Do patients get to decide?
My son is fighting for his life...after battling this cancer monster for 3 years. When I saw him 3 years ago, I was certain that I would lose him. Bought he battled the monster.
His brother said he looked great when he saw him last week.
We were so hopeful after the cancer didn't show up for 18 months...Then we got the news....it's back.
We're a very close family even though we are miles apart.
He started a new treatment last week. We remain hopeful and he continues to battle the monster. He apparently thinks having his family "with him all the way" is worth it.
Yes. They do.
What would happen is you would need to find a doctor who would treat you the way you want. There is no sense in an Oncologist who treats with chemotherapy spending the time and effort to treat someone who doesn’t agree with his course.
For people who get cancer that requires this kind of treatment, this is one of the first conversations you have.
I work in HC..and I've seen horrible deaths...Got a guy right now..80 yrs old..with upper AW CA...that is totally miserable. I'm thinking the surgeon told him this would work out....And he agreed... He has a trach,,,and lot's of secretions. Has to be suctioned alot.....He's miserable....
This is why I will quit this biz,,,sooner than later.
Sometimes, sometimes not. Same goes for family members. When there is a conflict between patient, their advocates and medical staff the issue is referred to a hospital “ethics” board or committee. The assumption is they will be impartial and act in the best interest of the patient. This very often is not what happens at all. Depending on state law these boards can have a lot of power (Hello Texas!) with patients and families having little recourse against them.
Main thing, if you know you’re dying and have little help, give this a thought.
Depends on the situation. For us ….
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Hell yes! If death is soon, stretching out inoperable cancer is a waste of money and is torture, with or without chemo. I had cancer twice. Was not as deadly as my deceased husband had.
Depends on several things.
There will be a time to get them into your hospital, the best place for treatment
when they already know you have heart problems. Unless you’re rich enough to have doctors and nurses at home. Tell medics they might be having a stroke.
My diabetic husband was at the point where he could not eat or drink water, fell down, his legs were stiff. If he fell. he could’t get up.
He was getting his pills all mixed up. One evening he was uncoordinated, pushing over a glass. I knew it was time he got help.
I called 911. Went to ER. I was with him in his room for 5 days and nights while he was in a hospital, taken care of.
Asleep mostly and didn’t express any pain except one, visible to me. Catheter area.
When he did come to he had hallucinations, and mumble.
I’m so thankful for the precious care he got.
So….
Get into a hospital as soon as you can find a way. Only they can help with all the problems. Say they may be having a stroke, esp if you have heart problems, etc. They got in touch with his oncologist so the hospital knew about his heart and the cancer.
Depends how close you are to death and in pain. They took good care of my husband for a week until they said he needed to go to hospice.
God Bless those who help the weak.