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Hello all you medical experts, need some more advice!
The situation is an adult woman who has untreatable cancer and will be cared for at home by her 18 year old daughter; the year is 1937-38. She lives on a remote sugar plantation, British Guiana. She has spent some time in a town hospital. Medical care is presumably very basic. But I want the daughter to take care of her, maybe with the help of a nurse if that is necessary, for about a year while she is slowly dying. No operation as the hospital is not up to it.
From my own experience of cancer patients I know that there will be much pain, emaciation, etc and wounds to treat. But I need a bit more medical knowledge pertaining to the time frame. A doctor comes to visit occasionally.
First of all, what kind of cancer could it be? It should be something that is fatal and untreatable in respect of medical knowledge of the time -- a slow and painful death, where she needs constant care, but is able to talk to her daughter. I'm thinking breast cancer which is the most obvious.
WHat would the doctor say? (Just a few snippets of conversation, advice for the daughter would be great for dialogue!)
What would the sickroom smell of?
WHat would the daughter mostly be doing, with or without a nurse?
What kind of food would she need, also in respect of the time and place? (A staple is rice -- also vegetables etc and self-raised chicken is the main diet)
What basic medication would she have; painkiller for certain but what kind, and how would it be administered?
Remember that it's a tropical country, and there is no electricity, no fans (the place is too remote). But they are wealthy so mod cons of the day are available.
Any help, even just a few hints, much appreciated!
The situation is an adult woman who has untreatable cancer and will be cared for at home by her 18 year old daughter; the year is 1937-38. She lives on a remote sugar plantation, British Guiana. She has spent some time in a town hospital. Medical care is presumably very basic. But I want the daughter to take care of her, maybe with the help of a nurse if that is necessary, for about a year while she is slowly dying. No operation as the hospital is not up to it.
From my own experience of cancer patients I know that there will be much pain, emaciation, etc and wounds to treat. But I need a bit more medical knowledge pertaining to the time frame. A doctor comes to visit occasionally.
First of all, what kind of cancer could it be? It should be something that is fatal and untreatable in respect of medical knowledge of the time -- a slow and painful death, where she needs constant care, but is able to talk to her daughter. I'm thinking breast cancer which is the most obvious.
WHat would the doctor say? (Just a few snippets of conversation, advice for the daughter would be great for dialogue!)
What would the sickroom smell of?
WHat would the daughter mostly be doing, with or without a nurse?
What kind of food would she need, also in respect of the time and place? (A staple is rice -- also vegetables etc and self-raised chicken is the main diet)
What basic medication would she have; painkiller for certain but what kind, and how would it be administered?
Remember that it's a tropical country, and there is no electricity, no fans (the place is too remote). But they are wealthy so mod cons of the day are available.
Any help, even just a few hints, much appreciated!
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