If you get a cancer diagnosis and are prescribed chemotherapy, get a 2nd and even a 3rd opinion. Oncologists make bank off of chemo. Just because you have cancer doesn't mean you need chemo. And you might find out that you don't have cancer at all.
https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/10/us/michi ... index.htmlQuote:
Treated, but not sick
Robert Sobieray went to Fata and was given chemotherapy treatments for two and a half years. But he never had cancer.
"It just gets to me," Sobieray said. "What was the motivation? Why, why me? I don't know what did I ever do to him."
The chemotherapy treatments were painful, and made him physically sick. They were so strong that his teeth fell out and his jaw started to change shape. Years after finding out he didn't have cancer, he has lost all but one of his teeth.
"With all the bills piling up, I can't afford to get new teeth," Sobieray said. "(I) would like to eat a good meal again someday. Like salad, used to love eating salad. I can't eat that anymore. A lot of things I love I can't eat anymore."
Patty Hester went to Fata in 2010 after being recommended by another doctor. Her white blood cell counts were low, and Fata was a renowned hematologist and oncologist.
"He was, according to the web page, and according to the fliers, he's world-renowned," Hester said. "When you went in his office, he was top doc."
Hester, who worked in an emergency room at the time, was devastated when Fata told her she had myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
"He said, 'You need to start on chemo, like, immediately,'" Hester recalled.
She was in disbelief. And after debating with Fata, he instead put her on iron treatments and, eventually, blood plasma treatments. She was still taking those pricey plasma treatments the day co-workers made her come to the TV and see the news: her doctor had been arrested.
Hester did not have cancer.
Some of Fata's patients did have various forms of cancer.
Chris Sneary faced Fata for the first time since his former doctor's arrest on Tuesday as he read his victim impact statement in court. He turned to glance at Fata, took a deep breath and read his story.
Sneary came to Fata to be treated for testicular cancer from 2010 to 2013. He had 40 days of chemotherapy, 14 days of hydration therapy and dozens of other treatments and procedures.
"I gave full and total trust to this man to get me and my family through this journey I was about to begin," Sneary said.
Sneary discovered after Fata's arrest that he'd been given "gross overtreatment" -- more expensive and harsh chemotherapy than was necessary and, worse, he had a testicle removed that was medically unnecessary.