Ulcerating Tumor, Undiagnosed

missy73

Hi All, I'm new to this site and thankful to have found it this morning. I'm writing out of deep concern for a friend that recently told me she is self-diagnosing herself with Stage 4 BC. I don't have a ton of detail, other than she first noticed something about 3+ years ago and now has an ulcerating tumor that is bigger than a quarter...I'm not sure by how much. Obviously, my first reaction was that she needs to see a Dr., but there are a lot of challenges that I am not sure how to navigate.
1. She has no health insurance, and does not want to spend a lot of money.
2. She does not want to go through, or put her family through extensive treatments that will reduce the quality of her life just to stick around for awhile longer.
2. She lives in Wilmington, NC, and I am in LA. I am a bit lost as to how to support her in finding someone she can go to who will be emotionally supportive as well as supportive of her decisions after diagnosis. Essentially, I need a low cost, non-judgmental and super compassionate and respectful doc who will be able to diagnose her condition.

She has severe anxiety and I'm sure, depression. She drinks excessively and really, I think the only reason why she confessed to me is that the ulceration is becoming worse and she knows she cannot continue to care for it on her own. I'm worried and frightened and at a loss as to how to help her find someone. She has obviously been in denial about it and I think would prefer to keep it that way, so there are a lot of low-energy mixed emotions at play. I'm trying to help her but would love some advice on how to go about finding someone she would be willing to talk to. Thanks so much in advance.

djmammo

missy73

See this link: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/no...

missy73

Thank you so much...PP was suggested to me by another friend, I suppose that hearing it twice is a good thing. My concern is that it has gotten so far advanced that they may not be the best for the situation, but hearing it from a radiologist is helpful. I appreciate your concern and the effort to send me the link. Thanks again, and I will forward it on to her.

Moderators

Thank you. djmammo! Great advice.

djmammo

missy73

"...so far advanced that they may not be the best for the situation"

The idea is for them to get her into the system for treatment. Once they see her they will be obliged to get her help.