Thank you Mark - I guess there will always be questions. And if it weren't for the fact that otherwise, Mom has no health issues except some back problems - maybe this wouldn't be such a hard decision for her. She still drives, lives alone, quilts, is politically active, is involved in teacher's issues (being a retired teacher) and can run circles around me on her computer. I think she feels like she's strong enough so that even the chemo won't be that bothersome, but I'm not sure what her reaction will be when she becomes so weak or fatigued from it that she can barely do for herself, which is what the oncologist said it COULD be like towards the end of the 16 weeks.
We go tomorrow for the "teach." She had me send her links yesterday to the meds they would give her so she could look them up online to see possible side-effects. She's told me she isn't afraid of dying - but only wants make the most of what life she has left, be it by going through the chemo and surgery or by doing nothing at all.
Thanks for sharing your story. I suppose we'll see what we learn. I'm pretty sure that now that she has the port in her that she'll at least start the chemo and just decide week by week if she wants to continue or feels it isn't worth the agony just to prolong by a bit what will happen eventually anyways.
The sad thing is that she watched her sister die from what began as bladder cancer. Her sister had the chemo - the surgery - then the two of them cruised around Europe. Eventually, the cancer spread to her bones which ended her life. My mother would agree with you about how cruel cancer can be. I've always prayed that if she had to die, it would be from almost anything other than this
My heart just aches - she encourages her children (four of us) to "be cheerful," and I'll dig deep inside myself to ensure she always sees that cheerfulness when she is around me. I feel like such a little girl again sometimes. This will surely be the most difficult time of my life.
Mary