My mother died of pneumonia last year after battling cancer for four years. RIght to the very last second she fought to be alive. SHe had (as many do) a terrible terrible time - she had jaw cancer and was unable to eat/drink/swallow and coughed endlessly, i could go on and on, but basically many would say her quality of life was lower than low.... BUT she wanted to live absolutely. And in my view, if the patient wants to live (bearing in mind low points where they may feel differently, but you can work through these and it is only if this is constant that it is more obvious they do not want to live, that things change), then EVERYTHING must be done to keep them alive.
My so called doctors decided she had had enough, and refused her treatment. What can i say... don't EVER let them tell you this. Their stats told them a 71 year old wasn't worth saving. They mistakenly thought the cancer had gone to her brain, when infact when she died she was cancer-free and her 'hallucinations' were due to a drug she was taking for secretions. AN allergic reaction.
Your instinct, and the patients feelings are everything. Doctors tell you stuff, but they can only guide to a point. They too are learning by every case. ANd making huge mistakes on the way. Many are marvellous, almost super human. But never make the mistake i made of being too scared to counter them.
My very best wishes.... so many survive the dreaded disease now, for me, Diet, positive thinking (i hate that expression!), and love are it...
Libby.