7 ms·

On the spectrum or go gentle vs fight, I'd have to say, now is the time is history where "fight" makes the most sense. This is not abstract for me. I have not

On the spectrum or go gentle vs fight, I'd have to say, now is the time is history where "fight" makes the most sense. This is not abstract for me. I have not one, but two forms of cancer. Both were considered incurable when I was diagnosed. Both have treatments now that, IN SOME PEOPLE, lead to remission. I still don't know which group I am, but I'd be dead from either one by now, if I hadn't elected to treat. New treatments, for SOME cancers are literally coming out monthly. So the fact that you can't be cured today, does mean there won't be a better treatment by next year, if you can hang on. I should find out soon on my more aggressive one. Either way, I plan on continuing to try.

hirvi74 2mo ago
Keep fighting the good fight, Internet friend. I look forward to reading your remission comment one day.
sghiassy 2mo ago
Sending good wishes
eth0up 2mo ago
Sending thoughts of remission through the aether. And wishing your tries become success.
hexeater 2mo ago
Hero - keep fighting!
- teiferer 2mo ago
  I think it's exactly this attitude which the article is about. Of course I wish the best to whoever decides to fight. But fighting at any cost isn't the best advice.
deleted 2mo ago
[deleted]
ComputerPerson 2mo ago
Pancreatic cancer caregiver here. It's a battle, not a boxing match, that you're fighting. No shame in a battle chant or maybe even a battle cry.
throwawayk7h 2mo ago
if nothing works, try cryonics. Maybe AI-2040 is right and we'll be able to revive you in a few years.
- teiferer 2mo ago
  The cryonics industry is an unbelievable scam. You habe watched too much scifi my friend.
  - mchinen 2mo ago
    Are you knowledgeable about this, and are you talking about the established institutions? If so please explain.
    - teiferer 2mo ago
      You can start by reading about Larry Johnson's whistleblower story.
      - Kinrany 2mo ago
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Johnson_(author) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Johnson_(author) From this description, the main controversy is the allegation of hastening the death of the patient. Not sure where's the scam though.
        brynnbee 2mo ago
        I don't know specifically how these operations advertise, but what some people might call a scam is that cryonics does factually damage your brain extensively, and it's unclear how well anyone could possibly recover from this damage. One of the common thoughts is that maybe super advanced future sci-fi level brain scans could digitize your brain, but taking anyone's money with that as a potential outcome is probably less than awesome. And there's no currently known way that we could thaw these people's brains in a way that would persist life basically at all.
bruce511 2mo ago
Lots of people will take any treatment offered. Indeed I would. That's a perfectly acceptable approach. Yes, medical treatments are improving and hanging on is a good approach cause something may be around the corner. I don't think the article is advocating for no treatment ever. I think it is advocating for a balanced understanding of what treatment looks like, and balances that with quality of life. And indeed balances your age as well. If I'm 80, I'm (somewhat) less concerned with length of life, and more concerned with quality. If I'm 50 that's a different equation. It's very much a personal choice, but to make a choice you have to have information. And it's helpful if you can make the choice in a calm relaxed environment. Both can be missing immediately after hearing a diagnosis. The point is that medical intervention is usually desired. But equally there's a place for acceptance and contentment.
- zemvpferreira 2mo ago
  The father of a good friend passed away recently from a brain cancer. He was a doctor, but atypically accepted every treatment available. His last 3 years were spent in surgery or sick from chemo, did not have one good day after his initial diagnosis. If he could have gone back I'm sure he would have decided not to be treated.
  - xandrius 2mo ago
    Unless going back gets you to re-roll your dice then I'm sure they would still have done it.
    - zemvpferreira 2mo ago
      You might not want it for yourself but many people, especially health professionals in my experience, will take a smaller but less painful lifespan over a chance to live longer through horrible treatments.
- teiferer 2mo ago
  Agreeing with your overall sentiment, but this caught my eye: > If I'm 80, I'm (somewhat) less concerned with length of life, and more concerned with quality. If I'm 50 that's a different equation Why is that? Is quality less important at 50? Would you be more willing to endure suffering if you are younger? Why? I'm thinking that no matter age, people would generally like to avoid a painful death. Maybe it's because it feels more likely to "beat this thing" when you are younger, and then still potentially have decades ahead of you?
stavros 2mo ago
Give us an update in twenty years please.
garyrob 2mo ago
I had cancer, it came back twice in 5 years, but now I'm 10 years out from the last time and my odds are good. Just mentioning it, in case it's helpful to hear a positive anecdote. Sending my hopes for your recovery. You're right that new research is yielding fruit, but I don't have to tell you that.
hobo123 2mo ago
The question to ask is: did those people who got remission do so because of the treatment, because of something else, or despite treatment? It seems to me that much of modern chemotherapy is rather barbaric, but this is very much an outside view. Wish you all the best, with medicine, or without.
mistic92 2mo ago
I really hope for colorectal cancer treatment for my father, like daily checking if there is something new
charintstr 2mo ago
Are you a youngish person (<60 yrs) ? If so then this article probably isn't meant for you. This is more meant for the thousands of elderly that get subjected to needless procedures in ICU when their chances of survival are already low. I can recount them from experience of working with people who administered them. This is just the case of American medicine. And in many other countries doctors wouldn't feel pressured to do this.

hirvi74 2mo ago

Keep fighting the good fight, Internet friend. I look forward to reading your remission comment one day.

sghiassy 2mo ago

Sending good wishes

eth0up 2mo ago

Sending thoughts of remission through the aether. And wishing your tries become success.

hexeater 2mo ago

Hero - keep fighting!

teiferer 2mo ago
I think it's exactly this attitude which the article is about. Of course I wish the best to whoever decides to fight. But fighting at any cost isn't the best advice.

deleted 2mo ago

[deleted]

ComputerPerson 2mo ago

Pancreatic cancer caregiver here. It's a battle, not a boxing match, that you're fighting. No shame in a battle chant or maybe even a battle cry.

throwawayk7h 2mo ago

if nothing works, try cryonics. Maybe AI-2040 is right and we'll be able to revive you in a few years.

teiferer 2mo ago
The cryonics industry is an unbelievable scam. You habe watched too much scifi my friend.
- mchinen 2mo ago
  Are you knowledgeable about this, and are you talking about the established institutions? If so please explain.
  - teiferer 2mo ago
    You can start by reading about Larry Johnson's whistleblower story.
    - Kinrany 2mo ago
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Johnson_(author) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Johnson_(author) From this description, the main controversy is the allegation of hastening the death of the patient. Not sure where's the scam though.
      - brynnbee 2mo ago
        I don't know specifically how these operations advertise, but what some people might call a scam is that cryonics does factually damage your brain extensively, and it's unclear how well anyone could possibly recover from this damage. One of the common thoughts is that maybe super advanced future sci-fi level brain scans could digitize your brain, but taking anyone's money with that as a potential outcome is probably less than awesome. And there's no currently known way that we could thaw these people's brains in a way that would persist life basically at all.

bruce511 2mo ago

Lots of people will take any treatment offered. Indeed I would. That's a perfectly acceptable approach. Yes, medical treatments are improving and hanging on is a good approach cause something may be around the corner. I don't think the article is advocating for no treatment ever. I think it is advocating for a balanced understanding of what treatment looks like, and balances that with quality of life. And indeed balances your age as well. If I'm 80, I'm (somewhat) less concerned with length of life, and more concerned with quality. If I'm 50 that's a different equation. It's very much a personal choice, but to make a choice you have to have information. And it's helpful if you can make the choice in a calm relaxed environment. Both can be missing immediately after hearing a diagnosis. The point is that medical intervention is usually desired. But equally there's a place for acceptance and contentment.

zemvpferreira 2mo ago
The father of a good friend passed away recently from a brain cancer. He was a doctor, but atypically accepted every treatment available. His last 3 years were spent in surgery or sick from chemo, did not have one good day after his initial diagnosis. If he could have gone back I'm sure he would have decided not to be treated.
- xandrius 2mo ago
  Unless going back gets you to re-roll your dice then I'm sure they would still have done it.
  - zemvpferreira 2mo ago
    You might not want it for yourself but many people, especially health professionals in my experience, will take a smaller but less painful lifespan over a chance to live longer through horrible treatments.
teiferer 2mo ago
Agreeing with your overall sentiment, but this caught my eye: > If I'm 80, I'm (somewhat) less concerned with length of life, and more concerned with quality. If I'm 50 that's a different equation Why is that? Is quality less important at 50? Would you be more willing to endure suffering if you are younger? Why? I'm thinking that no matter age, people would generally like to avoid a painful death. Maybe it's because it feels more likely to "beat this thing" when you are younger, and then still potentially have decades ahead of you?

stavros 2mo ago

Give us an update in twenty years please.

garyrob 2mo ago

I had cancer, it came back twice in 5 years, but now I'm 10 years out from the last time and my odds are good. Just mentioning it, in case it's helpful to hear a positive anecdote. Sending my hopes for your recovery. You're right that new research is yielding fruit, but I don't have to tell you that.

hobo123 2mo ago

The question to ask is: did those people who got remission do so because of the treatment, because of something else, or despite treatment? It seems to me that much of modern chemotherapy is rather barbaric, but this is very much an outside view. Wish you all the best, with medicine, or without.

mistic92 2mo ago

I really hope for colorectal cancer treatment for my father, like daily checking if there is something new

charintstr 2mo ago

Are you a youngish person (<60 yrs) ? If so then this article probably isn't meant for you. This is more meant for the thousands of elderly that get subjected to needless procedures in ICU when their chances of survival are already low. I can recount them from experience of working with people who administered them. This is just the case of American medicine. And in many other countries doctors wouldn't feel pressured to do this.