Is extending life always the best choice

Swingshiftworker said:

Not Messy?
Guess you've never seen the results of a suicide by gun.

I have and they are almost always very messy. Some messier than others. You can increase the possibility of a "neat" crime scene by using a 22LR bullet but that also increases the risk of a failed attempt.

Frankly, if you need to "check out", the BEST method is currently to sign up with an established euthanasia organization in Europe (I posted the links to them above) who will arrange for the administration of a cocktail of totally drugs under the direction of a doctor that are guaranteed to cause you to fall asleep painlessly w/o any possibility of waking back up.

That'll be my choice if it ever comes down to that.

WA & OR
Washington and Oregon also have "Death with Dignity" laws that allow assisted suicide. I believe that you must have a terminal illness in both states and have it certified by physicians, but is another option for those in that situation.

These are tough personal choices that hopefully we won't have to make, but having the option can bring peace even if it is not used. That has happened several times since the WA law passed. A person is certified but never carries it out. It just gives them peace that they can make the decision if they wish. Control over your own life is important too.

John

califvader said:

My Philosophy

 cure what you can and endure what you can't.  that's how i feel.

quality of life
This is an objective term. What brings you joy? Family? Friends? If you don't have this what about volunteering for something you feel strongly about? Find the joy in your life. This won't make all your problems go away but it will make you feel better for whatever time you have or choose to have left. Some will say this is silly. I challenge them to help a fellow pc patient that doesn't have a ride get to a doctors appointment. Tutor a struggling student that has never known his dad. Find the things that bring you joy. Helping where and when you can will bring joy and meaning to your life while your still here. To big to tackle? Try doing RAK for the rest of of the time your here. Random acts of kindness. Hold a door for somebody. Make somebody who is down smile or laugh with a joke or by being goofy. Try it with a complete stranger.
I hope this post will help in some small way. I know it's helped me to try and encourage someone else.and yes I am a fellow Pc patient.

halfwayhome said:

quality of life
This is an objective term. What brings you joy? Family? Friends? If you don't have this what about volunteering for something you feel strongly about? Find the joy in your life. This won't make all your problems go away but it will make you feel better for whatever time you have or choose to have left. Some will say this is silly. I challenge them to help a fellow pc patient that doesn't have a ride get to a doctors appointment. Tutor a struggling student that has never known his dad. Find the things that bring you joy. Helping where and when you can will bring joy and meaning to your life while your still here. To big to tackle? Try doing RAK for the rest of of the time your here. Random acts of kindness. Hold a door for somebody. Make somebody who is down smile or laugh with a joke or by being goofy. Try it with a complete stranger.
I hope this post will help in some small way. I know it's helped me to try and encourage someone else.and yes I am a fellow Pc patient.

quality of life

First let me say that I judge no one --- that is God and God alone's decision.  I am a Christian and I do believe in Jesus.  I do believe in Heaven and Hell.  Having said that, I will pray for you even if you do not have the same beliefs that I do.  I will pray that God will supernaturally show Himself to you in a way that will be undeniable.  I believe that life is a gift -- every day, every breath is a gift.  Some suffer more than others and no one can ever know God's reasoning or timing.  But please consider your family when making this decision.  I know that may seem unfair but I would take into consideration my husband and children before I considered something so permanent and destructive to the loved ones left behind.  I can't know your pain and I'm sure there are plenty out there who wish the pain would go away so badly that they think along the lines as you.  I agree that you should seek counseling.  If not with Clergy -- then with a professional.  Depression is just as much a monster as cancer and any other life changing disease.  I've know those who have pulled out of it and I've know those who have not and the loved ones are left to grieve and hurt and there's absolutely nothing anyone can do to help them.  Again, I pray for you and your family and I hope you truly consider everything and everyone who will be affected by your decision.  God Bless....... 

Hello cchqnetman:

I am thinkinig seriouslsy along the same lines as you: I believe Life is for Living, not Suffering.

I'm 58 yrs old, recently diagnosed with PCa, a-symptomatic, Gleason 3+4=7, PSA 11, with a doc pushing for  "retropubic" or "suprapubic" prostectomy.

I have serious prior conditions that already reduce my Quality of Life to "Just Barely Worth It." I fear that the  prostectomy will exacerbate my prior conditions, thereby only adding to my daily suffering, and ultimately tipping the scales further to "Not Worth Living." 

Here is my story in detail, already related in another area on this site: CONSIDERING NO TREATMENT. 

And here is the address to my blog on one of my serious prior conditions: nothingyoucansee.com. My major concern is my dignity: I don't think I could ever bear incontinence and impotence.

I am not a religious person, so self-extinction, or  refusal to be treated ( and to have palliative care when needed ) causes me no moral dilemma.

It doesn't help that eveywhere a person turns for advice about PCa, you get conflicting "facts" and opinions. Look, I'm an educated person, holding a Masters degree, and I am retired on disability from a spectacular career as a news reporter. So I know how to research! Even so, my investigative research skills aren't producing any answers. Just total frustation.

If the medical community is  confused and can't come to agreement on what is best for PCa victims, then they should STOP experimenting on us!

And so, i am considering NO treatment, and likely a shortened life if my PCa metastasizes. I have been reassured by one doctor that palliative care could keep me comfortable, in the event of outbreak of my presently encapsulated cancer.

So my PCa kills me at age 65. SO F****G WHAT! At least I will have lived my final days in dignity, without Depends, catheters and urine bags, and never having had sexual function. 

This pathology is truly a B***h. But I refuse to run scared, and scarred (by horrendous surgeries done to me). F**K THAT!

One commenter [below] raises the issue of suicide as a crime against morality, because it visits insult and injury to those loved ones you leave behind. I've been suicidal once, and made a serious attempt [read about this incident at my blog, link above]. Yes, suicide does hurt others. After my attempt, I took much grief and anger from family and friends. But most family and friends then just left me! So if there is to be a second round, I'll have no moral qualms. SCREW everbody who only thought of their own hurt feelings at a time when I desperately needed support. Your life belongs to YOU. You don't owe anybody your survival when you Can't Get No Satisfaction!

Thanks for bravely raising this controversial topic. You did the right thing.

I wish you Peace, man.

 

W.T.

mimbyus said:

Hello cchqnetman:

I am thinkinig seriouslsy along the same lines as you: I believe Life is for Living, not Suffering.

I'm 58 yrs old, recently diagnosed with PCa, a-symptomatic, Gleason 3+4=7, PSA 11, with a doc pushing for  "retropubic" or "suprapubic" prostectomy.

I have serious prior conditions that already reduce my Quality of Life to "Just Barely Worth It." I fear that the  prostectomy will exacerbate my prior conditions, thereby only adding to my daily suffering, and ultimately tipping the scales further to "Not Worth Living." 

Here is my story in detail, already related in another area on this site: CONSIDERING NO TREATMENT. 

And here is the address to my blog on one of my serious prior conditions: nothingyoucansee.com. My major concern is my dignity: I don't think I could ever bear incontinence and impotence.

I am not a religious person, so self-extinction, or  refusal to be treated ( and to have palliative care when needed ) causes me no moral dilemma.

It doesn't help that eveywhere a person turns for advice about PCa, you get conflicting "facts" and opinions. Look, I'm an educated person, holding a Masters degree, and I am retired on disability from a spectacular career as a news reporter. So I know how to research! Even so, my investigative research skills aren't producing any answers. Just total frustation.

If the medical community is  confused and can't come to agreement on what is best for PCa victims, then they should STOP experimenting on us!

And so, i am considering NO treatment, and likely a shortened life if my PCa metastasizes. I have been reassured by one doctor that palliative care could keep me comfortable, in the event of outbreak of my presently encapsulated cancer.

So my PCa kills me at age 65. SO F****G WHAT! At least I will have lived my final days in dignity, without Depends, catheters and urine bags, and never having had sexual function. 

This pathology is truly a B***h. But I refuse to run scared, and scarred (by horrendous surgeries done to me). F**K THAT!

One commenter [below] raises the issue of suicide as a crime against morality, because it visits insult and injury to those loved ones you leave behind. I've been suicidal once, and made a serious attempt [read about this incident at my blog, link above]. Yes, suicide does hurt others. After my attempt, I took much grief and anger from family and friends. But most family and friends then just left me! So if there is to be a second round, I'll have no moral qualms. SCREW everbody who only thought of their own hurt feelings at a time when I desperately needed support. Your life belongs to YOU. You don't owe anybody your survival when you Can't Get No Satisfaction!

Thanks for bravely raising this controversial topic. You did the right thing.

I wish you Peace, man.

 

W.T.

the big I's

I'm impotent and have mild inconntinence.  They don't kill you and they don't hurt.  Don't have sex but am not with out love and human contact with my wife.  The inconntinence on my part is leakage which i handle with pads.  Some days are worse than others but I'm not drowning, play golf, with my grandkids we boat play ball and hang out.  I have allowed no restrictions on my life.

.

mimbyus said:

Hello cchqnetman:

I am thinkinig seriouslsy along the same lines as you: I believe Life is for Living, not Suffering.

I'm 58 yrs old, recently diagnosed with PCa, a-symptomatic, Gleason 3+4=7, PSA 11, with a doc pushing for  "retropubic" or "suprapubic" prostectomy.

I have serious prior conditions that already reduce my Quality of Life to "Just Barely Worth It." I fear that the  prostectomy will exacerbate my prior conditions, thereby only adding to my daily suffering, and ultimately tipping the scales further to "Not Worth Living." 

Here is my story in detail, already related in another area on this site: CONSIDERING NO TREATMENT. 

And here is the address to my blog on one of my serious prior conditions: nothingyoucansee.com. My major concern is my dignity: I don't think I could ever bear incontinence and impotence.

I am not a religious person, so self-extinction, or  refusal to be treated ( and to have palliative care when needed ) causes me no moral dilemma.

It doesn't help that eveywhere a person turns for advice about PCa, you get conflicting "facts" and opinions. Look, I'm an educated person, holding a Masters degree, and I am retired on disability from a spectacular career as a news reporter. So I know how to research! Even so, my investigative research skills aren't producing any answers. Just total frustation.

If the medical community is  confused and can't come to agreement on what is best for PCa victims, then they should STOP experimenting on us!

And so, i am considering NO treatment, and likely a shortened life if my PCa metastasizes. I have been reassured by one doctor that palliative care could keep me comfortable, in the event of outbreak of my presently encapsulated cancer.

So my PCa kills me at age 65. SO F****G WHAT! At least I will have lived my final days in dignity, without Depends, catheters and urine bags, and never having had sexual function. 

This pathology is truly a B***h. But I refuse to run scared, and scarred (by horrendous surgeries done to me). F**K THAT!

One commenter [below] raises the issue of suicide as a crime against morality, because it visits insult and injury to those loved ones you leave behind. I've been suicidal once, and made a serious attempt [read about this incident at my blog, link above]. Yes, suicide does hurt others. After my attempt, I took much grief and anger from family and friends. But most family and friends then just left me! So if there is to be a second round, I'll have no moral qualms. SCREW everbody who only thought of their own hurt feelings at a time when I desperately needed support. Your life belongs to YOU. You don't owe anybody your survival when you Can't Get No Satisfaction!

Thanks for bravely raising this controversial topic. You did the right thing.

I wish you Peace, man.

 

W.T.

Do not blame you dude

Just try to picture constant pain that does not respond to medicine and to that, add being alone and surrounded by idiots at the same time (oh it's possible) if you try and let someone in they have selfish motivations. I've tried everything, sometimes there's really no other choice. I will find the courage.