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Cancer Support

In reply to the discussion: The decision to stop chemo [View all]

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(11,093 posts)
3. Well, it's both complicated and outrageously simple at the same time, I think.
Sat Oct 25, 2014, 01:42 PM
Oct 2014

Complicated in how it affects others. Simple in how it affects me.

So, I have the benefit of a slow-moving cancer. It's been 5 years and I suspect I'm good for a couple more. As opposed to a friend of mine who just found out and has a short expiration date (thoughts be with him).

Continuing treatments is very debilitiating, and when you get to the stage I'm at (treatment stage, not cancer stage) we're getting into all kinds of weird side effects - the last major treatment had blisters on my feet and hands (feet had to be protected to not get infected), oral blisters (hard to talk), fatigue, not eating (got me in the hospital for a weekend for dehydration and low blood pressure) among other things. So it's not necessarily simple to just "keep on with it" (not that I don't value your opinion) but there are negatives associated, and the big question is, why not just stop and enjoy 2 years rather than continue and suffer 2 years.

It's a big meta-question. I'm posing it here and appreciate all responses. I just wanted to respond to this one and clarify the situation more.

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