How sick is my brother

Jake · New User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Ok. This is a tricky situation, but I'm wondering if my brother has some kind of lymphoma. I'll try and give some background first. He lives in England and I live in the US, so I don't get to see him. There is a history of cancer in my family, but not lymphoma. My Mother died of Ovarian cancer aged 55. Her brother died of colon cancer aged 59. My Grandfather also died of cancer, but he was 80. My Father was diagnosed with bladder cancer aged 60, but they got it, and he is now 70, and still has his bladder. My brother does not have a healthy lifestyle. He has no job, and as far as I know, does not get much nutrition. He has a lump under his arm that Dad says is the size of his fist. He says it feels like fluid. My brother is 44. Now here comes the tricky part. My brother has been taking money off my Dad for many years to the point where my Dad is now in debt for the first time in his life. I think he has a serious gambling problem. My brother says that he is seeing a private Dr. in London (about a 100 miles from where he lives), that his friend arranged for him to see. Dad believes him and is giving him money for treatment. I was wondering what do they do to diagnose this disease. My brother wont give a whole lot of information to my Dad, but has said things like they can't diagnose from his blood. They have taken a lymph gland out for diagnoses. Also that they drain the fluid. My brother tells a lot of lies, but I am very worried all the same. I'm really hoping that he is getting treatment like he is saying. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

ksplat · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: How sick is my brother

Hello Jake

Well I'm sorry you have the concern with your Bro. A huge difficulty for you is the distance (literally) between where you live. This is definitely a "tricky situation"!

Have you & your Bro been close in the past? I can understand your concerns in regard to the financial support your Father has provided. I was very saddened to read that this has put your Father in debt. This is a bad situation for your Father & your family.

I do know that cancer can only be diagnosed through a biopsy. You mentioned a lymph node being removed for testing & I assume this means a biopsy on lymph node. I know blood pathology cannot be relied upon, on it's own, for diagnosis!

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I do hope another member can offer their wisdom on this topic.

Thinking of you,
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Jake · New User Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thankyou Angie for trying to help. Every little bit of information helps. My Dad believes my brother has cancer, but my brother being the strange person that he is, has not actually come out and told my Dad this.
My Dad has just based this on information that my brother has given him.
There is a chance that my brother is lying just to get money out of my Dad, and that of course is what I am really hoping for. Although Dad has felt the swelling under my brother's arm, so there is definitely a lump there, but for all we know, it could be down to an infection. It's very difficult for me, because I don't know what to believe, or what is really going on. Not everything adds up. This private Dr. apparently only takes cash, according to my brother. So that makes me suspicious. I just hope that he has had a Dr. look at it. I am very worried.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 789 Location: UK

Hi - as Angie says, a very difficult position.

Is there any chance you or your father can get the name of this doctor out of your brother? You could then check him out on the Medical Register.

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