Decision to stop all treatment.

[BlakeMatt]

I am curious as to anyone here has ever decided to halt treatment and decide to put full faith into God for the recovery or the outcome that is meant to be when it comes to treatment for cancer.

I guess it's kind of like that Joke where a man is diagnosed with cancer and meets all these specialists that say they can help him and save him but he denies them the ability to do so by stating that God will do with in his grace to save him. But in the end he dies, and asks God why didn't he save him. But in fact he did by providing the Specialists.

I am at a position in my life where if something can fall apart and join the downward snowball in flight, it will. My Med Insurance maxed out a bit back and getting into another policy while having this pre-existing condition on top and not much funds to afford the policy have made it difficult for me to even get any of my medical needs covered.

Even with the assistance of some treatments my health is further declining. I am in pain just about constantly. Lately, as of the last 3 weeks I have lost complete hearing in my right ear due to medication I was taking. Due to other medication my back teeth, on the right side, have fallen apart to the point where one is now a very sharp edge digging into my lower gum and cheek. I have lost so much weight that unless I wear longsleeves in the hot heat I will get constant comments to me and stares. My memory has been significantly failing me. I can take my shoes off and be spending the next hour trying to find them, even when I can be staring right at them. I am constantly tired but when I attempt to lay down to sleep I cannot get much sleep as I am coughing and wheezing all the time to the point where I am lucky get a gasp of breath now and then.

This has been going on for 4 years and even with the treatments the prognosis isn't that great. So I have to ask when do you get to the point where you need to stop all the treatment? And how do you explain it so it doesn't seem so much as you're giving up but that you simply cannot do it anymore? Or is there even a difference.

 

[renewedfaith]

I am curious as to anyone here has ever decided to halt treatment and decide to put full faith into God for the recovery or the outcome that is meant to be when it comes to treatment for cancer.

I guess it's kind of like that Joke where a man is diagnosed with cancer and meets all these specialists that say they can help him and save him but he denies them the ability to do so by stating that God will do with in his grace to save him. But in the end he dies, and asks God why didn't he save him. But in fact he did by providing the Specialists.

I am at a position in my life where if something can fall apart and join the downward snowball in flight, it will. My Med Insurance maxed out a bit back and getting into another policy while having this pre-existing condition on top and not much funds to afford the policy have made it difficult for me to even get any of my medical needs covered.

Even with the assistance of some treatments my health is further declining. I am in pain just about constantly. Lately, as of the last 3 weeks I have lost complete hearing in my right ear due to medication I was taking. Due to other medication my back teeth, on the right side, have fallen apart to the point where one is now a very sharp edge digging into my lower gum and cheek. I have lost so much weight that unless I wear longsleeves in the hot heat I will get constant comments to me and stares. My memory has been significantly failing me. I can take my shoes off and be spending the next hour trying to find them, even when I can be staring right at them. I am constantly tired but when I attempt to lay down to sleep I cannot get much sleep as I am coughing and wheezing all the time to the point where I am lucky get a gasp of breath now and then.

This has been going on for 4 years and even with the treatments the prognosis isn't that great. So I have to ask when do you get to the point where you need to stop all the treatment? And how do you explain it so it doesn't seem so much as you're giving up but that you simply cannot do it anymore? Or is there even a difference.

I offer you a big cyber hug. I don't know what type of ca you have but it sounds like you have been a trooper and you haven't just given up. I think anybody would understand if you wanted nature to take it's course. This is something only you and God can decide together. I am so sorry for your pain.

 

[salida]

I would be in deep prayer; and I fully understand why you let nature take its course. I prayed that you would get comfort and guidance from God.

 

[RuthD]

How are you?

 

[flowerforever7]

aww I <3 you; and will pray for your situation.

God bless you.
____
Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

 

[blackribbon]

My experience is watching my husband fight cancer...God healed him but not in his human body. He is now cancerfree and living with Jesus.

We had young kids. He decided from the start to fight with all he had to stick around to watch our kids grow up. He beat it the first time...but it came back. At that point, I think I would have allowed him to choose to refuse the treatments if he wanted to. He chose to fight to the end...but that was only 11 weeks of fight.

I think that it is okay to decided to stop poisoning your body in hopes of killing the cancer. The treatments are exhausting and painful. There has to be something to be said for stepping away from the non-stop medical invasion and just letting your body detoxify and fight the best it can. Maybe you would feel better even if you don't receive a healing in this body.

I think you have put in a valient fight. If your heart is telling you that you have reached your "enough" point, then give yourself permission to stop having people poke and prod you all the time. You will have people who think you have "given up" and think this is awful...but tell them that you have chosen to "live" for the remainder of your life...whether it be a few months or several more years. None of us have tomorrow guaranteed.

If you haven't already, see about getting signed up for hospice if you qualify. Hospice does NOT mean you have given up or intend to die...but they can give you the medical support that you need to just make life easier and help manage the pain. It is best to get in hospice when you still are reasonably healthy...that is when they can serve you best and you get a relationship with the nurses before you get to the point where you are dependent on them. They can also help the ones around you who love you but aren't so willing to accept your decisions.

If you love Jesus, then death isn't something to fear. Some awesome books to read might include Chapter 2 of 90 Minutes in Heaven where Don Piper describes his time there; The Boy who Came Back From Heaven by Alex and Kevin Malarkey; Heaven is For Real (can't remember the author...thinking Colfax?); and Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris which is a hospice nurses telling about what dying was like for a number of her patients.

God may indeed decide to heal you ... and He can do this with or without medical intervention. However, he may chose to do that via just allowing you to eventually escape your broken down human body. It is not awful or "giving" up to decide that you are done with medical intervention. I think after 4 years you have the information necessary to make a completely educated decision to step away.

Be prepared that your loved ones may not be as accepting of your decision because they are afraid...but this is your body and your life. Maybe you can write a letter that they can pass around explaining why you need to do this and asking them for their support and love even if they don't agree.

If you are able, go enjoy life and those that you love. Wishing you many years...but if that is not in God's plan, I wish you Quality time loving those while you are still here.

How do you explain this? Just tell them that you are continuing to fight but you want to LIVE for however many years you have left and not just "exist" as the treatments have reduced you to. Tell them they don't have to understand or even agree...but please love you enough to accept that this is what you need to do.

((hugs)) my friend.

 

[Grannie Annie]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Dec.23rd 2010. I had a grade 3 tumour and had a right mastectomy and 3 lymph nodes removed. Cancer wasn't found in any other part of my body. I was very strongly advised by the medical specialist to have chemotherapy....HOWEVER...they said even if I had it, it was very likely the cancer would return in a year or two. I refused the treatment I felt....why should I put myself through hell with all sorts of poisons when they say it will probably return anyway. I would much rather let nature take it's course. I am not afraid of dying. I have a good Christian doctor who has assured me he will take care of me if things get bad. Perhaps if I was younger I might try the chemo, but I'm in my 60s have seen my grandchildren and I'm not particularly interested in living to be 90. Do what is right for you and don't let anyone else tell you what to do with your body. Cheers.

 

[Pesha]

MRI scan three years ago said "highly suspicious of endometrial cancer." believing firmly in a fixed date of death I have refused treatement. Now I am in quite a bit of gripey stomach pain, poor sleep, daily loss of blood, languid and extreme exhaustion at times dropped to 5 stone 3/4 but now 6 stone but I look at what I have been able to achieve in those three years. Photo and full details at my website at pesha.com.

Please pray for me that the Lord will help me with these problems listed above and enable me to achieve more.

As one of lifes doers I find it very frustrating when I have to lie down so much.

Pesha

 

[If Not For Grace]

After a couple of surgeries and radium...my late husband decided to end treatements;
It caused a great divide between our family (#1 Son was defintely not in favor as the other 2 & myself decided to respect his wishes). He did not "leave" it to God..He was not a believer..He just said cancer makes you tired, very tired. I am ready to go and you need to let me. I spoke with him just one last time regarding Jesus and all he said was when you are dead you are dead, that's it.. so..that may not count as leave it per the OP's critera..But He was my soulmate and this is in his honor:

 

[faithNlove]

I realize this post is dated compared to the original post. My husband and I faced a somewhat similar situation. We were hit with the decision for our two year old daughter who was diagnosed with brain cancer. Do we treat her or do we let her be with Jesus? As a parent of a child who is not old enough to tell you how they feel, we were put into a situation where we felt "darned if we do and darned if we don't." The oncologist said he would not put her through it as he felt that our efforts would not be successful.

So.....we prayed about it and decided that we would give her a chance. We decided to pray against side effects of chemo. That little princess went through every single treatment known and not ONCE did she get sick from it. It was only by the grace of God. There were moments prior to her treatments though when she got so bad that I leaned over her sleeping body in ICU and I asked the Lord to please take her vs. her suffering if her work was done here.

Apparently, He still has work for her to do. She's 12 now and has been cancer free for 9 years. She has been left disabled physically and a bit mentally but she is happy and it is amazing to see how she touches the lives of those around her. I pray for each and every person here who is either struggling with the disease or with decisions. I do know it is and it is not an easy road to travel. Keeping the focus on God is first and foremost. God bless and keep you all.

 

[GrantWD]

I work with cancer patients, and I know the stress you can go through. Talk with your doctors, family, and do a lot of praying. Stopping treatment may sound like a nice out now, but may not fix any of your long term issues. Don't lose hope, don't give up. One day at a time.

 

[true2theword]

I am curious as to anyone here has ever decided to halt treatment and decide to put full faith into God for the recovery or the outcome that is meant to be when it comes to treatment for cancer.

I guess it's kind of like that Joke where a man is diagnosed with cancer and meets all these specialists that say they can help him and save him but he denies them the ability to do so by stating that God will do with in his grace to save him. But in the end he dies, and asks God why didn't he save him. But in fact he did by providing the Specialists.

I am at a position in my life where if something can fall apart and join the downward snowball in flight, it will. My Med Insurance maxed out a bit back and getting into another policy while having this pre-existing condition on top and not much funds to afford the policy have made it difficult for me to even get any of my medical needs covered.

Even with the assistance of some treatments my health is further declining. I am in pain just about constantly. Lately, as of the last 3 weeks I have lost complete hearing in my right ear due to medication I was taking. Due to other medication my back teeth, on the right side, have fallen apart to the point where one is now a very sharp edge digging into my lower gum and cheek. I have lost so much weight that unless I wear longsleeves in the hot heat I will get constant comments to me and stares. My memory has been significantly failing me. I can take my shoes off and be spending the next hour trying to find them, even when I can be staring right at them. I am constantly tired but when I attempt to lay down to sleep I cannot get much sleep as I am coughing and wheezing all the time to the point where I am lucky get a gasp of breath now and then.

This has been going on for 4 years and even with the treatments the prognosis isn't that great. So I have to ask when do you get to the point where you need to stop all the treatment? And how do you explain it so it doesn't seem so much as you're giving up but that you simply cannot do it anymore? Or is there even a difference.

considering most cancer treatments are from the 1930's school of thought, and most actually cause cancer themselves (radiation/chemo) have you researched alternative methods that build up your immune system, rather than completely destroy it.


personally if I was ever diagnosed with a cancer I would take the less evasive treatments first, most people statistically would have lived longer with no treatment than receiving treatment if the cancer was going to kill them anyway..........but this is only my opinion

 

[antwolf]

considering most cancer treatments are from the 1930's school of thought, and most actually cause cancer themselves (radiation/chemo) have you researched alternative methods that build up your immune system, rather than completely destroy it.


personally if I was ever diagnosed with a cancer I would take the less evasive treatments first, most people statistically would have lived longer with no treatment than receiving treatment if the cancer was going to kill them anyway..........but this is only my opinion

and a good opinion at that. My mom who is 84 years old is suffering from bone cancer, and is in constant pain. No matter what narcotics the doctor's prescribe for her does not relieve the pain. I'm even considering medical marijuana at this point to see if it will help her get an appetite. This is coming from a recovered alcoholic that needs to stay away from any type of drug. I just can't stand watching her go through this. So I place her in the hands of the Greatest Physician of All, and that's the Lord our God in Jesus name. God Bless to one and all.

 

[artqween]

I am curious as to anyone here has ever decided to halt treatment and decide to put full faith into God for the recovery or the outcome that is meant to be when it comes to treatment for cancer.

I guess it's kind of like that Joke where a man is diagnosed with cancer and meets all these specialists that say they can help him and save him but he denies them the ability to do so by stating that God will do with in his grace to save him. But in the end he dies, and asks God why didn't he save him. But in fact he did by providing the Specialists.

I am at a position in my life where if something can fall apart and join the downward snowball in flight, it will. My Med Insurance maxed out a bit back and getting into another policy while having this pre-existing condition on top and not much funds to afford the policy have made it difficult for me to even get any of my medical needs covered.

Even with the assistance of some treatments my health is further declining. I am in pain just about constantly. Lately, as of the last 3 weeks I have lost complete hearing in my right ear due to medication I was taking. Due to other medication my back teeth, on the right side, have fallen apart to the point where one is now a very sharp edge digging into my lower gum and cheek. I have lost so much weight that unless I wear longsleeves in the hot heat I will get constant comments to me and stares. My memory has been significantly failing me. I can take my shoes off and be spending the next hour trying to find them, even when I can be staring right at them. I am constantly tired but when I attempt to lay down to sleep I cannot get much sleep as I am coughing and wheezing all the time to the point where I am lucky get a gasp of breath now and then.

This has been going on for 4 years and even with the treatments the prognosis isn't that great. So I have to ask when do you get to the point where you need to stop all the treatment? And how do you explain it so it doesn't seem so much as you're giving up but that you simply cannot do it anymore? Or is there even a difference.

Hi blakematt.. Plezd to meet u. Never stop ur med.s just adjust them. Thats the worst thing to do is to just stop taking ur med.s :-(. Also, consider signing up with Disability with ur family and ur Doctors Note specifing ur condition
And sign up with access program
Easter seals can help as well as soon As u and ur family can. Involve Ur local church if gobif not yet. Join one asap. get on every help Org. U can. The more u and ur Family talk of ur condition the faster R u of getting treated . on my opinion.. Suggection.

"God Plez help our brother and family With his condition and his situation They r suffering..)

Plez keep us posted on ur status
Often???
Speedy recovery vibes..
Artqween