My father-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer in November. He had beat it before with radiation but somehow the radiation screwed up his beautiful singing voice. This time they gave him chemo and the cancer didn't advance nor did it shrink. However, the chemo destroyed his sense of taste and wore him out. He hasn't been the same in months, this wonderful, selfless man.
Last month, the doctor said he figured that he had about 2 months to live.
If my father-in-law had known what the radiation and chemo were going to do to him, I think he would've refused both. At 6 feet tall, he's now down to about 120 pounds and I can only pray that his remaining weeks will be comfortable.
Now I know why when diagnosed with breast cancer, my mother and aunt had mastectomies but refused chemo and radiation. They said if the cancer came back, they'd rather die than go through what they'd seen their friends and one of their sisters did. Luckily, they've been cancer-free for years...but do any of you wonder whether chemo and radiation are even worth it? I mean, I've known a few people to be cured by one or both but it seems like usually, they suffer horribly from side effects and die anyway.