I'm pretty upset right now, and I need an explanation

As you all know, I was one of the people who took point on raising money for Andy. I wrote about it for truthout two or three times, and convinced the crew at Progressive Democrats of America as well that we needed to raise a call for help.

This is what I wrote for truthout on May 3rd:

"A few weeks ago, Andy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the more dangerous varieties of the disease. His doctors told him he needed a Whipple procedure to get at the tumor, and only a few hospitals in America can perform this complicated procedure with the required competence. To compound the problem, Andy shares the plight of millions of others in our disgusting for-profit health care system and does not have health insurance."

This is what I wrote on the PDA blog, in our call for help, on April 29th:

"Several weeks ago, Andy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was recently told that he must undergo what is called a Whipple Procedure. This is a very serious surgery that few hospitals in America are skilled enough to perform well, and requires significant time for recovery. Fortunately, some friends managed to get Andy a slot at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, one of the premier hospitals for this type of procedure. He is slated for the procedure in the second week of May. Unfortunately, the hospital requires a $25,000 down-payment before they assent to doing the Whipple, and requires another $25,000 once the procedure is done. They are expecting the down-payment immediately."

The basis for this started way back in February. On the 29th, I posted this truthout blog entry, which I reposted here on the first and fifteenth of every month to help raise money:

"For the last several weeks, Andy has been suffering through a bout of Hepatitis. The word came down yesterday, however, that his situation is far more serious. 'I apparently have a tumor growing around the bile duct where it passes through my pancreas," he wrote. "The tissue sample was consistent with malignancy; it could be benign but I am planning for the worst.'"

Note that here it says 'tumor.' In subsequent weeks I was told that it was pancreatic cancer requiring a Whipple. Note also that the fundraising for Andy did not start a week or so ago, but started three months ago.

I woke up today to this DU thread, in which it was reported:

"fyi: it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves. it looks to not have spread at all. it is not pancreatic cancer as others have posted, but if it was not caught early enough, it would have certainly spread there."

"...as others have posted..."

I am one of those "others" who posted it was pancreatic cancer, requiring a Whipple. I posted it here, on truthout, and on PDA. I did so because that is what I was told was the diagnosis, repeatedly, by both Andy and others.

Now that it turns out not to be the case, I have some questions:

1. If it was not the very serious pancreatic cancer, why did the surgery need to be done at Johns Hopkins?

2. If a Whipple was not required, why was $25,000 and then $50,000 needed for this surgery? Andy could have gotten this far-less-serious procedure done back in Seattle for a hell of a lot less money.

3. Why was I personally told this was pancreatic cancer? Why was I allowed to repeat this now-inaccurate diagnosis many times without anyone correcting me?

Understand: I believe Andy has a tumor of some kind, and this requires medical attention. I do not think this entire situation was fabricated from nothing.

But the 400 people who will come into this thread with "Andy doesn't need this stress" can hold your water. Andy is apparently a hell of a lot less ill than I and others were led to believe, and I need some answers. I put my reputation, the reputation of truthout, the reputation of PDA, and the reputations of all the people who work for those organizations on the line not once, not twice, but every day for weeks on this. I have a huge, huge responsibility here, and I am not going to just let that drop.

I have a personal reason for asking these questions over and above everything else. A great and good friend of PDA, activist Damu Smith, was recently diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. There is no ambiguity about this diagnosis. But because I was told Andy had pancreatic cancer requiring a $50,000 Whipple in the best hospital on the Eastern seaboard, I talked PDA into diverting time and resources towards Andy. This wound up diverting time and resources away from Damu.

I would like some answers. No wait and see. I have spent time with Andy, worked with him, thought I knew him well enough to vouch for him in a time of crisis. I am feeling personally betrayed right now, and furthermore I have put far more than my own feelings and standing on the line here.

If you think I'm a bastard for asking, I will live with that. But if this is not explained to a degree I find satisfactory, there is going to be hell to pay.

You want answers and you deserve them. I am certain others feel just the same way that you do. I among them.

and I'm not trying to discount your concern in any way . . .

What is the difference between saying "I apparently have a tumor growing around the bile duct where it passes through my pancreas" and "it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves?"

They sound like they're describing the same thing to me.

In the time since, I was told it was pancreatic cancer requiring a WEhipple. I was told this by Andy. I put that third quote in there to underscore the fact that fundraising for Andy didn'st start here a couple of weeks ago, but has been ongoing for three months.

you need to talk to Andy HIMSELF- and address your 'legitimate' concerns- i personally don't have an 'issue' with how '....terrible' the need was,- what i gave, i gave freely-
But you have questions that need answers- You want to know your trust has not been mis-placed, and you feel responsible for 'vouching' for someone- PLEASE! don't let this discourage you from your desire to bring 'good' to others, no matter what the outcome-

If people stop trying to make this world a better place because of being mis-led ( AND THAT'S NOT AN ASSUMPTION- SIMPLY A POSSIBILITY)- we should all drink the kool-aid asap.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, or how it is recieved, or deserved is EVER wasted- it's one more step towards a 'better world'-

i respect you, and i believe the best of people even when that seems insane-

Please tell me more about your friend that is in need- i don't have much, but i'm a believer in paying it forward, without expectations of any 'return'- other than the knowledge that i am becoming who i know i want to be- (pretty selfish when you come down to it)-

Thank you.

Damu is an absolute stand-up guy!!!!!!! My husband has done work with him and Black Voices for Peace over the past few years and he is an inspiration to all. The news that he is sick is shocking and disheartening. I would hate for our side to lose someone so dedicated and valuable. My prayers go out for Damu and his family.

First tumor problem is on the bile duct, the tube leading from the gallbladder to the intestines (this is where the bile, digestive enzymes) travel. The second is on something else, perhaps the pancreas itself, perhaps other cells, maybe abdominal lining or metastisized cells from somewhere else. The end result may be the same, but the where and why and treatment are different.

Bile is made in liver, stored in gallbladder, and sent to intestine when needed for digestion. Your gallbladder is on your right, under your liver. The bile duct leads from the gallbladder to intestine, meeting with the pancreatic duct (leading from pancreas to intestines). Bile travels through this tube to the intestine

The pancreas is a very interesting organ, basically making insulin and digestive enzymes. It is behind the stomach, with a duct, a tube, leading to the intestine, which joins up with the bile duct.

You can have cancer of the pancreas or of the duct or of other stuff, like cells around the duct. Pancreatic cancer is serious, very serious, and can be very painful. Think of making digestive enzymes inside yourself and not being able to shove them off into your intestines. Yes, you digest yourself. This happens when the duct gets blocked, or the pancreas fucks up and starts making enzymes where there is no duct (think of cancer being an overgrowth of cells that aren't laid out in proper form).

So, where is the physiological problem? The end result of the tube being blocked may be the same, but where and why will determine the treatment.

my beloved fathers trip through hell-

he died of necrotizing pancreatitis following a bout with 'gall stones'- they removed the gall bladder, but left his iv in for over 10 days, got a staph infection they couldn't get under control, and finally when it looked like he was on the mend, he came home and hemmoraged all over the place- the pancreas had been releasing it's nasty juices all over his interabdominal cavity-
they med-flighted him to the best nearest hosp. and he was operated on- .... they took out all his innards, .... and he lived for 10 days in surgical icu- while the MD's ....un-willing... un-able?.... what-ever the reason, still gave us 'hope' that he could survive and maintain a reasonable 'quality of life'-

it was devestating-...... something i would never wish on ANYONE- a death no one should have to endure-

these bodies of ours are fabulous machines, but when they fuck up, they can do that fabulously too-

that you aren't totally together on this, I don't know what to think. I'll wait to see what the answers are and what you make of them. *lost*

It's a bit distressing to see that you have questions about it, especially if you've addressed those questions to him directly without an answer. Have you?

(On edit... it's just a question so that I can form my own opinion. I've sat back through most of this, trying to keep assuming the best.)

Been off computer since Thursday night. Back on this late morning to find this. It is most distressing to see you Will, having doubts.

We too have stayed out of the fray, we did contribute though. We did promise to send additional, but before it could go into the mail the controversy broke out. Waiting to see how this all comes out before 2nd check goes in the mail.

Will, our trust in you is unshaken. You trusted friends, nothing wrong there, it is an admirable trait.

If you spent time with Andy, worked with him, and knew him on a personal level - to whatever degree - how is it that you and he never discussed his diagnosis in detail?

Or, has the diagnosis changed recently? Medicine makes errors all the time.

Johns Hopkins is a fancy place, mostly for extraordinary procedures.

(FYI - I have no idea who Andy is, nor do I know much beyond what you laid out in your post - I do know that people were generous and supportive in this matter, but it does seem that the situation has taken on a kind of complexity that seems sudden.)

I would like to hear more about who Andy is. Sorry for the ignorance.

After all, he would be the only one who could truly provide you with the answers you need. Besides, this is DU, after all, and shit can get flung around with great abandon, with matters being taken out of context, and people making mountains out of molehills. I'm assuming that you have a way of contacting Andy, I would suggest that you do. perhaps he can provide you with a copy of his doctor's diagnosis.

But frankly, relying on an anonymous chat board is not a good way to get such information.

He is publically asking questions about a public fundraiser, in view of people who have made it possible.

I think you need to talk to Andy directly, Will. He's the only one who can provide the answers.

It is entirely possible that after the tests he's been doing, that the situation looks a little less dire.

opportunity to respond? IMO, this is a perfect example of "shit flinging"... contact Andy! Go straight to the source.

peace.

that got me going on pancreatic cancer, Whipples and fifty grand. I would like a public disclosure for reasons I think are clearly understandable.

was the copy of the certified check, not the cancelled check

--that they have to get out, or it will become cancer. And if the Whipple is needed for that spot, it is needed.

Pancreatic cancer is so serious I can certainly see why one would conflate pre-cancerous and cancerous. Having had a pre-cancerous condition myself. You have to get it out however it is gotten out, and be very thankful you did so early enough.

the surgery, correct?

to other areas besides the primary tumor.

Much as I pray for Andy's good health, I get the feeling I have missed something cuz I don't understand the nuances.

Not by any means. But why are you having to post this, to get answers? It seems that this should be able to be resolved off line. After you receive clarification, if it turns out that it is not cancer, I would expect you would publicly discuss it.

I'm sure everyone realizes that you put your personal and professional reputation on the line. It's your duty to set the record straight for your sake and the sake of your the orgs you are affiliated with. I respect that and the fact you are seeking out the truth here.

Ask to see the medical records.

Yes, that is an unfortunate thing to say. But it would be my advice to anyone in this or a similiar situation - regardless of who was or was not involved and whether or not I knew them.

Think of it as evidence that supports a persuasive argument. The argument itself may be perfectly legitimate but it remains unproven without evidence to substantiate its claims.

I expect no less of some fundy preacher who claims that people were physically healed as a result of his ministry - medical documents showing both an illness and a cure.

Edit to add: I do not know any of the parties involved and do not question the motives of any. Like others, I have merely followed this developing story here on DU.

"fyi: it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves. it looks to not have spread at all. it is not pancreatic cancer as others have posted, but if it was not caught early enough, it would have certainly spread there."

It was Bettyellen. I'd think it'd be better to hear it from Andy, than from Bettyellen or anyone else.

Let's let Andy tell us about the diagnosis, rather than have a 3rd party do it. I realize why you are up in arms about this, but once again we're going to have to ask Andy to clarify the situation.

I was told differently several times. I find out differently buried in a thread, posted by someone who has been spending time with Andy.

You really just have to hear it from the horse's mouth.

Until then, you can borrow this:

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

and they did diagnostic tests that perhaps wouldn't have been performed if Andy had not visited the right facility. These tests were very expensive, and, fortunately, they were interpreted by experts (that are hard to find).

I'm praying that when they go in, and operate (and they will have to operate and go in and see what it is and remove it), they WILL find out that it is not as serious as first thought.

I pray that Andy gets well quickly. I'm sure that the funds will barely cover all that needs to be done, if that.

I do not regret donating one iota; hopefully, this will focus attention on the heathcare situation in this country. Andy will get well, and we can focus attention on how important it is to get the proper healthcare in a timely fashion. I'm proud of you, me, and the rest of DU for showing that such a marvelous campaign can successfully be carried out.


Now, as for the vicitm of colon cancer ... if he needs help, please let us know, Will.

We really need to highlight (1) how important it is to get regular annual exams, (2) how important it is to get timely care, and (3) how pitiful the healthcare system is in the USA.

Bless you, Will. God bless Andy. God bless your friend with colon problems.

It will be fine.

until you've been through some pretty invasive tests at the hospital. When we went through this, first it was-

You have a bladder infection, take these antibiotics.

Then it was- OK, that didn't work, lets do a biopsy.

Then it was- the biopsy looked good, strange looking cells, though...

A week later- you have bladder cancer.

Then, after more tests- you have rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer.

This is not uncommon at the hospital, and this was at an NCI designated site.

Please talk to Andy. If the diagnosis has changed, which it may have, from pancreatic cancer- a very very nasty cancer with a low survival rate- to a malignant tumor located near the pancreas- I would say we all have reason to celebrate for Andy.

tonight, at 9:00/8:00 pm on.... Fox..

but am assuming that you are not poking fun at my family's struggle with cancer.

and a little wrong. Sometimes when talking about things that we don't completely understand, we put it into our own words. Those words can sometimes drift into something that is not quite as accurate as we meant, but through no one's fault it has become confused and inaccurate. I, myself don't always protect the accuracy of a statement just in my own interpretation of the statement. This has nothing to do with credibility, it is simply human nature that sometimes happens. Your trust in Andy is damaged and the only way to solve that is to level with him about everything you are concerned about, leave nothing out. You, Will, are a very perseptive person, you will KNOW. You cannot let this go unchecked. There is no one here that questions your integrity, you have, all along, believed what you were being told because you trust another person. If there is a problem, BIG IF, it is not because of something you did wrong, we are not responsible for the wrongs of others.

I PM'd you. thanks

There's been a hell of a lot of noise made and a hell of a lot of changing statements from everyone including Andy. Andy himself has said it was pancreatic cancer several times. I've given three times in the past couple of months and quite frankly right now I don't know what to think.

So... Will, thank you for broaching a subject many of us have been afraid to post about and Andy, all I would like is a consistent history of what was known and when. What is the real diagnosis and do you really need a Whipple procedure?

Sorry if I sound harsh, but I'm feeling particularly disillusioned this afternoon.

Every time there's trouble or some kind of question about Andy's honesty, it's because of a third-party post.

Let's wait for Andy to say something. I don't know what the truth is, but the man deserves the opportunity to speak for himself before he's criticized - though I completely understand Will's point of view because he DID put his reputation on the line and I'd be anxious about it, too.

In any case, I just hope that Andy ends up healthy after all this is over.

For the life of me, I can't understand why someone in a position such as yourself would not get the patient to sign a HIPPA form and then send the form on to the hospital. There really is no need for all this public thrashing around. There is no need to wonder what is going on. The facts are readily available.

The hospital can then send you ALL his medical records. Then any doubts could be absolutely and completely resolved.

I have a HIPPA form that I use in my practice that I would be glad to email to you if you'd like to PM me. If the patient signs it, you can fax it to the hospital and they will give you his medical records. Its quite simple.

Had I been a professional about this - instead of a trusting friend - I would have required that a hell of a long time ago before posting any calls for help.

I'd sure like to see one now.

A couple of years ago, a close friend of mine had lung cancer. She wanted me to be able to directly talk to her doctors so she simply filled out a form and I was able to call them and/or talk to them in person.

We did this not because I needed to verify anything, we did it because I was very involved in helping her set up her treatment/care and appointments. (She was too ill to track everything and she did not want to make treatment choices on her own).

The doctors were very open and coooperative. They returned calls, set up meetings and gave me any info they would have given to immediate family.

But was waiting for the PM and e-mail that I sent to Skinner to be answered before I did. I don't really care who flames me or whether I receive a tombstone for saying this, but I've been very uncomfortable with the silence on this board when it comes to this issue and any verification of the cause I donated not just once, but twice to. Would I have donated had I known it wasn't a life threatening condition? Probably not, because we all know there are MANY DU'ers on this board with medical problems and no insurance to pay for them. If I donated to Andy, I have to donate to them all.

I dunno. I hope Andy comes along and clears this all up and that I get rid of this bad feeling I have that I've just had my pocket picked.

Flame away if ya feel the need, people.

It does "feel" odd, and has now for a couple of weeks. I would have thought by now we would have had the definitive answer, but there are just more questions.

I feel bad for feeling this way, and I would guess a lot of other people do too, which explains some of the silence. I don't want a gang after me for having a doubt after all these questions have been raised, when I sincerely want the best for Andy and want all this controversy to just go away.

I don't have regrets about the donations I've made, but the questions are piling up.

I'm a long-time lurker, occassional poster who followed this situation very closely. No doubt about it, Andy did have a medical situation and it most likely needed treatment.

However, there are a lot of questions on this matter and you raised the points very succinctly. I think all of us at DU need an explanation, because we all invested our time, money and our emotions to this calling. We deserve to be told the circumstances exactly as they are. No more embellishment, just the facts. If this matter wasn't handled on the straight and narrow, then someone needs to be accountable.

Regardless of the outcome, nothing can take away what we achieved as a community and it doesn't lessen the scope of our intentions in any way.I think coming from you, Will, it speaks volumes about the concern of our community and our compassion for our fellow man.

Whether it's pancreatic cancer or a tumor on the bile duct? This overview seems to say the surgery is done for a few conditions.

http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdise...

1) If this is simply a tumor, surely that would have been discovered when the stent was put in

2) Although Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early, there is no mistaking it for an encapsulated tumor when it is diagnosed. If this was the case, there is one HELL of a malpractice lawsuit that could be filed here. It's the difference between an almost certain death sentence and severe indigestion.


That being said, no matter what has occured and no matter what will occur, we are all on the same side here on DU. We need to remember that we are allies in a larger fight, one that is bigger than one individual.

But I don't think any doctor would conclusively diagnose cancer based on the appearance of a tumor. They rely on biopsies, actual scientific evidence of cancer cells present.

Biopsies don't show cancer if it's not present, since they look at the cells from the biopsy; but they sometimes show it's not present, when it actually is. (It's possible to get only good cells from a biopsy).

To qualify again, I'm not in the medical field, but I did have a lump removed. The doctors told me that it did not appear to be cancer but not until they did the biopsy or remove it, would they know for certain. (It wasn't cancer). This is the same protocol they used for both my father and best friend, who did have cancer, although in both of their cases, they told them it did appear to be cancer but could not be confirmed until they looked directly at the cells via a biopsy.

We were pretty close when I was a kid, I even lived with her one summer when things were rough at home.

I started to post a long, rambling paragraph about my aunt, pancreatic cancer, and why I have reservations about this situation with Andy, but I decided to cut it. It's really painful for me and it doesn't add much to the discussion. Suffice to say that among bad ways to die, pancreatic cancer ranks pretty high up on the list. Anyone who doesn't have it should consider themselves damn fortunate.

And it looks like you're going for number two.

Is this thread the best way to get your questions answered? How long is it going to take this board to settle down again, do you think?

The source of your information is not Andy's doctor nor Andy. You might consider that, and might have before posting. You know how to get solid information. Why not put those skills to work?

For even being put in this position. If the diagnosis and prognosis had changed so drastically, shouldn't you or someone else have notified Will to the new facts? Why should he have to come to you to find out or read it in a message that was buried in some obsure thread? He put *his* name on the line and this is how he gets treated. What is up with that?

good information from reliable sources.

This is the new information: Andy's cancer has not spread to his lymphatic system and doesn't involve any blood vessels.

We found that out via a CAT scan done at Johns Hopkins late last week. And this should be good news,no?

He will still need a Whipple, although there is a possibility the doctor will go with a "mini Whipple". As I myself am not a doctor, I'm not sure what the difference is.

The cost of the surgery is the same.

And that's what I know, Goldmund

Has he ever been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer?

You know, we could be feeling good right now that this thing hasn't spread. That's what the test on Thursday showed.

Leo Strauss believed in noble lies. I don't. WE don't.

It all depends on whether or not your "To my knowledge" is correct.

for a whipple if he didn't need one.

And I am not saying I doubt Andy, I don't.

But, I had a tumor removed from my abdomen last summer. I wasn't feeling well, had some similar syptomes as Andy, etc. I went to the doctor. I saw my regular doctor on August 10th. She immediately referred me for further tests. Saw another doctor on August 12th, which was a Thursday. They immediately scheduled my surgery for Monday, August 16th. No time for add'l tests, pre-op blood work, etc. He wanted it out and if he could have scheduled it for that day or Friday, he would have. Luckily, the tumor, while fast growing, was benign.

I would think that the doctors would have wanted to have this surgery performed on Andy just as quickly. I wouldn't think that this should have gone on as long as it has, since it would theoretically increase the odds of it spreading.

Thanks,
Debbi

Andy has no insurance and JH lost the check. If Andy had had Blue Cross, he'd be post op by now. Sadly, it's that simple.

But I do know that the doc is doing his best to get Andy in as soon as possible.

A DUer explain JH to me as the worst human traffic jam you've ever seen.

Does that make sense?

question, Will, I sure hope you pm me. I'll do my best to help you find what you need, all right?

even provide him with an estimate of what the surgery would cost without a diagnosis????

If he feels he deserves public answers, then he's earned that right. Certainly there are a number of us who would like to get all of this out in the open.

And, am I mistaken or did Skinner formulate a plan for us last week?

I don't recall Skinner telling anyone else to do anything other than remain calm and clear-headed. Which is pretty good advice in general, IMHO.

he will verify that and the costs of the surgery.

Skinner is a smart guy, too.

And frankly, I can't believe you're jumping on him and saying he owes anyone an apology. Even IF it turns out that this was on the up and up, somebody should have let Will know what was going on. He should NOT have had to find out here or at his blog. Will he owe Andy or any of you an apology if this turns out to be legit? In a word, no.

an apology. Yet.

I did say that he has the skills to find the information he needs to put his mind at rest.

Why does he need to use his journalism skills to find out the truth?

I see the answers above

I don't understand what motivates you to post this rather than discuss your concerns about the degree of Andy's hardship with Andy.

I just don't understand.

who work for organizations that made this call. It isn't as simple as you (or I) would like it to be.

I understand the concern and I second the notion that Andy is the one that will be able to clear this all up. I hope that he will.

But coming from Will, it does raise red flags. I donated on the premise that I was helping someone in dire need. Would I have donated if it wasn't a "life or death" matter? Probably not, because there are so many people out there and in my own community for that matter, that need and deserve treatment for a variety of condition. This was sold as "life or death", and DU answered the call and should be applauded.

I guess its just the feeling of uncertainty, especially when you pour so much effort and so much of yourself into something. It becomes you, you are consumed by it. I don't blame Will for wanting some clarification on the specifics, especially since he played a crucial role in it.

Regardless, as I pointed out in my other thread, noone can take away what we accomplished here or taint our intentions. That, to me, is the essence of this matter.

because i knew it wasnt something my husband would value or appreciate. i lied because though i thought at first was a description of a tumor that wasnt dangerous, i bought into the pancreatic cancer, and felt life was important enough to shrug hubby's voice. so i lied. i took money and spent it when i wouldnt have normally

we donated the money in different spirit.

if it was my money, i could easily let it go.

will, it is reputation more than money i would imagine.

for each person it will be different

Apparently? Or actually? What are the facts here?

and yes, doing it in public. The statements about pancreatic cancer, Whipples and $50k were public. I made them so.

You could go to the source, investigate your concerns and then report it back to DU. Isn't that what a good journalist (not to mention a friend) would do?

Will, you have to get some sleep. Your lack of sleep is impairing your judgment. This is not an attack, it is an observation and you have let all of the Lounge know you have terrible insomnia. Deal with that, for your sake and for those who trust your judgment. Right now, you aren't using any imho.

Went to bed at 8pm, slept through the night.

I am clearer today than I have been in weeks, actually.

If you are so clear, why have you not asked Andy for the documentation so that you can find answers? Why not ask him the questions and then report it here?

permission to his doctors to discuss his situation.

Then he (Skinner) was going to tell us here at DU what the doctors said.

What is the status of that?

this with andy before posting here. I know from personal experience thaat you can get several diagnosis before they narrow it down to the correct one. My father had several before they finally opened him up and decided it was indeed metastatic cancer and they thought it was a benign tumor before hand with no spreading which turned out to be wrong even after several MRI's.

I had several dx myself before they hit on the correct one after more and more sophisticated tests.

So while he may have been given a dx of cancer in the beginning it may now be a encapsulated tumor which may or may not be cancerous which they will NOT know till they get in there and biopsy it.

I don't know Andy but I am a retired nurse who donated.

So I really really hope you have spoken with him first before posting this.

it had been biopsied back in February, I believe.

I'll try to find the link...


On edit: Sorry, my bad it was March 23.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

but I believe I remember seeing Andy reply to Will's blog post to say "thank you". Not "thank you, and by the way, I don't actually have pancreatic cancer". Let alone that there were a million posts on DU which used the words "pancreatic cancer" and they were only contradicted this morning, in a sort of offhand fashion.

it was all over the net. Mike Malloy, Thom Hartmann, the Al Franken message boards, the Randi Rhodes message boards, numerous other websites. Always it was posted that Andy had pancreatic cancer which has a less than 10% survival rate and not pancreatitis (or whatever it is he is supposed to have now) which has a greater than 95% survival rate.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Andy+Stephe...

From the Johns Hopkins web site.

http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/surgery.cfm

and

http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/whipple.cfm

Looks as if what you're describing is classified as pancreatic cancer and a Whipple procedure would be appropriate if metastasis has not yet occurred.

According to what I have seen, the Whipple is not going to be preformed now.

The diagnosos I was told in the last weeks was difinitive: Pancreatic cancer needing a Whipple. That was the basis of the calls for help, that it was immediate and life-and-death.

Like I said, I don't doubt that Andy has a tumor requiring treatment.

But I am not at all sure that it required $50 grand at Johns Hopkins. It could have been pretty much free at a Seattle hospital.

I need to know why I was told otherwise, why I was allowed to say otherwise.

....that the surgery was scheduled for sometime next week. Is that in question now, too?

This has been bouncing around like a ping pong ball. First it was $25k, then $50k, then the checks got lost, then Andy posts a thread about writing a 'hot check,' then he deletes his own thread, Skinner has not posted any clarifications, I don't even know what the surgery date is anymore, and now the whole diagnosis has changed.

I don't see where it has been bouncing around. From what I've gleaned (and I haven't even talked to Andy. Ever.):

It was always $50k. We all knew the $25k was the upfront cost.

Yes, the checks ended up on the someone else's desk.

Is it surprising that someone wrote a check that they didn't have money for, but knew that they'd have money for, and then freaked a bit and posted about it on a message board and then thought the better of it?

Skinner posted a clarification last week, in which he said that when Andy was admitted, we'd have more "evidence".

I'm sure I've read a thread around here that stated the surgery is scheduled for May 26 or sometime next week.

I don't know if the diagnosis has changed. You don't know if it has changed.

DU has been weirded out lately for various reasons. The tone around here isn't exactly friendly. I don't see your original post helping. Talk to Andy. It is the only way you're going to get answers. Asking around here won't help.

I get why you're bent about this. You put your reputation on the line. I can dismiss any discomfort over this issue because I just sent money that I gave freely without expectations. You have more to lose, but this isn't the way to address it.

*lecture over*