All about Cancer

[starlight1968sg]

So when we are old, it is better to die than struggling to remain alive

[hercules]

starlight1968sg:

So when we are old, it is better to die than struggling to remain alive

I am someone who is contented to have a lifespan of about 75 to 'enjoy' 赖活不如好死, praying don't let me live till too old else likely to need to face this situation of 好死不如赖活.

We are getting 'abnormal' with our lifespan getting longer and longer and medical facilities just cannot keep up with the 'demand'.

[lee_yl]

starlight1968sg:

what I can't understand or accept is subsidized patients often face \"ops theatres full\" while private patients can be accepted promptly in the same hospital.

both are patients except one pays much more.
so the only difference is $$ paid.

Earlier I shared about DH's colleague who passed away and the family was laden with a bill of $500K after whatever they could claim from insurance. Yes, the deceased was warded in a private hospital.

He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer but was actually on the mend (recovered!) only when he suffered a secondary infection which turned fatal.

Just wondering aloud; if by spending $500K, you can potentially save your loved one from cancer stage 4, will you do it? Or will you rather save up the money as a legacy?

[starlight1968sg]

Lee_yl

There is no answer to your qn. Seeing your loved one suffering, would you not spare no effort to save him or her, knowing all of us will eventually die, just a matter of when?

[MrsKiasu]

I have no definite ans too. The immediate reaction would be try all possible ways. But after awhile, may be able to think better, realising the chances? My (almost immediate) thought was the possibility of the patient (could be either one) request for not to continue treatment, and the thing I saw was hugging and crying together.. why suddenly have this discussion arh..first Jen's side now here..yalah that is fact of life :sad: the more we should treasure our life

[starlight1968sg]

Mrs kiasu

Life is fragile and unpredictable

[MrsKiasu]

yes agree esp those unexpected illness like cancer…anytime anywhere.

[zbear]

hercules:

I am someone who is contented to have a lifespan of about 75 to 'enjoy' 赖活不如好死, praying don't let me live till too old else likely to need to face this situation of 好死不如赖活.

We are getting 'abnormal' with our lifespan getting longer and longer and medical facilities just cannot keep up with the 'demand'.

Lifespan gets longer due to better medical treatment but there is no quality in life. Medical advancement improves or extend the liveable state of the physical condition but not the mental condition.

Many old folks would much prefer to leave peacefully than to undergo the mental n physical torture of treatment.

[ammonite]

lee_yl:

starlight1968sg:

what I can't understand or accept is subsidized patients often face \"ops theatres full\" while private patients can be accepted promptly in the same hospital.

both are patients except one pays much more.
so the only difference is $$ paid.

Earlier I shared about DH's colleague who passed away and the family was laden with a bill of $500K after whatever they could claim from insurance. Yes, the deceased was warded in a private hospital.

He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer but was actually on the mend (recovered!) only when he suffered a secondary infection which turned fatal.

Just wondering aloud; if by spending $500K, you can potentially save your loved one from cancer stage 4, will you do it? Or will you rather save up the money as a legacy?

Very rare to recover from stage 4 and the treatment itself is suffering. In fact, i believe one does not \"recover\" from cancer, can only say it has gone into remission. It depends on the spread and location of the cancer, the age, the individual's will and the family finances. Some people prefer quality of life to length of life, others want that chance no matter how slim.

[ammonite]

MrsKiasu:

I have no definite ans too. The immediate reaction would be try all possible ways. But after awhile, may be able to think better, realising the chances? My (almost immediate) thought was the possibility of the patient (could be either one) request for not to continue treatment, and the thing I saw was hugging and crying together.. why suddenly have this discussion arh..first Jen's side now here..yalah that is fact of life :sad: the more we should treasure our life

Ya it is a fact of life. How will you decide for a child with cancer and how will you decide for an elderly with cancer etc. People tend to go all out for a child, but when do you reach the point when you give up? The doctors and nurses are very very careful not to advise that because they may get blamed for it. They will be very indirect and use roundabout language and if a person is new to this, it is natural to want to keep trying and trying, often to great sufferings.