I watched my dad die of cancer and I agree with this medical expert. Knowing he was going to die allowed him to get his affairs in order, spend time with his loved ones and knock a few things off his bucket list. It also allowed us as a family to prepare ourselves for his passing and say our goodbyes.
I've often thought that cancer at an older age is how I'd like to go. Much better than, say, getting hit by a bus on my way home from work, something that nobody ever saw coming and nobody prepared for.
We got to spend a final Christmas together. All the kids and grandkids. We all knew it would be dad's last Christmas, even dad himself. It was still a wonderful time and I cherish those memories.
... and then you get the parent who is in denial (saying they really didn’t have lung cancer- during 18 months of chemo) until just before becoming unconscious and never reawakening. I think it gave us all PTSD.
Cancer sucks no matter what.
My mom worked in geriatric care and she was always sad for people who died quickly without getting their affairs in order who saying their goodbyes. She fought cancer for 10 yrs and even though she suffered we all knew that time was short. I called her at least twice a day and we talked about everything under the sun. When she finally passed I knew that she was at peace and we had spent hours of each day loving each other.
I just had a good friend die in Nov after battling cancer for 14 yr. She was able to see her daughter marry this summer and her youngest son become a senior in high school. She was ready but I know she would not have given up one day of her horrible cancer to be away from her young family.