Would you refuse cancer treatment?

I’ve had a colonoscopy. 5 polyps removed. I had no pain relief and watched the screen as it was done. The worst part was the medicine before hand to clear you.

I haven’t noticed your username before EilaRose welcome if you are a new member.
I am perfectly calm thank you. With regard to rights I have used my right to express my opinion just as you have the right to take a noble stance to defend the op.although it could have been done in a more civilised manner.

I'm 67 and in constant chronic pain from arthritis and there is nothing available to help with this apart from the pain relief I am already on. If I was diagnosed with cancer I would not want treatment. I have registered myself at my GP's with a Do Not Resusitate. I wear a bracelet with this on all the time. I would rather cancer treatment not be wasted on me, given how I feel. Whatever treatment I could have for cancer or heart failure or any other disease would still leave me with the arthritis pain which greatly affects my quality of life. My family know of my wishes with regard to life saving treatment.

Another one here who says go for it. You are young it’s diagnostic and it may be that it’s going to put your mind at rest or at least something simple can be sorted out now.
And yes I’m another one who can speak from experience having had bladder cancer which was quite literally nipped in the bud and sorted out so I’m now all clear.

You’ve had a hard time but not all tests end in terminal diagnosis . I have had the test , it’s not at all as bad as you may think -it really isn’t ! Make at least an informed decision your children would thank you for that ! Good luck

I too have decided to go down the cancer/no treatment road but as they say “knowledge is power” so I would have investigative procedure done and then decide.

Bluebellwould, I do feel for you, but like Kalu, I'm going to sound harsh.
A few months ago my friend messaged me, to say she thought she had bowel cancer and was convinced it was terminal. Her words not mine. She hadn't been near a doctor at that point.
She then pestered her GP (managed to get a face to face appointment each time) who tried to convince her there was nothing wrong with her, as all the tests had come back negative.
She then insisted on an endoscopy and that came back negative. She went back to her GP and demanded an appointment with the coleractal surgeon.
Remember, this is all during a pandemic, when most people (including myself) were having treatment postponed. The surgeon wrote to her and said he had no worries about her, but would arrange an MRI if that would reassure her. It came back negative, nothing untoward.
She then phoned his secretary and demanded to speak to him. She made such a fuss that he organised a colonoscopy.
She eventually got one within a week.
Guess what, they found nothing untoward.
What a waste of everyone's valuable time, she deprived someone who was genuinely ill of treatment, because she had been catastrophising.
However, she did have peace of mind at the end of it all. At the moment you don't have that.

If you don't have the investigation, you will end up making yourself ill with worry any way. Like my friend it may be nothing sinister. However, if you refuse the test, you will never know.
I would hate to have a colonoscopy, but I would have it if need be.
I have had worse procedures than that, without sedation, as I can't have any. You just have to get on with it.

If there is something wrong, your poor family will then have the burden of looking after you, just because you refused help. I couldn't put my family through that.

Wishing you all the best Daffdilly

Definitely have the colonoscopy and then decide. Its a scary time when you have to face anything “different”, especially on your own, but IMO its too early to be reaching decisions about your future when you dont know what/ if anything you’re dealing with. One step at a time. And try to talk to someone to express your fears. They arent trivial or silly, they are very real to you, and you need someone to listen and advise if possible. Keep safe and keep strong. Dont use “ Dr Google”. Get all your info together then decide. Good luck and let us know. X
(PS. I had breast cancer 12 years ago. Lumpectomy, chemo, radio, sepsis. Current heart problems. But Ive travelled quite a bit since then, welcomed 3 new grandaughters into the world, and currently dogsit a new “ grandog” which I adore. I know I was very lucky. But Im still only 67 and hopefully have many years ahead of me yet. Sadly my late brother was diagnosed with cancer aged 61 and refused any treatment. But it was his life, his decision.
Get your facts then decide x )

Not harsh at all Toadinthehole I have nursed patients through the reality of having cancer and heartbreakingly cling to life. I found the ops idea of having cancer and how she would deal with it actually quite flippant. Unless death is staring one in the face, none of us can say what decisions we will make.

I think you have your posters mixed up. Bluebelle isn’t the op. ?

Hard to say. When I finished chemo about five years ago I was glad to be in remission and said that I wouldn't want to go through that again, but would I? I'll be 66 in January and don't feel that I'm ready to go just yet.

On the whole my health is reasonable but if I was in pain I may feel differently. Also I still feel that there are projects which I haven't finished yet - there are still things I want to do. Who can say what the future holds?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluebellewould, think of your family and how they would feel if you passed away at the early age you are now. They have already suffered the early death of their father. Have you got grandchildren?

I am sorry about your husband but you may not have cancer at all. Why not have the colonoscopy, which others here have said is painless, and at least find out what the trouble is and whether it can be safely treated?

I wish you all the best.

My husband refuses all and any treatments ...including vaccinations... because he is a physical coward. ( his words)..... his mother was the same... she suffered terrible with lung cancer for years ... then just died sitting in her armchair at home aged 64. The fact that she was dying in front of her 22 year old daughter , trying desperately to look after her AND her ailing father meant nothing to her!!! My husband is fading away unbothered , in front of me. He says it’s his right! and I agree...but not his right to inflict the sight on people who love him. You are on your own , so must do as you please....there is no convincing people to get treatment when they are determined to press the self-destruct button. But give a thought to those who can only sit and watch!

Hi Bluebellwould it's a dilemma isn't it. I agree with Guinevere that there are lots of alternatives. Ty Bollinger has done a lot of research and you might find that interesting. I don't think I'd opt for allopathic treatments. An alkaline diet is also known as the anti-cancer diet. And if you want to check something out, you could consult a kinesiologist, who would do some muscle testing, to find out what's wrong and what your body needs. GOOD LUCK.

Agree Toadinthehole the poster is feeling afraid and worried.

I get where you are coming from but I would have the colonoscopy. There will hopefully be nothing or something simple like polyps to remove and it would put your mind at rest. Best wishes.

Kalu calm down please! Everyone has the right to do what is right for themselves...sorry if that doesn't suit you.

You...are the unbelievable one here!

That’s a bit harsh Kalu. This is obviously a genuine worry for Bluebelle. She’s not doing it for fun.

Have the colonoscopy and then decide. Accept sedation and it will be OK. The worst part I found was not eating the day before , drinking litres of laxative and spending a long time on the loo!

It's very important to clear the bowel so they can have a proper look! Good luck. You are still young so take every opportunity to live longer.

I am in two minds here. I have had cancer in the past (non Hodgkins Lymphoma) and was told if the treatment didn't work I had 5 years! The treatment wasn't nice but it worked and I am fine now (with yearly check ups) and it has given me longer time with my grandsons and given me a "just do it" attitude and I have travelled extensively since then. However, now, at 71 I am not sure I would want the treatment again if it came back. I think you should have the colonoscopy and decide when you actually know what you are dealing with.

You have been given the opportunity of what will be very expensive tests and if required, treatments, all FOC. Instead you won’t even go ahead for initial testing.
You have no facts to go on but you jump to IF you have cancer, you have now made up your mind to die with no thought given to the devastation this will cause your children!

Unbelievable!

Have you explored alternative therapies, eg herbalism, homeopathy, kinesiology>
Even a herbal tea of Avens could help. My mum suffered from it and just changed her diet and the symptoms became almost non-existent. She was advised to have a bland diet and to have oatmeal porridge with bananas, molasses and honey for breakfast or Slippery Elm. No bacon or ham or wine or coffee. Lots of water. Oh and papayas helped her too.
I would always look for alternatives, there is more in life than orthodox medicine, but of course, it does have its place. At the end of the day it is totally your choice.

Bless you Daffdilly, I’ll be thinking of and praying for you. All the best?

It's all been said, so I won't add anything other than to send you my best wishes, whatever you decide. Daffydilly Thinking of you and hoping for the best outcome. Please let us know how you go on.