“ Your father only have 3 to 6 months to live. If he takes the chemo treatment, he would be living a better quality life and maybe longer as a bonus” the Doctor told the wife, son and daughter. These words kept ringing in my ear as I heard it loud and clear. The same thing was said when my MIL, Maggie died 8 years ago but she lasted almost two years and if there was no negligence on the part of the Doctor, she could have live one or two years more. Cancer patients do not actually die from cancer but out of complications arising from cancer and sometimes, the wrong treatments.
Everyone around the Doctor sink in silence and despair. Yeah, life is going to be shorter now and it would be moving even faster as very second counts and ticking. How can provide our father with a better life ? Are there an alternate cure ? The question of the best option continued to be debated among the family but the Doctor say that the final decision lies with the patient. What do the patient want ?
At mid eighties, the choice is limited. It is not so much about the curing the disease but what is the best way to give the patient a better quality life for his remaining days in life. It is known that chemo treatment have side effects which could be uncomfortable to the patient but comparing with other treatment, there are also side effects like escalating pain and intense body aches. The Doctor recommended chemo as the best option as the side effects would be less than other treatments.
At this juncture, it is full of confusion as some people survive cancer using the traditional herbal treatment or Ayurvedic method and some survive after the chemo treatment. Some even claims that some herbal plants could help and others promote insects or reptiles or stem cells as a cure. It will continue to be in a confusion state until a final cure for cancer is medically obtained. Just like leprosy or TB. Yes, I believe one day, there will be a break through and the medical advancement in this field is progressing very rapidly. The chances of survival from the disease will be better in the future.
How about now ? We should have hope and provide the patient with all the possible treatments ? Yes, the patient must decide but can the patient decide ? The patient will be confused and will not be able to decide under fear. Torn between the fear of dying and hope of survival. Time is running out , decision must be make soon and in the meantime, he should live instead of in despair. The outcome cannot be certain or cannot be controlled, so the only thing right to do is to live and live in the way we want or close all the things that is open including relationships. So, when the day come, it is easier and lighter to go on a journey to the other side.
Namaste.
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