If given the news that you have a terminal form of cancer?

Question

and that you have 12-18 months survival, would you opt for treatment and know that it may give you that time, though it sometimes is not quality
or: live out you remaing time doing as you would like, knowing that it may bring the end sooner

The scenario given happened too me, regarding ny husband. Some forms of cancer, such as small cell lung are terminal if diagnosed as such. the treatments alone can take your life sooner in trying too buy you some time. From diagnosis, he lived 1yr and 7 days

As a parent of 3... Yes I would do all that was within my ability until i can no more, for my child. The point I was making is there ARE cancers that are terminal from the begining, as in the case of my husband. He most definately wanted to live and beat this, but as his doctor stated this cancer can only be slowed down, but not with great results. Hope more info helps!!

FYI: My husband did take all the chemo and radiation they would give him, but without success!

Answer 1

Since we are living this nightmare with our precious son I thought you might be interested in our response.

When you have a young healthy person who has no symptoms of a stage IV metatastic cancer . . and you are given the option of treatment with the possibility of cure (with no guarantee) . . or just going home with no treatment . . don't you owe it to at least give this young person a chance to live?

As for the lame idea that you are really sick this whole time . . its just not true . . in the majority of cases the only time the patient is ill is during a few days of treatment each month. The rest of the time stage IV healthy young people go about the daily grind of living just like the rest of you. There is so much misinformation about cancer it makes your skin crawl.

My son was diagnosed at 17 years of age with a rare sarcoma that predominately strikes boys and young adults. The disease presents as multiple large tumors growing unihibited within the abdominal cavity. There are few treatment options and very few survivors of this disease. So, what would you have us do . . just give up without a fight? If you cherish life and believe that kids should be given every chance possible to LIVE than you do not turn your back and not at least try. It is true that there may come a point when there is nothing more that can be done . . but that time can not be determined when a patient is relatively healthy and strong. That is determined after a period of time when it becomes obvious that the cancer is winning the war.

In the meantime . . it is far more courageous to face your fears and fight for that precious chance at life.

Answer 2

Hi sweetie, My mum was diagnosed with colon/liver cancer on Dec 2 2004. She was told it was terminal but was offered treatment to prolong her life.She was given about 6 months to live even with the chemo. From the beginning she was prepared to fight her disease and was not willing to give up. After her first four chemos she was told that the tumors in the liver were shrinking so doctors decided to give her four more chemos but after those four the treatment had not worked at all. My mum was offered another chemo this time a stronger one which made her really ill as it was every week. She did not have time to get over one when it was time to have the other. She was so sick all the time, she did not have the strength to get out of bed. This time my mum decided to stop chemo as she new she was going to die sooner or later and was not having a good quality of life like this. She stopped the chemo on January 2006. Sadly my mum passed away on 27 May 2006 at the age of 60. To answer your question if I would opt for treatment I guess i would try all I could to beat the disease as I have four children and they need their mother as I need mine.God Bless you all, i wish your family all the best.

Answer 3

Since I still have children under the age of 18, I would opt for treatment to give us as much time together as possible, no matter how bad I felt.

If they were grown, I would look into how close we were to new treatments and if we were close, then I would get treated to try and make it to the new ones. If we weren't close, then I would just live my life as I wanted for the time I had left.

Answer 4

I'm a nurse and a Christian. I would make sure I have my relationship on track with God, and live life to the fullest. Life is what you make it no matter what situation a person may be in. I would fight to the end also, do all you can have the treatment, it might be worth it. Eat right go herbal with everything. I will pray for you and your family. Watch this and be blessed. www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com

Answer 5

Just because you are given that diagnosis doesn't always mean that they are right. I know a couple people whom outlived their survival dates by many years.

I would take the treatment and hope for the best. Nobody really can predict how long one may survive its just a guess based on how others have done.

Answer 6

I would live out the remaining time the best I could

The extentions appear to have pain suffering and a lot of sickness


Ask some one that does some form of radiational treatment

Answer 7

I would not have treatment. If you do, your 12-18 months will be filled with nausea and fatigue.
Enjoy your life and family. Get your legal matters in order, make sure your children are protected.
A living will is a good idea too.
If you haven't already, ask Jesus to come into your heart.

Answer 8

many people beat their diagnosis.

There's a great book: Love, miracles and medicine by Bernie Siegel about people who were given a bad diagnosis and outlived it by far.

Answer 9

i would live the rest of my life out what would a few more days make do all the things i wont to and die happy not stuck in a hospital room hooked up to all that stuff