Principles of Medical Ethics 

Before You Donate

Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.

Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.

Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.

Your comments are welcome on this page, or place your comments in the Guest book on the front page.  Awards may be found elsewhere. You are important to our survival and health!  

The most I wish for other breast cancer patients is that they seek out and find the physicians with which I have been blessed, and that they don't give up their search - those special medical professionals are "out there!"

"Your web site is incredible. Visitors to it can receive useful information on a great number of topics related to breast care. This is true of a number of other websites devoted to breast cancer. What makes your website so special is that, in addition to getting medical information, your electronic guests can also be touched by your love for people, and the fire in your heart to help others fearful of, or in pain in one way or another because of breast cancer. Having been touched in this way, I'm sure many suffering souls have been given a measure of peace and hope that they would not have had without you. And who knows how many have been touched in this way, and who knows how many more will be? God bless you for all your doing.

"You never cease to amaze me. Throughout your arduous journey through treatment, surgery and further surgery, you had the energy and determination to create a website that will no doubt change the lives of women who read it. You share a knowledge of medicine, nursing and patients and combine it with your personal journey with cancer, thus making your site unique, informative and accurate.

I commend you on such a heroic effort. Once again, you have touched my life and changed how I approach patients, their diseases and side-effects.

. . . keep up the great work.

. . .Jerry D. Fain, M.D. Oncologist, Austin, Texas"

"I visited your site.  It is terrific. I will point it out to some of the patients here as it has a wealth of information/experience and seems to be a useful link to other sites as well."

Carol:  You should be so proud of what you have done. But as the Spanish  poet said, "You make the way by walking."  You certainly have made yours. We,  the one's that deal with this terrible disease thank you.   Big hug 

Maria J Merino M.D.
Chief, Surgical pathology
NCI

(Dr. Merino is most humble.  She also heads the Chernobyl thyroid cancer project, and as the chief of pathology told me, she is the international expert on breast cancer pathology, and Dr. Merino is also lecturing world wide on the kidney cancer gene that's just been discovered [which killed my little brother!]. No one who asks for help from NIH or Dr. Merino is turned away, and there is no charge.  Thank God for NIH's wondrous application of our tax dollars!.  I am blessed to have Dr. Merino on my team, which brought me many moments of peace.  How could I not survive with my oncologist, surgeon, pathologist, and now analyst?)

As a Registered Nurse and a breast cancer survivor, I am so pleased to have found this site! What a tremendous help it would have been for me when I was going through the initial "shock" phase of having cancer - so many questions... and NO answers! As a member of the health care team, I continue to be amazed at how many physicians and nurses are unable to offer the help needed by so many patients at this very important time...a time when healing and recovery SHOULD begin. It is very stressful to try to be hopeful and take those first steps to recovery when one is so confused, frightened and uninformed.

How grateful I am to have this information to share with my patients and to be able to utilize this site for current information I would not be able to find elsewhere. Thank you, Carol, for all of your hard work and dedication to others who so desperately need this help.

Carol L. Hill, R.N.
Point Pleasant, West Virginia

June 7, 1999

"I join the other physicians in applauding the website that you have created as a testimony to the journey that you are on . . . "  Keith Kesler, D.O., Psychoanalyst , Austin, Texas  

September 22, 1999

Dear Ms Thompson,

Thank you for your message. I am sorry about mistake (n.b: using "Mr"). I got your E- mail by your web site on breast cancer accidentally when I was traveling in Internet. I am from Bulgaria and work as surgeon especially surgeon gastrodigestive but I perform  some operation in neck thorax etc. I operate and breast cancer. I am interested in problems on this area.  It was really very kind of you  to be of assistance to  me by your web site.

Sincerely yours.
Krassimir Djoupanov MD
Bulgaria

July 22, 1999:  Congratulations on being such an activist who gives so  much to the world.  I do think it is important to have legislative support for research and health, but I also think it is essential to investigate the cultural forms and assumptions which are carcinogenic.  I would rather have less cancer than more money to cure it.  We are living in a carcinogenic society and I do believe we have to change our lives drastically and radically if anyone is going to survive.

However, as we can't all do everything, it is wonderful that some of us fight some battles and others fight others and so together ...
Peace and Blessings and Health Deena Metzger
(See Deena's photo and bio by clicking on her name here)

December 23, 2001: "I remember when you asked for a comment, but didn't expect to find what I found.  I am deeply moved by the presence of the poster...Good luck to you -- the site is great and a gift to everyone who comes there."  Deena MEtzger

Carol:

My opinion of managed care is very harsh, and it angers me too to have this unnecessary and costly industry come between me and my patients in ways that detract from the quality of care rather than to increase it as the industry claims to be the case. 

As is clear from your website you are unusually aware of the role that one's psychological state plays in regards to our states of health v/s illness.  Managed care is systematically destroying the mental health care delivery system in this country (the Hay Group reported earlier this year that managed care has cut general medical spending by 7% and "behavioral health care" by 54%!).  When it finally turns around, as surely it will, it could take decades to repair the damage.

I could go on and on about this, but that would be unnecessary - something like carrying coal to New Castle.

I looked up your website and, like the doctors whose reviews you published, I am impressed.  More importantly my wife of 37 years, who as I type this is fast asleep, will be impressed as well.  She and I have gone through a lumpectomy and radiation therapy followed by a mastectomy, and I know that she'll find your site something that she wished she'd had available to her back then.  And, as appropriate, I will be referring patients to it as well.  Thank you for it.  

I hope that Dr. Kesler, who sounds like one of life's good guys, enjoys it as well.
Colin Wright, Ph.D. (psycotherapist)

 

WEB SITE USER COMMENTS (click here)

Name: Physician
Website:

Referred by: From a Friend

From: California
Time: 1999-03-27 00:01:51

Comment:  In oncology and surgery for breast cancer, we do not have the time to give our patients what this web site has been able to do. Even having an office 'counselor' or a social worker has not seemed to meet the needs of patients going through the stress and fears associated with breast cancer. I applaud this woman's determination, effort, and the second team she had the strength and fortitude to seek out. Reading this site, I pondered how I would join her team if I was in Austin, Texas. She is right. I hope more women listen to her. As physicians we want to do what is necessary, and certainly up to date. All to often we don't receive the information until our patients do. Yet, I am saddened by her first experience and the obvious terror of the unknown. I would want her to be a part of our practice if she was in California. I'm sending her an email invitation! The holistic caring she evidences and the gaps in care to which she eschews is what the medical profession needs. Best of luck, and good health!

(Thank you, Doctor)

Name: An M.D.

Website:

Referred by: Lycos

From: Illinois

Time: 1999-03-23 23:54:24

Comments: OUTSTANDING! Often, we do not hear enough from our patients, and often we do not ask.

 
(And, too often, we patients don't tell our doctors enough!  Yet, we are al the same, patients, at one time or another, soon.  Web Site Author CJT)

October 18, 2001

I was very excited to read about your work in breast cancer prevention. 
Your organization has wedded social concern and medical justice, and no
doubt, you will be successful.

I would be more than happy to assist you in any questions or logistics in
outreach to the Muslim community.

I would like to offer some points that may help in your effort for outreach....

Kamyar M. Hedayat, MD
Fellow, Pediatric Critical Care
Department of Pediatrics
Lucille Salter Packard Children's Hospital
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA, USA  (note: Dr. Hedayat is now practicing in the Chicago, Ill area)

N.B:  There's more coming to be posted here, we just have not had the time yet, and the web site  author is taking better care of herself!