If you had Stage IV cancer, what would you do?

[the_final_countdown]

Let's say tomorrow you went to the doctor's and found out you had Stage IV cancer.

What would you do? Would you try to treat it?

Or would you immediately opt for hospice care?

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

If I knew I was going to end up having a nasty death and my family would have to watch me, I would apply to dignitas.

If I didn't have the money I would use N.

I watched someone die this way. Its kinda bad but it isn't the worst way I could think of atleast in hospice setting. Basically what happens is the body wastes away , you become very skinny and then die

 

[JustLosingMyself]

I'd go home (Belgium), present the medical file to a GP and an oncologist. Apply for euthanasia.

 

[Symbiote]

Join the Make-a-Wish Foundation.....get rejected because I'm too old for that....die of heartbreak and stage 4 cancer.

 

[Ghost2211]

I wouldn't treat it, but I would also prefer that not be my fate. I've seen people die of cancer and it's a miserable way to die. It takes a long time, and the wonderful pain meds they give people are often still not enough to eliminate or even greatly reduce the levels of pain and discomfort people are enduring as cancer eats them alive.

 

[Weary Soul]

I would let nature run its course - go home and make sure I had palliative care.

My father had stage 4 cancer, and what the medical profession put him through was nothing short of extreme torture. He was at a stage where he could not really think clearly, and the docs did everything they could to keep him alive. Including resuscitating him when he was almost gone and in peace - he died ~3 weeks later after all medical intervention was stopped except pain medication. What they did to him was beyond criminal as far as I am concerned. (And the one thing doctors swear to is "To do no harm.") Shaking my head here.

So having seen what he went through, I would refuse all care except medication to keep me as pain free as possible and go into hospice or die at home - or better yet, move to a state that allows death with dignity.

 

[Wrennie]

I wish that I could trade places with someone with cancer and give them the years I had remaining. That way both of us would get our wish. It's a shame that things are never that simple.

 

[Weary Soul]

I wish that I could trade places with someone with cancer and give them the years I had remaining. That way both of us would get our wish. It's a shame that things are never that simple.

In some ways I do too, especially if it is someone who has cancer and wants to live. But, even with pain meds, what I saw my dad go through was a nightmare.

 

[sourpink]

well- stage IV? there is no stage V, unless stage V = death.
it would be incredibly suspicious in my case to refuse treatment and I have no doubt I'd be sectioned for doing so. not that it's outside the law to refuse treatment, but with my lengthy history as a psych patient, I wouldn't take that chance. I'd feign despair and smile and nod and agree that yes of course, precious life just must be preserved.
... and then I'd find 5 or more different connections and score a tonne from each one, and then I'd disappear. I'd go someplace far enough away, paying with cash whenever possible, find some dodgy motel to hole up in, and spend a few days playing my guitar, listening to as much music as I could, maybe reread my favorite book, indulge in one last very expensive bottle of scotch, one last carton of expensive cigarettes, I'd probably try to write down every thought I had, maybe stitch it all together in some patchwork poetic way. and then go out on one last high.

 

[the_final_countdown]

I wouldn't treat it, but I would also prefer that not be my fate. I've seen people die of cancer and it's a miserable way to die. It takes a long time, and the wonderful pain meds they give people are often still not enough to eliminate or even greatly reduce the levels of pain and discomfort people are enduring as cancer eats them alive.

You're right. It's probably one of the more brutal ways to die, depending on your access to palliative care, whether or not you choose for resuscitation, and how long it takes to die from it. Hanging would probably be a more painless death.

It's appealing to me though, because it immediately overcomes SI, something I can't visualize myself overcoming now.

I don't want to die, but I don't want to live with all the stress and responsibility that such a long life would entail. It's too much to bear..

And it would give me something I desperately want: The ability to die holding my family's hands.

That's all I really want.

I want to be able to hold my family's hands and pass away now.

I've suffered enough for two lifetimes and I don't want any more of this. I don't want to keep going. It's too much.

 

[Ghost2211]

You're right. It's probably one of the more brutal ways to die, depending on your access to palliative care, whether or not you choose for resuscitation, and how long it takes to die from it. Hanging would probably be a more painless death.

It's appealing to me though, because it immediately overcomes SI, something I can't visualize myself overcoming now.

I don't want to die, but I don't want to live with all the stress and responsibility that such a long life would entail. It's too much to bear..

And it would give me something I desperately want: The ability to die holding my family's hands.

That's all I really want.

I want to be able to hold my family's hands and pass away now.

I've suffered enough for two lifetimes and I don't want any more of this. I don't want to keep going. It's too much.

It can go either way with SI. Some people dying of cancer are terrified up until their last breath. I do feel it's easier on family and friends for us to have a natural death, but also remember that suicide make life and death your choice. Having that control can give security, but a terminal illness takes that power from you, and may end up making you feel helpless. I don't think there is any winning when it comes to life and death, but I do agree with you in that a terminal illness would be a preferred route in some ways.

 

[WornOutLife]

I would refuse treatment, attention Im writing if it was my person, and prob ctb shortly after.

I would do exactly this! Your deffo know what you're talking about, hun.

 

[the_final_countdown]

I would let nature run its course - go home and make sure I had palliative care.

My father had stage 4 cancer, and what the medical profession put him through was nothing short of extreme torture. He was at a stage where he could not really think clearly, and the docs did everything they could to keep him alive. Including resuscitating him when he was almost gone and in peace - he died ~3 weeks later after all medical intervention was stopped except pain medication. What they did to him was beyond criminal as far as I am concerned. (And the one thing doctors swear to is "To do no harm.") Shaking my head here.

So having seen what he went through, I would refuse all care except medication to keep me as pain free as possible and go into hospice or die at home - or better yet, move to a state that allows death with dignity.

This is something I've heard from a few people. Almost word for word.

It's surreal. Modern society is smart enough to keep people alive, but not wise enough to understand when to let them go.

My heart goes out to you.

It can go either way with SI. Some people dying of cancer are terrified up until their last breath. I do feel it's easier on family and friends for us to have a natural death, but also remember that suicide make life and death your choice. Having that control can give security, but a terminal illness takes that power from you, and may end up making you feel helpless. I don't think there is any winning when it comes to life and death, but I do agree with you in that a terminal illness would be a preferred route in some ways.

You're right. I've had such lofty and soft ideas about terminal illness, but it would probably be endless fear and pain for months, if not years.

I feel helpless as it is. All I see in the years ahead is pain. I don't want that burden.

Old age has a similar effect. Eventually we'll all die. But God, the years are too long..too long.

If I was 95, I could bear this. I could.

 

[victoria91]

I watched someone die this way. Its kinda bad but it isn't the worst way I could think of atleast in hospice setting. Basically what happens is the body wastes away , you become very skinny and then die

My papa had terminal cancer it was everywhere in the end in his brain. The last 5 days of his life was him screaming in pain , mentally he was completly gone . On the final day they managed to put the syringe driver in and he went peacefully that day.

I would never want my children to watch me go though that

 

[Emily_Numb]

Try heroin and crack.

 

[loopylou]

Absolutely nothing.

I wish that I could trade places with someone with cancer and give them the years I had remaining. That way both of us would get our wish. It's a shame that things are never that simple.

That would be my wish too