NO treatments for him

July 08 my husband was diagnoised with RCC and his right kidney was removed. In August of 08 he was stage IV as the ca was found throughtout both lungs.  Hince he was not a candidate for lung lobe removal.  He was offered medication and his take on life is that everyone owes a death.  So due to feeling that RCC has no cure he has taken the stand to have a quality of life and not be on medications.  Of course he does take b/p med and a form of lasix to decrease his high blood pressure.  He has refused to have a CT now as he does not want to know if the cancer has metasis any further.

My question is how do you handle this?  Has anyone had a family member refuse treatments? If so what happen next?

Just this past two weeks, Aug 09, my husband has started a cough, increase fatigue and daily tempertures of 101.5. Do not know what will happen next or what to do.

After reading several shared statements here I feel that we are more alone than ever as most are fighting back with medications and treatments.  I will continue to support my husbands wishes but it is hard not knowing where we are at this point.  Truly, learning to take one day at a time.

Deb

 

On 8/10/2009 Deb Blair wrote:

July 08 my husband was diagnoised with RCC and his right kidney was removed. In August of 08 he was stage IV as the ca was found throughtout both lungs.  Hince he was not a candidate for lung lobe removal.  He was offered medication and his take on life is that everyone owes a death.  So due to feeling that RCC has no cure he has taken the stand to have a quality of life and not be on medications.  Of course he does take b/p med and a form of lasix to decrease his high blood pressure.  He has refused to have a CT now as he does not want to know if the cancer has metasis any further.

My question is how do you handle this?  Has anyone had a family member refuse treatments? If so what happen next?

Just this past two weeks, Aug 09, my husband has started a cough, increase fatigue and daily tempertures of 101.5. Do not know what will happen next or what to do.

After reading several shared statements here I feel that we are more alone than ever as most are fighting back with medications and treatments.  I will continue to support my husbands wishes but it is hard not knowing where we are at this point.  Truly, learning to take one day at a time.

Deb

 

 Try sutent. It has got good results. Persuade your hubby to have will for living

 

 

My husband tried both Torisel and Sutent and neither worked for him.  His only recourse after that was a clinical trial and he decided that his quality of life was more important and declined further treatment.  In fact, the treatments made him feel worse than the lack of treatment.  He has been off medications for 6 months and has not done follow-up scans and we are living each day as it comes - some are good and others not so good.  He does have frequent blood transfusions since his has spread to the stomach and there is internal bleeding.  We have that 3 doctors tell him that they agreed with his decision since it was best for him and his personality and take on life.  Wish you the best and enjoy each good day you have. 

Sorry, that you and your husband are having to go through this, but know like us you live each day with love and as much joy as you can.  How long has your husband know about his cancer?

I do appreciate my husbands stand on quality of life. And respect his wishes.  He has done well this past year and just the past two months has had increase fever and fatige.  His eyes tell that he is sick.

Good luck to you and I will keep you both in my prayers.

Deb

 

 

On 8/10/2009 Deb Blair wrote:

July 08 my husband was diagnoised with RCC and his right kidney was removed. In August of 08 he was stage IV as the ca was found throughtout both lungs.  Hince he was not a candidate for lung lobe removal.  He was offered medication and his take on life is that everyone owes a death.  So due to feeling that RCC has no cure he has taken the stand to have a quality of life and not be on medications.  Of course he does take b/p med and a form of lasix to decrease his high blood pressure.  He has refused to have a CT now as he does not want to know if the cancer has metasis any further.

My question is how do you handle this?  Has anyone had a family member refuse treatments? If so what happen next?

Just this past two weeks, Aug 09, my husband has started a cough, increase fatigue and daily tempertures of 101.5. Do not know what will happen next or what to do.

After reading several shared statements here I feel that we are more alone than ever as most are fighting back with medications and treatments.  I will continue to support my husbands wishes but it is hard not knowing where we are at this point.  Truly, learning to take one day at a time.

Deb

Im sory deb just as a suggestion as an alternative treatment to traditional chemo, cant say much on it we are about to get started on it with my father, get the book Cancer free by bill henderson you can purchase it over the internet or get the hard copy. If u do it over the internet u can read it right away and print it out or download it. Its a wealth of information. It offers regimins of nothing but vitamins that our bodys require to fight and kill the cancer. the website it beating-cancer-gently.com

Best wishes and God Bless you and your husband we will be keeping you both in our prayers!!! DOnt give up!!! Keep us postied! hope and faith and lots of smiles and laughter are the best medicine!!!

 

 

I agree wholeheartely with your husbands decision. I too have fought this horrible disease for nearly 2 years.  Since I was not diagnosed until it had spread to my brain, and lungs I was already at stage 4 .  There is nothing wrong with choosing quality of life over a few more months of chemo and its horrible side effects. If you have not already done so I would reccomend calling in Hospice. They are a wonderful  caring group and can help you in so many ways. They will work with you and your Dr to ensure that your husband receives everything he needs .

Geri,

Thank you for your response and best wishes.  How are you doing after two years?  Did you have treatments? 

I do respect my husbands wishes and support him all the way.  Just hard not know what is coming at you next.  He has increased fever everyday and now a dry cough for three weeks.  His out look on life is good, but he truly does not want if the cancer has spread anymore than it has a year ago. 

Hospice is in my thoughts but he will not discuse at this time.  His onocologist has been understanding and I believe that when the time comes she will help me with this.

Hope you are doing well and pray your journey though this will be positive. 

Deb

My husband also has stage 4. The cancer spread to his chest and they can not take it out because of where it is. He is not on any treatment yet we go for another pet scan on 9/7 then to our dr on the 14. I am so worried it has spread because he also has a dry cough. This is a very hard time for us as I lost my job in Dec. and we found out about his cancer in Feb. He is 51. He is so scared as am I and he doesn't want to do anything that will make him sick..like taking meds. I don't know what to do. I am so depressed and I can't find a job the job market in Florida is very bad as I'm sure it is in a lot of places. I am depending on God to come through for us. My prayer are with everyone here and I agree its the not knowing what comes next that is so hard. If you would like to contact me my e mail is

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Linda ><>

Sounds like getting the bad news of having cancer suggest just giving up, I'm going to die anyway. I suffered through 18 months of Sutent side effects and they were sometimes unbearable, lost 65 pounds but didn't give in. I stayed on the Sutent, got the scans, and did what I had too. I have 11 grandchildren I wanted to watch get older, and wasn't ready to meet my maker. Recent Pet scan showed I was clear. This drug is the worst thing I've ever gone through but was worth it and I'd do it again, because it worked. Suffering for a few months or a couple of years is better than not being here.

Deb........

Four years ago my husband "hurt his arm"..........pain got so bad I had to have him taken to the ER a few days later.  Found out he had lung cancer that had metastised to the bone..........we never had any symptoms or warning.  They had to operate and put a rod down his arm to support the bone.........and then his bowel ruptured after the operation and they had to go back in and perform a colostomy.  At this point (a total of 5 days)....there was nothing that could be done due to his weakened state after two major surgeries.  No radiation, no chemo possible before 6 weeks, at least.  He was on morphine and could not make any rational decisions, and hardly knew what had happened to him.  I chose hospice in order to keep him comfortable and he died at home 5 weeks later from a pulmonary embolism that caused a heart attack.........I was with him when he passed away. 

I so wish he could have given some input into all the decisions that had to be made........and made quickly.  I have never gotten over the fear and shock of the entire ordeal.......and I only hope that I made the correct decisions and ones he would have wanted me to make.  Thank God you and your husband have had a chance to face this together!

I am one year out from throat cancer.........am recovering from that and have just gotten re-married.  So, I guess my life has gone on and I feel my husband smiling down on me every day.........

God's blessing to both of you.....Steph