UPDATE: An update on my sister's cancer diagnosis
First, my great thanks to all for the warmth, prayers, vibes, light and good thoughts that I received through DU. I love my DU family and I know that I can always come here for sensibility, compassion and friendship. Know that I appreciate that.
I had posted about my sister's illness here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029241288
We have now received the diagnosis and results of the PET scan and it is not good, unfortunately. The cancer is Stage IV colon cancer and it has spread to some areas of the chest and some areas of the abdomen. She has already had surgery to remove the actual tumor. The oncologist feels that, with proper treatment, she has some time left. We are grateful for that.
We are beginning the process of trying to figure out how we can afford to get her the treatment that she needs to prolong her life. Know that I, and all members of my family, are tenacious and dedicated and strong. We will go down every rabbit hole, we will call every phone number, we will leave no stones unturned as we try to get my sister the help that she needs.
I find it ironic that the timing of this coincides with the release of the details of Trumpcare. If I wasn't convinced before that Republicans hate poor people, well, I am now. And I was convinced already - that fact was merely clarified again with the release of the details of Trumpcare.
I am going to keep saying this until my last breath - NO PERSON, whether wealthy or poor, whether Black or White, whether male or female, whether young or old, whether good or bad - whatever - should EVER be denied care to sustain their life when care that would sustain that life exists. What in the hell do we have medical research for if not to sustain quality of life?
We need single payer now. We need to stop accepting anything less. We must demand it. We must be the vehicle for change. We must be the force. And we must not stop until we get every single person in America covered for health care. Not access - but actual coverage.
I invite you each to stand with me. I am in Texas and my fight is going to be a hard one. But I will not be silenced. I will be vocal, and I will be insistent.
I know my family is certainly not the only family facing this. I know there are many. It makes me so sad and it hurts a great deal knowing that a whole political party - actual human beings - don't care, hell, don't even acknowledge, that there will be needless suffering and pain. Callous assholes.
But rest assured, as our numbers grow, so shall our voices for change. It will take time. But we will win. We will win because we are never going to stop until we get single payer. Because it is the right thing to do.
And I hope that when those times come that I need a shoulder to cry on, someone to set me straight with factual information, or those times when I just need to know that others understand - that I can come to DU for that. I know I can count on that.
I thank you all for the fact that you care about one another and that you care about humanity. I cannot believe that I live in a world where some people do not care. THAT is what makes us different!
With love and friendship,
Hamsterjill
= new reply since forum marked as read
every step of the journey. We will fight for high quality, affordable healthcare for your sister and for all. I don't understand the forces of evil in our government who would not want to give her a fighting chance to be restored to health, but they cannot be permitted to win this. Too many precious lives are at stake.
Yes, You can count on DU. Let us know how/when You need us.
Please remember to take goood Care of YourSelf.
Holding the Light for Y'all. 
It is doubly painful to have to go through this along with gutting healthcare.
There is going to be a Medicare for All Rally on July 29th-July 30th at Hemisfair Park. Yes there are other Texans who want single payer.
We've also been protesting the AHCA including "die ins" in front of Will Hurd's office and a rally in front of Cruz's office.
You are not alone.
Hope to hear good updates from you in the future. 
I wish the best for your you, your sister and your family.
I would encourage you, though, to leave space for the possibility that what is best might be to make the most of the time that remains.
Stage IV colon cancer is often aggressive & the treatment more so. Your sister could spend most of what time is left more ill from the treatment than the cancer, without gaining any quality time. Get a doctor who will be honest with her (doctors hate to tell you that there is little go do, hate to lose patients, and in their desire to fix what's wrong often overestimate the amount of quality time gained by treatment and underestimate
My brother died 13 months ago, after a stage IV diagnosis approximately a year earlier. He had relatively aggressive treatment - with perhaps 2 months of quality time between diagnosis and death and several months of feeling worse from the treatment than the cancer itself. Other friends and acquaintances have died more quickly, but enjoyed relatively more quality time by choosing palliative care. Everyone has to make their own choices, but Stage IV colon cancer is not something you generally recover from, no matter what kind of care you have. Make sure she has the space to make a reality-based decsion. That may be fighting tooth and nail - or perhaps not. But the choice ought to be based on a realistic assessment of what is likely to follow each choice.
