CancerCompass message board discussion started by Tamie on 5/8/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,11925,0.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My dear friend has decided that the possible 3 months she would gain taking treatment are not worth it.   I am trying so hard not to be pushy about treatments but, it is her life.  I am just wondering what to expect or if anyone can even give me a clue as to what to expect.  I'm having a hard time accepting that "death" sentence.  I thank all of you that replied to my first message.  I lost another friend to colon cancer a year and half ago.  I've not gotten over that and now to have this happen...God Bless each and everyone..... Tamie Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT What kind of cancer does your friend have, did the Dr. give her 3 months with or without treatment?  If I were told I had 3 months, I would do the same thing, it becomes "quality vs quantity".  I have stage IV non small cell lung cancer and was diag. end of Jan. I am starting my 4th round of chemo.  With treatment I might expect 12-18 months. My husband just died of cancer in Jan. of this year, so I can relate to what your friend is going through. It is hard to know what to say to someone going through this, but try and support her whatever she decides.  I would also encourage her to call in Hospice, they were wonderful when my husband was in his final stages and he was able to stay home.Good luck to you both. Judysunlakes Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT  Depending on the type of cancer your friend has one should not give up hope.  There are many natural things that can be done. She has the right o refuse treatment as sometimes the outcome is very terrible.  I am a cancer survivior and retired oncology nurse so I understand. If you post again let us know what kind of cancer and we can suggest some natural supplements thatcan ease her burden no matter what she chooses to do. Only God knows the day you are to die... On 5/8/2007 Tamie wrote:My dear friend has decided that the possible 3 months she would gain taking treatment are not worth it.   I am trying so hard not to be pushy about treatments but, it is her life.  I am just wondering what to expect or if anyone can even give me a clue as to what to expect.  I'm having a hard time accepting that "death" sentence.  I thank all of you that replied to my first message.  I lost another friend to colon cancer a year and half ago.  I've not gotten over that and now to have this happen...God Bless each and everyone.....  Commonsense Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/28/2007 Judysunlakes wrote:What kind of cancer does your friend have, did the Dr. give her 3 months with or without treatment?  If I were told I had 3 months, I would do the same thing, it becomes "quality vs quantity".  I have stage IV non small cell lung cancer and was diag. end of Jan. I am starting my 4th round of chemo.  With treatment I might expect 12-18 months. My husband just died of cancer in Jan. of this year, so I can relate to what your friend is going through. It is hard to know what to say to someone going through this, but try and support her whatever she decides.  I would also encourage her to call in Hospice, they were wonderful when my husband was in his final stages and he was able to stay home.Good luck to you both.She has stage 3 non cell cancer.  I realize that the treatment is most likely more than she could handle.  She has COPD and is on oxygen 24/7.  She has always been a fighter with the COPD, walked the treadmill daily, and very careful with what she breathed and so forth.  She is getting counciling and every time, they want her to sign for Hospice.  She has told me that she is in denial and she feels her family are also.  I have seen what cancer can do and I fear for her.  I will stand by her decisions.  I was only hoping for some alternative opitions that I might discuss with her.  Thank you so kindly for your reply...Tamie Tamie Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT She has stage 3 non cell cancer. She also has a mass in her trachea, lungs and possibly bones.  So far no cancer in the brain.  I am interested in alternative treatments.  Apparently, she is not physically able to handle treatments.  She sees doctors at the Naval base in CA.  I suppose that bothers me the most.  She has seen them fairly often and to have this situation get this far along bothers me.  She tells me that they change doctors frequently and I am just not certain that she has recieved the care she should have had.  With her lungs in the condition that they were in, how could this have been missed on x-rays and so forth.  I am not to big on the VA hospitals. Of course, I am angry and maybe this was nothing that could be found sooner and I am just looking for an excuse to blame someone for this diagnoses.  She was given 6 months at most, treatments would only increase that by 3 months...they told her.  Apparently it was not recommended, only counciling and Hospice.  I am no stranger to this horrible disease.  It has already taken friends and family from me and I have watched in horror.  I have did private care and nursing assistant.  I just do not want her to suffer and at the same time I realize that morphine usually takes them out before the disease does.  I was just hoping to find information on alternative medicine that she might be willing to try....I just do not want her to suffer, she is such a wonderful human being...very special and has already been such a fighter...Any advice is greatly appreciate.  Thank you for your reply and time....Tamie Tamie Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT hi- my mom newly diagnosed is undergoing 15 radaition treatments and has ben given approval for taceva.  She will get Tarceva in the next few days .  She has nsclc and brain mets.  I am aksin you this b/c i saw that you are retired onc nurse.  I am having difficulty getting answers, I am not sure what stage mom is, but they are only treating the brain mets not the lung.  I am assuming that it would be no use as far as I understand from my stepdad. Mom does not want to have Chemo, she does not want to be sick.  Radiation is draining her and she has the biggest swollen face.  I am so sad and so tired, all I do is go to work, go over hter and read about cancer .  I am obsessed with reading all of this stuff.  I wnat to find the magic cure and I know there is nonethank you brenda . Brenda57 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT