I made my choice in cancer treatment. What would yours be? Would you choose to "possibly" prolong your life but feel bad all the time...like extreme fatigue and nausea? Or would you say enough is enough and take your chances cause you're finally feeling better and just enjoy whatever time you get?
2007-06-21 13:45:38 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
When I was very young, but old enough to understand, I was given six months to live with a medical condition. I was faced with a situation where the quality of my life would be serious confinement.
I remember being in the back yard in a swing and thinking about all this. I suppose, when you are young, death does not seem so final; but the choice just seemed to sweep over me. "If I have to live like this I would rather be dead."
In other non-medical situations I have gone for quantity; partly because of other people who needed me. So I guess it depends on the timing and the situation. In a perfect world we should not have to make such a choice.
If I had to do everything over, I would go for quality always. I don't want to sound flip; but I have learned that I am eternal until the Lord says otherwise. And I have found my healing to be the presence of power and not the maintenance or absence of disease.
2007-06-24 19:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by Tommy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If there is a reasonable hope that when you go through the chemo and radiation you have a decent chance at several years, that is what I'd choose. If the prognosis was poor, say, the second recurrence of cancer or a spread to the liver or brain or bone, I'd just enjoy life as long as I could and make sure I got good pain killers. I would also use the time to make sure my family was at peace with my decision and to say good bye and mend any fences I may need to. I would check out hospice care and make any arrangements for end care while I had the energy.
2007-06-21 14:09:13 · answer #2 · answered by justa 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the context of the situation. If it was a choice between living a little while longer, or become a vegetable, I'd choose to live a little while longer, then die. If it was a choice between treating cancer, or living with a tumor inside of me until it spread everywhere and killed me, I would treat it, because people can live a nice quantity of years, with a high quality life, after cancer. It may not even come back.
2007-06-21 13:49:42 · answer #3 · answered by calivane07 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely feel it has more to do with age. Older adults have lived a long life and at that point in time considering quality over quanity is useful. But when you are dealing with a child or young adult who has not had any chance at living life . . there really won't be any quality to life unless you can give them the quanity to enjoy it.
Children and young people deserve a chance to live and if the only way they can do this is through treatment than they must fight. In general children who have stopped treatment can pass very quickly . . so they never will get to enjoy that 'quality' of life that you mention.
2007-06-21 15:30:02 · answer #4 · answered by Panda 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm in the middle of that very situation right now. Diagnosed in Feb with 3-5 months left. After 3 treatments of palliative chemo (GEMZAR) I was depressed, constantly tired, weak and irritable. After 3 weeks off chemo I am in a much better mood, still tire easily but am active and trying to put to good use my time left. My oncologist said I MIGHT get an extra 6 mo to a year with chemo but with no guarantee. I'm strongly leaning towards quality, but feel somewhat guilty about not putting up with chemo and giving my loved ones extra time with me, MAYBE. It's a quandry.
2007-06-22 18:37:29 · answer #5 · answered by gone 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
quality,
My dad died of pancreatic cancer he chose quality, But i kinda wish he chose quantity of life cuse I'm only 15 and i still need him and all,but also knowing his life would be as long, but then again it was really hard to see him in pain nd really tired and throwing, but u would probably want to live the rest of u life without all that, and just let nature take it away.
That is kinda a chose you would have to make on your own and talk with your loved ones.
2007-06-21 18:46:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
After working several years in a nursing home, I'd definitely choose QUALITY. Families hold on out of selfishness, refuse to agree to DNRs all the while patients are suffering, bed bound with bed sores. That's no life. I pray that God takes me before I reach that & I have made my wishes known to my family, taken care of the legal paperwork. My parents feel the same. I know when we are faced with it personally, it will be most difficult, but it will be the right decision.
2007-06-21 13:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Rhonda & Cats 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Depends on how old I was...if i was still young and had allot of life to live and didnt have kids or had small kids then I would get the treatment.....if I was older 60's and up then I would probably chose to live out my life how ever long that would be.
2007-06-21 13:50:50 · answer #8 · answered by NavyWife 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That depends if i was feeling crappy but going to get better and be cured then i would go that route now if i wasn't going to get better and there is no cure then i would love the time i have left, and spend it with family and friends and tell the DR to get lost. I hope you are going to be ok (((HUGS))) take care and remember when the time does come you have loved one on the other side waiting for you and they will guide you.
I have to say your question brought tears to my eyes ... please take the treatment if theres a chance you will be ok, do it for you and for your loved ones.
All my best to you hun (((HUGS))
2007-06-21 13:53:42 · answer #9 · answered by ynot_chas 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on my chance of survival, but I think I would choose quality over quantity. Best wishes to you and may you enjoy life to it's fullest. God Bless.
2007-06-21 13:50:18 · answer #10 · answered by margarita 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋