forums are intended for people to solicit medicolegal advice on individual cases.
 
*sigh*

I didnt mean it to be a formal question, and as I said I didnt have any plans to use anyones info for a lawsuit or anything like that.

Basically just to hear what might have happened.....like "the extra radiation would have shrunk the muscle to the bone.... and so the knee couldnt bend" - just basic raw info like that. I put the question here because people would understand how the radiation works and they would understand the muscles around the femur bone and how it could affect them if too much is given....

So if anyone can still help me with that - with their 'opinion', i'd appreciate it.
 
These forums are not intended for people to solicit medicolegal advice on individual cases.
 
f_w - i'll give up, but first I have to make something loud and clear.

The intention was NOT AT ALL medicolegal advice...... i have NO INTENTIONS of filing a lawsuit or ANYTHING against the person. The person involved has even passed away!

ALL I was after was just some GENERAL advice regarding how excessive radiation would affect the muscles around the femur - and how that would affect bending of a leg etc.

I posted it here as people here, even if students, would have some idea of the radiation - how it could affect muscles etc if too much was given.

I have no doubt in my mind that she made a mistake.........but I am not trying to use this forum to gain advice and then go to a lawyer - not one bit...... just for general advice as said in the above paragraph.

PLEASE..........get it straight - i could rephrase the question to say "generally, if an excess amount of radiation was given to the area of mid-way down the femur bone, and it left a black charred mark - what could have been some possible results of effects to muscles".
 
Go, grab a radonc text from your medical library.
 
f_w said:
Go, grab a radonc text from your medical library.

If you know, why not just tell him? And if u dont, don't add fire to the fuel.

To the OP, I wish I knew so I could tell ya. Anyways, sorry to hear about your dad. I guess if you want something done you gotta do it yourself. Maybe hit the web, go talk to a rad-onc faculty member, or read a book on it. Good hunting.
 
GuP said:
If you know, why not just tell him? And if u dont, don't add fire to the fuel.

To the OP, I wish I knew so I could tell ya. Anyways, sorry to hear about your dad. I guess if you want something done you gotta do it yourself. Maybe hit the web, go talk to a rad-onc faculty member, or read a book on it. Good hunting.

GuP, thanks heaps mate - I appreciate your commment.

f_w - I think it might be best for me to look through a medical book myself. Its a shame the whole thing of litigation is so HUGE in america... I live in Aus and as yet things arent anywhere near as bad as there.

I asked a question as I would like to get to the bottom of why it happened for myself - for my own benefit. I am beyond any anger now... I'd rather find out as many facts as a I can myself, and then put them together to try and work out what happened.. to satisy myself.

You know what? If I had knowledge on something in a specialised field, and I knew that if I told a person something they wanted to know, that it would benefit them - then I would be very happy with myself... goes back to the whole 'being a doctor' idea. Of course I wouldnt want my words to be used in a lawsuit etc - but I made it clear that this wasnt the intention, and that it was general information I was after.
 
aheyn01 said:
If I had knowledge on something in a specialised field, and I knew that if I told a person something they wanted to know, that it would benefit them - then I would be very happy with myself...

These forums are not intended for people to solicit medical advice on individual cases.

(just in case I haven't mentioned it before)
 
f_w, im gonna quit after this........ but i was never seeking medical 'advice'. I am not asking whether someone thinks 'this' or 'that' should be done......

Rather what they think - their opinion - on what would happen if excess radiation were given to the area of mid-femur and how it effects the muscles.

But anyway, i've found a big part of my answer.
 
Without being specific- acute and late effects from radiation (including hyperpigmentation of the skin) are normal and expected as are complications from the tumor itself. Acute pain from radiation is unlikely, while acute pain from tumor is common.

I think the backlash on this forum resulted from a few things- eliciting medical opinion on a web site devoted to discussion of the field of radiation oncology, and perhaps your title of the thread. Accepted side effects from treatment are not usually considered a mistake, whether it is from a phamaceutical agent, surgery or radiation.
 
Litigation is a secondary issue here. this is a forum for students and trainees, not for medical advice or opinion. There are other forums for that sort of informationGetting medical views here is not appropriate and its less appropraite for someone to try to assess the situation in this setting. Im going to close this thread. I do hope you find your answer and wish you the best.
 
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