LJ,

I am sorry you are having to be the catalyst for your brother. That must really be a difficult position to be in. Welcome to our community, nonetheless! We have all been through the same ordeal as your brother and it is a difficult disease to accept.

You can have your brother authorize you to have access to his doctors, etc., by signing one simple form. Otherwise, unfortunately, you will be considered an outside just like a total stranger. (Yet another example how the government fails to react and then overreacts.)

Your best bet is to get your brother to the site and let him read about others and more about his disease. Some people will not accept the cards the have been dealt and there isn't a lot we can do about it. You can lead a horse to water but you can't manage him to drink. There is so much here in terms of resources and info that could significantly improve his quality of life if he chooses.

Here is a link to the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network:

http://www.nccn.org/

You could find the nearest center to where you live. Good luck and your brother is fortunate to have you by his side through this.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023