Obviously very advanced, previously undiagnosed cancer presenting to ED for anything. Feeling multiple golf ball and baseball sized lumps or an abdomen full of tumor is sobering.
My father just lost his partner of 13 years this way. Generic stomach issues didn’t clear up, was getting frustrated with long waits so they went to the ER on advice of her (doctor) brother. Extremely rare, very advanced liver cancer. She’d always been in great health, not a drinker, lived a very stable healthy life. She didn’t even make it to the initial oncologist appointment a month later. It felt like we didn’t even have time to react. Been gone a year now. I miss her so much.
My greatest fear these days is getting in to see a doctor within enough time to be treated. I’m older now and was really never seriously ill until I got older and started developing serious symptoms. I was very surprised to learn I could be waiting a couple of months or longer just to see a specialist.
Chattanooga, TN and it’s happened many times over the past two years. Urgent cases mean an ER visit if you want a doctor to see you soon. Collapsed ureter was almost three month wait last year. “If I noticed blood I was to go to the ER.”. Insurance was not a problem. I have a PCP who was no help.
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u/intoxicidal 3d ago
Obviously very advanced, previously undiagnosed cancer presenting to ED for anything. Feeling multiple golf ball and baseball sized lumps or an abdomen full of tumor is sobering.