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Angela Wright, I can't thank you enough! I’m going to take everything you said to heart, do as much digging as I can, and sit down for a serious talk with my mom later tonight. I just hope God grants us all the strength we need to get through this; I truly hope that when the fight begins, I can provide my aunt with at least half the support you provided for your own mother.
It’s exactly like you said—you have to fight for every single day 🙂
Hello everyone 🙂 I only registered on this forum for one specific reason, and that is to ask for your guidance. My mother informed me a few days ago that her sister has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and according to the doctors, she only has a few months left. I am not entirely sure if they mean those months apply specifically to the duration of her treatment, but that is how I gathered it. Regardless of whether she undergoes chemotherapy or not, they are saying there is no chance of survival. My aunt is only 38, with two young children—ages three and five—plus a husband. As far as I know, she’s never dealt with anything serious before; she’s always been this vibrant, funny, full-of-life woman, and now this... 😢 To be honest, she still looks quite healthy right now (she says she isn't in any pain), and you wouldn't guess she was ill, though I realize that is likely temporary. Perhaps she is even masking it. I am incredibly close to her and feeling terrible, but that is secondary to the actual reason I am reaching out. The issue is that my aunt is flatly refusing all medical intervention. No radiation, no chemo, not even alternative therapies. My grandmother—her mother—passed away from cancer a few years back, and she watched her suffer through those final two years (you know how it goes...), seeing how she was constantly depleted by the chemo, and she simply refuses to go through that again. She says she wants to spend these last few months 😢 living life to the fullest for as long as possible, and once she can no longer do that, she wants it to be quick... No drugs, no therapy...
From what my mom tells me, my uncle is trying to respect her decision, even though it's clearly breaking his heart. My mother, however, insists that my aunt is being selfish, and now they aren't even speaking 😢
I am 17, so I really don't know much about any of this. I know very little about glioblastoma, and the whole situation regarding my aunt's current state is still a bit blurry to me. My mom doesn't want to talk to me about it much because she thinks it will weigh me down. But I just want to be able to support both her and my aunt 😢 I have only seen my aunt once since finding out the truth (she lives in a different city), and I tried to sit down with her to offer some support, but somehow she ended up being the one comforting me 😢 I honestly don't know...
Can anyone tell me what we should expect if she continues to refuse treatment? How does the disease progress? How long might she live if she chooses not to accept any care? Should we be pushing her to change her mind? Is there any legal framework in the US that would compel her to undergo some form of treatment? And most importantly, how should I even act toward her? I am just so confused and heartbroken 😢
Forgive me for the long vent, but I just needed to get this out somewhere. Thank you in advance for any answers you can provide. 🙂