• Advice

    Posted on May 11th, 2010

    Written by Judy

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    Malpractice Suit? Or Not?

    Dear Judy,
    I personally believe my father died because of an incompetent anesthesiologist. He had malignant melanoma, but died under anesthesia. And I think the whole family should sue for malpractice.
    My problem is my stepmother who doesn’t want to sue. She says she’s too tired and sad to do anything legal like that, and also it [...]

  • Advice

    Posted on November 30th, 2009

    Written by Judy

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    Best Friend Blues

    Dear Judy,
    One of my oldest friends was recently told he had melanoma which has metastasized. He told me about it, and we discussed certain options (chemo, hospice care, palliative drugs, an early end).
    That was 6 weeks ago. Now none of my calls are returned. When I stopped by his house last Saturday, before Thanksgiving, his [...]

  • Advice

    Posted on August 11th, 2009

    Written by Judy

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    My Best Friend with Melanoma: Why Can’t I Help?

    Dear Judy,
    My best friend has melanoma, and it looks like the cancer has spread. She lives more than 150 miles away from me, but I am ready to help and to travel – any time. And to be with her.
    I text her. I email her. I phone. She has asked me not to phone. She says [...]

  • Advice

    Posted on July 22nd, 2009

    Written by Judy

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    Dying Nanny: What Do I Do?

    Dear Judy,

    I bet you don’t get too many emails asking for answers to this type of question:
     I have been working as a substitute nanny for a family in Illinois whose longtime care-giver has terminal melanoma.
     
    The children — 5, 8, and 13 — are understandably upset.  They are extremely angry, fairly aggressive, and definitely suffering in her [...]

  • Advice

    Posted on December 18th, 2008

    Written by Judy

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    Do I Allow the Living Lies to Inherit the Earth?

    Dear Judy,
    My grandmother who’s suffered from recurrent melanoma, which has spread, has written a will which – I happen to know – leaves some prime property in northern Virginia to her three grandchildren, provided none of us smokes and all of us go regularly to church. I’m one of those three. I’m born-again, a church-goer and I never [...]

  • Advice

    Posted on October 7th, 2008

    Written by Judy

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    After Melanoma: Sympathy I Can Live Without

    Dear Judy,
    My wife died two months ago. She had melanoma, but by the time it was caught the cancer had spread, then it recurred — 3 times — and she was in great pain for part of the time. All our friends knew this, and it was awful. For her it was worst of all [...]