Hi,

My mother (she's 51) told me today that she's had diarrhea for the
past year!!! She doesn't want to go see a doctor because she is
terrified of the result since her father (my grand-father) died of
intestinal cancer 20 years ago. She also doesn't want to tell my
father because she doesn't want to stress him out.

First, what can I tell her or do to convince her to consult a
physician? I told her that there are many different reasons possible
to explain why she's been having diarrhea for the past year and cancer
is only one of them, probably the least probable (hopefully) and that
even if it were the case, there are treatments available that weren't
20 years ago. But she won't change her mind and refuses to see a
doctor.

Second, what do you think could cause this diarrhea?

Thanks in advance.

Claudia

Hi,

My mother (she's 51) told me today that she's had diarrhea for the
past year!!! She doesn't want to go see a doctor because she is
terrified of the result since her father (my grand-father) died of
intestinal cancer 20 years ago. She also doesn't want to tell my
father because she doesn't want to stress him out.

First, what can I tell her or do to convince her to consult a
physician? I told her that there are many different reasons possible
to explain why she's been having diarrhea for the past year and cancer
is only one of them, probably the least probable (hopefully) and that
even if it were the case, there are treatments available that weren't
20 years ago. But she won't change her mind and refuses to see a
doctor.

Second, what do you think could cause this diarrhea?

Thanks in advance.

Claudia

Claudia wrote:
That's certainly smart. Don't you think it's better she find out before
it's too late to treat (and one year of symptoms would seem to indicate
it's not cancer).

If it's cancer, don't you think he's going to find out on his own at
some time?

Something like the above. See what it is and if it's not cancer, then
she can relax. If it is, she can plan out a course of treatment.

...and if it is cancer, it'll too late for treatment.

Many things. Parasites of one sort or another, an ailment called
cryptosporidiosis, something gone wrong with her intestinal lining.
Most easily fixable.

You might want to ask in sci.med.obgyn and see what they say. This
group is more about HIV/AIDS. (misc.health.AIDS, not health-aids).

B/