What If

JOY SCALE: 10/10

Good Morning Everyone, Today I'm going to talk about something we all hope never happens: your treatments no longer work. Over time cancer can find a way to overcome your treatments and start to grow again. Some treatments you have tried have worked for time and extended your life. Others never worked and new treatments took their place. Over time cancer becomes resistant to all treatments. When that happens it is time to weigh the possible limited benefit of a new treatment against the possible downsides, including continued doctor visits and treatment side effects.

We all have our own way of looking at this. Some people just want to remain comfortable during their limited time left.

This can be a very tough time-when you have tried every medical option within reason and non work anymore. Your doctor might offer you a new treatment, but you consider that at some point continuing treatment is not likely to improve your health or change your prognosis or survival.

No matter what you decide to do, it is very important that you be as comfortable as possible. Make absolutely sure that you are asking for and getting treatment for any symptoms you might have, such as pain. This kind of treatment is called palliative treatment.

Palliative treatment helps to relieve the symptoms, but it is not expected to cure the disease. It's main purpose is to improve your quality of life.

Hospice care may be considered at some point. Most of the time it can be given at home. Hospice focuses on your comfort when your cancer is causing symptoms or problems that need attention. Recieving hospice care doesn't mean that you can't have treatment for the problems caused by your cancer or other health conditions. You should focus your care on living life as fully as possible and feeling as well as you can at this difficult stage of your cancer.

One last item to consider. Maintaining hope is very important. Your hope for a cure might not be as bright, but there is still hope for good times with family and friends. This is the time to do some of the things that you've always wanted to do and to stop doing the things you no longer want to do. That last sentence is probably the most important you will ever read or hear.

Peace and Love to All