I have such mixed feelings about this subject. I know exactly where you are all coming from, and have had the very same thoughts myself.
But dying from cancer is no picnic either.
Hi there, I'm new to this forum so please bear with me for the moment and sorry for butting in like this. I totally agree with College Girl, to be diagnosed with terminal cancer is just devastating. I was there when my dear father was told he was going to die, I was there when he choked and drown to his death, along with a heart attack. He spent 16 weeks in bed, on morphine and oxygen plus a further 3 weeks in hospital with 2 bouts of pneumonia. My Dad, once a big and strong man reduced to a skeleton of himself, the cancer slowly eating him away; the pain, choking, incontinence, diarrhoea and vomiting. That cancer made sure he was going to die. I have never been so scared and heartbroken in my life. Even just watching his appetite disappearing was heart breaking. It's been exactly 2 years since my father died and now I am looking after my Mum who has been diagnosed with both Alzheimers and Crohns disease very recently.
Yesterday I read some one write (on FB) "I'd rather have cancer than Alzheimers". I'd rather have none of the above because they are equally devastating diseases. I understand that the time frame is shorter but knowing that you have little time left is so frightening, especially when ypur loved one depends on you for everything. Equally knowing that my Mum is going to die slowly and in such a devastating manner is just utterly heartbreaking.
However, sometimes when I hear of some one "beating" cancer, it does upset me a little. I know that if my Dad was given the chance to "fight" it, then he would have. He was sent home on December 19, no care plan to die. It wpuld be fantastic if patients with Alzheimers were given the chance to "fight it" I think that's the frustrating part of this disease, there is no cure and although we're at the beginning stage, my Mum needs a lot of care and attention already. It is all about Mum's needs, I keep thinking maybe she hasn't really got it when we have a good day, then Alzheimers rears it's head. I envy those who don't have worries like this, those who can plan trips and outings without wondering if my Mum is going to cope ok on her own.
It's my first posting here and I don't mean any malice to anyone. I wish all of you all the best in these difficult days we encounter.