Wot d'u think?

[tamborine]

A family man 35y died year after operation for brain tumor.

I hear these young deaths all too frequently and wonder if some of these operations are necessary and how accurate the prognosis?

I never heard of such deaths in 1960s.

[LoftyLottie]

Probably because surgery wasn't so advanced in those days and people just died. Advances in medicine and surgery have made it possible to undertake all sorts of things that would never have been contemplated before. We hear about the ones that can't be saved, but there are many more people that live on to enjoy a full and long life as a result of new techniques.

If there is a chance of survival then people are now offered this chance and mainly take it.

My own father died a year after two brain operations. I often think like you - i.e. would it have been better if he hadn't had to go through all this. But at least he was optimistic and it gave him that chance.

[tamborine]

Its only in the last 10y that there have been many young deaths from these ops.

Another family man had a mole removed from back & died soon after of cancer - it was private treatment.

My 20y neice complained of a pea-lump under armpit & had breast op.

I've had lumps, bumps, moles & migrains I live with - I wont be 'cut'!

[Sqad]

tambo.....I comment basically on brain tumours........the commonest brain tumour is unfortunately a secondary from cancer elsewhere in the body, so right from the outset one is living on "borrowed time"

I have to agree with you that many cases of brain tumours are operated on, but never curable from the start.
Everything in surgery is operable, but the question is, is it desirable.......will it either increase one's life span or will it improve the quality of life and the answer is in the negative in both cases.

The British public expect so much from doctors and advances in surgery, which cannot always be realised.

You make a good point tambo.

[LoftyLottie]

"Everything in surgery is operable, but the question is, is it desirable.......will it either increase one's life span or will it improve the quality of life and the answer is in the negative in both cases. "

I presume you are only referring to brain surgery here, although brain surgery can increase your life span or improve the quality of your life. I have known it happen. Not in my dad's case though.

However, I often wish that my father had not undergone the two major brain operations - although he lived in hope and that in itself was a good thing.

[Sqad]

Lofty...I was confining my remarks basically to brain surgery in this instance, but the concept that I have outlined applies to ALL branches of surgery.

I always based my approach to patients on that premise.

[LoftyLottie]

So if someone is having an op to rectify a condition you would advise them that it wont extend their life or improve the quality of their life!! Might as well just close up all operating theatres then and just let people die of all sorts when a simple op. would put them right! ;o)

[Sqad]

lofty....if you say so ;-)

[tamborine]

sqad am pleased with your response, thanx.....I think we're on the same lines?

I know that docs & surgery today do practicle rather than theory medicine and they need someone to practice on - and it aint gonna be me!

[Sqad]

tambo...a little aphorism we all used in Medicine at some time.

A Physician is someone who knows EVERYTHING but does nothing.

A Surgeon is someone who knows NOTHING but does everything.

A Psychiatrist is someone who knows NOTHING and does nothing.

Should make you smile tambo.