[MtnTime2896]

You had been diagnosed with a possible terminal illness. Let's say, you had suffered from various psychiatric illnesses for many years, including severe depression. Let's say you had a choice, at that moment, to take an out that finally meant you wouldn't have to do it yourself. Almost, almost a guilt free death that no one could completely blaim you for. At the same time, the fact still remains that those you love will be deeply hurt when you die, especially if you don't at least fight.

What do you do? Fight it and see what happens or just let it take you?

[whisperingskye]

Knee jerk reaction is to say I'd let it take me. I guess I will never really know for sure unless that happens though.

[BrownHat22]

I agree with WhisperingSkye, as long as there's a chance to survive and get better, then it's definitely worth fighting for.

Very complicated. So many factors to weigh. What are the odds of winning the fight? (I have noticed that many doctors do not want to say but possibly the internet plus more than one opinion would be helpful.) What is the chance of being independent if the fight is won? How painful will the fight be? How expensive will it be? --Of course you would need to be treated for your mental illness and supported to enable you to make a sensible decision.-- Our decision making processes are not good when we are depressed, psychotic, etc. But people should be able to choose. Sometimes, if someone is fighting an illness that is painful and wreaking havoc to their body, the kind of havoc that leaves them in a very sad condition, we need to let them go. People sometimes fight on because their loved ones want them to stay so bad. I have seen it. When we love someone we need to be with them through a fight like this--make them comfortable, joke, try to do things with them (even if all you can manage is talking about old times sitting on the porch with them) but above all, make them understand that we love them and support their decision to choose either approach. It is their life.

When it comes to things like cancer--many factors affect the fight including: fate (Most cancers are caused by bad luck not genes or lifestyle, say scientists - Telegraph --my mom did not drink, smoke, etc. and died of cancer at age 53), what is the current technology (are their cures?) for the cancer (there are more than 100 kinds), and to a smaller degree--the will to live (do they want to live/do the people around them want them to live-but sometimes even when you are determined, the end result is living 2 years rather than living less than 6 months as predicted). I think we only have so much control over when we go--guess I am very fatalistic that way. Of course, some cancers can be cured--they have figured out how to beat back some of them. When really good cures exist (especially the less painful types of treatments and the types of treatments with a decent chance of success) for the type of cancer the person has then fighting makes a lot of sense. Só leigheas: I hope your cancer hasn't returned. I am guessing that once you have it, it stays in the back of your mind because there is a chance it could return. I think PC might be a good place to talk about it if it ever does.....

[MtnTime2896]

Thanks, Hoping.

I'm going in at the beginning of May to get checked out. Found a new lump close to the original area. It could be a lump of tissue built up around all the scar tissue. I've been feeling pretty bad but that could be a number of things. I'm not too worried but the question did pop into my mind today after I scheduled everything. My oncologists was pretty blunt last time I saw him when he said that if it came back, we'd just be fighting for time. Where my head's at, though, I'm not sure I'd fight it.

[Fuzzybear]

((((( So leigheas )))))

[Misterpain]

Currently there are 33 unique forms of cancer that have been cured in the lab , we are about 2 years away from human trials ,a friend of mine who died of cancer found this thru trial and error and arranged a foundation that raised the money for the research and human trials , he was another ham , it is in our charter that want thing we invent or discover well playing with out radios, is owned by all man kind , he truly believed in this and made sure that his cancer cure could never be owned by any company or government and could not be rationed out to the wealthy elite, rich or poor ,young or old you will be able to get it , John was one of the greatest people I had the privilege of knowing, and I certainly hope it works as well in humans as it does in the lab , my town will be one of the human trial centers, John really loved being from here so he saw to that also before his death. It involves radio waves and a solution of gold particles, the solution is absorbed by cancer cells only and then using radio waves it kills the cancer without harming any healthy cells , it's revolutionary and a real potential game changer in how people think of and fight "the emperor of all Maladies " , he also invented clean renewable energy that is being investigated separately ( and oil companies and big pharma have never been so scared of a radio, because these inventions will cut there purse strings to expensive oil and chemo drugs that make these companies huge profits ) it will be the first step towards making medicine available to everyone not just those who can pay outrageous sums to be treated,and a source of energy that does not pollute , as a matter of fact the side effect of creating energy with radio waves Is clean water.

Some of you know I'm to stupid to fall over and die, yes my day in coming closer and closer but I refuse to make it easy, I can't fight it physically so I am sure not going to let it destroy me mentally, if I did let it destroy me then I should already be dead because life would not be productive in any way ,theres a lot more to life than just surviving , I am going to get the tee shirt and wear it proudly instead of burning it .

Originally Posted by Só leigheas

Thanks, Hoping.

I'm going in at the beginning of May to get checked out. Found a new lump close to the original area. It could be a lump of tissue built up around all the scar tissue. I've been feeling pretty bad but that could be a number of things. I'm not too worried but the question did pop into my mind today after I scheduled everything. My oncologists was pretty blunt last time I saw him when he said that if it came back, we'd just be fighting for time. Where my head's at, though, I'm not sure I'd fight it.

Everything is harder when our heads are in the wrong place. Let us know what the results are. Decisions like this are so complicated that is it good that there are forums like this one and cancer patient forums where people with cancer can discuss their options. It would not be a decision to take lightly because it is your life. Life matters but, unfortunately, it doesn't last forever, nor do we know how long it will be. That's why you need to keep working on your depression, PTSD, etc.--so you can enjoy your life as much as possible!! Don't give up on trying to improve the quality of the life you have. I hope you can have more nice dreams than nightmares soon.... <<<hugs>>>

[MickeyCheeky]

You've survived once, let's hope that you will do it again