Facing a Diagnosis of Terminal Cancer

TErminal Cancer

I disagree completely with the tone of this article. I am a stage IV SURVIVOR of Colon Cancer. I realize that I will eventually die of this awful disease, but for me to think about 'go gentle into that dark night'. at this point in my life is ridiculous.

I am 2.7 years into my walk with cancer. Chemotherapy is keeping me alive at present. My children are young and I fully intend to continue this walk as gracefully as I can for as long as I can.

Why would someone imagine that those of us facing terminal illness are either in denial or willing to throw in the towel. I am neither. I understand my disease, my odds and my chances for life. All are not great. BUT that isn't to say that my life isn't great. I am living a full, wonderful life filled with family and friends.

Please, those of us in my shoes need no further negative, just turn over and die comments from anyone.

Right On!

What a very useful article! I am suffering from melanoma and facing another round of surgery fairly soon. Accepting that this cancer will probably be the end of me has been quite a struggle involving a psychiatrist, clonazepam (for anxiety), a very supportive wife and family, a blog, lots of support from friends and a BIG effort at Buddhist-style vipassana meditation. It has not been easy but it sounds as though my efforts may be rewarded.

My husband's is loosing his mom to cancer

I couldn't agree more to the first comment! Both from the Christian perspective & the doctors! Have had pretty bad experiences with them my self.

I am just very sad about my mother-in-lawa terminal cancer after 8 years of intense chemo & other treatments. I have lost my mom, brother & sister and it is painful especially if they don't know the Lord. My stomach hurts for my loving husband who adores his mom. The time is coming when his mom is leaving and she is so angry and bitter about life, God and getting sick.

I pray my husband grieves and God gic=ves him the strength to cope with this potential loss.

Her cancer started as breast cancer, but now has gone from back, to liver, to lungs, to chest to everwhere!

A year ago, after a CT scan she was fine & in remission. What happened? We wer so happy, she was fine as per the doctrs, now she is already on a hospital bed at home, with hospice care & she can't even eat by Ensure. Cancer eats you. I just saw her 2 weeks ago and she was yellow & so thin, but lucid. In less, than 2 weeks, she is out!!! God will take us through this one.

lung cancer

My Dad died of lung cancer in October of 2005, just a week shy of his 80th birthday. He smokes most of his adult life.I really believe the nicotine and manufacturers killed him. We love addictions in this country. It makes those who dispense them, rich. My mom said his doctor was almost non-caring about it, that there was nothing more he could do, and just kind of walked out into the sunset. I have a bad taste in my mouth for doctors. Always have.

I think they get more credit than they really deserve. I believe Christ is our healer. We have an amazing machine, none like it..called our body.

I look to the stars, moon and sun and know My God lives. Man would only screw all that up. I wonder every day why we haven't found the cure for lung cancer.

What do these rich doctors and researchers do anyway?

just a note to Elizabeth...We're all "teminal" honey. And if you go before us... we'll see you soon!!!!

Cancer

What a dear and wise soul will be leaving us--hopefully in peace and the greatest possible degree of comfort. My mother died of colorectal cancer many years ago, and too young--and with too much pain. Now, beside the resources noted in the USN&WR article, almost every area has a Hospice, generally covered by insurance including Medicare, and without charge to those not so covered.

Acceptance of death

I've just completed the six-month chemotherapy regimen for colon cancer. This following breast cancer in 2001 and melanoma in 2003. I have decided that I will not undergo aggressive treatment should I have a recurrence. Rather, I hope to "go gentle into that dark night," confident that I have lived a good life for 74 years now and that there comes a time we must to move on so as to make way for the next generation and not squander precious resources needed by them.