Newly diagnosed cancer patients are sometimes told they are terminal with 3 or 6 months or a year or two to live. Why does the physician say this? Because, they say, they must be honest, they must be frank, and the patient and their family has a right to know and must prepare for death. The truth is that Continue reading “The Doctor Says…”
Choices
I have thought how devastating it must be for an oncologist to give a horribly toxic treatment to a seemingly strong patient, totally destroying the quality of their life, only to find it ineffective and watch the patient die. That physician not only has my sympathy, but my admiration, providing the treatment was given with the patient’s complete understanding and at the patient’s request. Continue reading “Choices”
Fears
What is life? Without a decent quality of life or the prospect of one, life certainly is not worth living. Health, happiness, money, friends, family and numerous other aspects all go into making up quality of life, but the overall feeling is far more important than any single factor. For cancer patients, one component that often totally destroys quality of life is the fear of death. Continue reading “Fears”
Searching for Support
Numerous clinical trials validate the benefits of a cancer support group. There is little doubt that individuals attending a support group live longer than those who do not. But even greater than that is the fact that those attending a support group have a substantially better quality life. And in my opinion, quality of life is the most important factor Continue reading “Searching for Support”
Enjoy Life
It is a terrible shock to anyone to be diagnosed with cancer. Most people cannot comprehend what the physician is saying, but the underlying tone is that this may mean the end of your life. Or at the very least, it will mean the end of your life as you had known it. We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to! Continue reading “Enjoy Life”