I've just read that a "leading doctor and former editor of the British Medical Journal" has claimed cancer is the best way to die.
{{Richard Smith believes the opportunity to reflect on life before it ends is important and urges charities and the medical world to "stop wasting billions trying to cure cancer".
He claims most people tell him they would prefer a sudden death, he thinks that is very hard on the families of the deceased.
Compared to dementia or organ failure, it is a better way to die.
"You can say goodbye, reflect on your life, leave last messages, perhaps visit special places for a last time, listen to favourite pieces of music, read loved poems, and prepare, according to your beliefs, to meet your maker or enjoy eternal oblivion".
"This is, I recognise, a romantic view of dying, but it is achievable with love, morphine, and whisky."
He continued: "But stay away from overambitious oncologists. And let's stop wasting billions trying to cure cancer, potentially leaving us to die a much more horrible death."
His comments were criticised by the charity Cancer Research.
Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said: "Of course we are all going to die, but cancer takes far too many people far too young".}}
Having just come out of Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, following a harrowing week of throwing up, excruciating pain, injections, sleepless nights (but zonked out on pain killers); I think I have enough authority and right to condemn this inane and insensitive rubbish, and invite Richard Smith to keep his gob firmly shut.
I will moderate my input from this point as I don't want this thread to be binned. But I am so angry; reading this has made me physically sick.
Since my Abiraterone has failed to 'save' me, I'm in no doubt that my Oncologist meeting next week will be rather negative.
I retired in September at 62 yrs, but have to manage on a low income from the mediocre investments and benefits I can claim.
But, my time is spent, not on doing all the nice things he advocates, but in trying to keep the house clean, and preparing meals while my wife goes to work. We can't afford for her to stop work and spend quality time with me, because she is a Nurse, and not a "leading doctor".
I am trying to fight my sickness, pain and general debility to keep the home reasonably clean; to get paperwork sorted; to ensure continuation of insurances, car tax, servicing, utilities etc. And prepare my wife as much as possible for life alone......... (How about that Richard? That's well worth the Love, Morphine and Whiskey).
Clearing snow off the path so she can get out (That put me in bed for 1/2 a day, but there was nobody else to do it).
To make sure my wife doesn't fall victim to those 'low lifes' who target such individuals. To try and find someone who will hold her arm when walking on wet, slippery or rough surfaces, helping her to negotiate steps, stairs, escalators. (There won't be anybody though, will there?) No she'll have to manage alone...........and fall on occasions. And I won't be there to help.
Hey Richard; maybe you could pontificate on how to overcome these issues?
LOVE, MORPHINE and WHISKEY?
Wow, if only I'd had the opportunity to train to be a "leading doctor", I would have needed only to prescribe the above in order to sleep easy in my bed.
I love my wife, and my sons and families with my whole heart, and believe me, it is breaking right now as I come to terms with my realisation that time is not really on my side.
If I went in a catastrophic incident, at least the playing field would be level, and everyone would just need to adjust. But that's not happened.
LOVE - I have all I need from my darling wife, my boys, their wives and the grandkids.
MORPHINE - makes me sicker that this guys diatribe.
WHISKEY - and generic painkillers dull some of the pains.
Richard - Please don't tell me that dying of cancer is the best way to go.
THERE ISN'T A BEST WAY TO GO
Maybe best to just Butt Out?