TOUGH CHOICES
Cancer treatment is always hard.
I have a friend who is heading back down the chemo road today after getting a much needed break from the infusion room. She faces some tough choices. Her current treatment seems to be working. There hasn’t been any sign of her cancer showing up in other organs or in her primary location, so she’s opted to get back in that chair and deal with all the ugly things that come with chemo.
Her doctor has been very honest when she asks the big questions about her future. What if she decides she’s had enough of the chemo, or wants to take a longer break, what happens then? The answers aren’t easy to take. A longer break or a forever break, probably means giving the “green light” to the cancer….no more poison to stop the spread.
Is she tired of fighting? Is she making the choice to stop the battle? Is she so fed-up with having “chemo brain” and feeling like she’s got the flu all the time? I wouldn’t be surprised if she would nod yes to all of these questions?
But she’s not willing to give up.
This cancer patient, like so many others, gets weary, but weary is different than giving-up.
So this afternoon, she’s extended her arm, the nurse has programmed the pump and the drip has started, yet again.
Tough choices…living with cancer.
August 15, 2011 @ 8:18 pm
Articles like this are an example of quick, helpful anwerss.
August 9, 2011 @ 9:13 am
Al, I am so sorry to hear of your losses.. how sad but a bitter sweet battle won. Rejoice in the memories of both your friends.
Laurie, your friend is lucky to have you close by. Support in love and friendship is the best kind. No words need to be spoken, as a friend, one just knows. Truly a gift. This community is such an amazing place.
Lifting….1-2-3
Laurie
August 8, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
The choices are all so difficult that it hardly makes them seem like choices. Cancer families are like ping pong balls in a machine.
Al..a difficult week for you and your wife. Bless you both.
August 8, 2011 @ 7:02 pm
We can only pray that this time the chemo will put her into remission or NED will take up residence. Tough choices but then the foe is formidable.
Two notes- a friend who has fought so hard and for so long died on Friday. Her heart was strong, her faith was stronger but her body could no longer endure. Rest in Peace. Her funeral is Thursday.
Another dear friend…93 years old died today. She and my wife spoke every Friday for the last 13 + years. She was a painter and we have some of her pictures but age took that ability from her. Her mind was sharp. We sent her a box of books that we had finished about every 3-4 weeks. She would devour them. She and I had some favorites..Vince Flynn and his character Mitch Rapp was one of her favorites. We’d discuss the book and wait until the next one came along. Two weeks ago she and my wife spoke. Their calls could last an hour or so. Last week she had little interest in talking. She went to the hospital. Her son said she developed dementia almost overnight. Today she passed quietly in her sleep. She’ll be missed but she suffers no more. This time it is a celebration of her life. God had mercy and took her before she was moved into a nursing home. The one thing she hoped to avoid. Go in Peace sweet Rita.
August 16, 2011 @ 7:32 am
Great stuff, you hleepd me out so much!
August 17, 2011 @ 10:35 am
Now I’m like, well duh! Truly thafnkul for your help.