Don’t mean to be a downer but- - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

22,355 members28,111 posts

Don’t mean to be a downer but-

MouseAddams profile image
11 Replies

do any of you have plans to donate your body for research purposes to further the treatments of future warriors? If so how do you plan to donate? His brother did this for his ALS

We were thinking about giving through Medcure as they claim to do everything for free but a few people recently had issues with them. Also they are a for profit type company.

The university near us wants the family to pay for basic embalming and shipping to their facilities. Also it’s up to a two year wait before they return the cremains.

We are open to other suggestions.

Written by
MouseAddams profile image
MouseAddams
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
11 Replies
MarkBC profile image
MarkBC

Metastatic cancer patients can not be organ donors so my initial plan can't happen. The University of British Columbia, near me, will accept bodies for research or as cadavers for the School of Medicine. They will take cancer patients provided the cancer has not destroyed all of the useful tissue.

Immediately after death, they have people who will assess the body. If accepted, the university takes custody of the body right away. They look after embalming and the care of the body for the next 3 years. Medical students and many other students learn from dissecting human bodies. After 3 years, the body is cremated at the university's expense and the ashes are returned to the family.

The university also holds a ceremony each year attended by the students, staff, and the families of the donors. The ashes of the donors are returned. It is an opportunity for the staff and students to thank the families for the knowledge gained through the donations. This is what I hope will happen to my body after I die.

MouseAddams profile image
MouseAddams in reply toMarkBC

Originally I had thought I might donate myself to a body farm but it would be years before they could return the leftover parts to the family. A few were weirded out about the idea. So I changed plans.

gsun profile image
gsun in reply toMarkBC

Thanks Mark. I am going to look into that.

Jewelrylady profile image
Jewelrylady

My husband and I are donating our bodies to UC San Diego body donation program. It’s pretty similar to what MarkBC wrote, but UCSD does not return ashes to family. They spread them at sea and family is not notified when this happens. They also have a yearly ceremony. We didn’t get to specify how we want them to use our bodies. There is no cost to us if they accept our body. If for some reason they decided not to use our body, family would need to assume responsibility for cremation/burial. UCSD also works with Organ Donation program, so if they couldn’t take our body, perhaps organ donation program could use parts, but family would still need to arrange cremation/burial.

tarhoosier profile image
tarhoosier

In a sense I have already. At the patient education session prior to surgery I was asked if I wanted to donate my prostate tissue to the hospital and research institution to advance knowledge of our disease. I said certainly. Who would decline? The male nurse said there were people in his hospital who would not sign such document because their religion prohibited the type of treatment they were about to undergo and they wanted the minimum involvement other than surgery. (7th day adventists, Christian Scientists, etc.) This referred to everything, not only prostate surgery.

MouseAddams profile image
MouseAddams in reply totarhoosier

Yep they gotta start somewhere. May as well be a willing subject.

Mascouche profile image
Mascouche

I contributed while still alive. A few years back, after my oncologist had used his finger to check my prostate he asked me if I would mind if his 3 interns did so too in order to gain experience. I wasn't thrilled by it but I took one in (or three?) for the benefit of mankind. :)

MouseAddams profile image
MouseAddams in reply toMascouche

I hear ya! We donated several vials of blood to th Million Veterans Program for use in research. This was prior to him being diagnosed with cancer. I’ve always said the biggest set of Guinea Pigs and laboratory rats was the military.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

They can have mine right now.........(but the laughs belong to my son)....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 10/16/2023 6:34 PM DST

Concerned-wife profile image
Concerned-wife

yes we both signed up with our local medical school. In case they don’t accept our bodies, they recommend having a backup plan..here is what they recommended

Med Cure (866) 560-2525 (she said is the best of the 2)

Science Cure (800) 417-3747

MouseAddams profile image
MouseAddams in reply toConcerned-wife

Yes, heard of MedCure from the hospice my brother in-law was in about 10 years ago. We did fill out basic paperwork. I looked them up at the BBB. They had no active complaints and no closed complaints. Just a few comments. Never heard of Science Cure.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Thank you for allowing me to be a silent participant

Dear Friends, I call you friends as your stories inspire me and have given me information,...

Things Going Well But A Little Nervous

Hi everyone. As you know, Paul finished his sixth round of Carbo Platin on 28 December. Now,...
MelaniePaul profile image

Malecare is 20 Years Old-Donate To Support Our Next 20 Years

Please donate at https://malecare.org/donate Malecare doesn't do road races, walkathons, sell...
Darryl profile image
Partner

Just checking in to make sure I don’t need to be doing anything else at this time?

Hi all, my father tested with 226PSA has received the results from his CT scan and Bone Scan....
FormulaRob profile image

3 to 6months to live! I don’t accept this.

How is that possible?! I wasn’t expecting that at my dad’s appointment today. This was supposed...
savingdaddy profile image

Moderation team

Bethishere profile image
BethishereAdministrator
Number6 profile image
Number6Administrator
Darryl profile image
DarrylPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.