I'm going to preface my answers to the topics sole purpose, with some points I wish to make, and to try get some perspective.
First of all:
As for your family member, they're dead anyway, I fail to see what your thread will do
I take great offense at this, I will explain precisely why in a minute. I would just like to clarify though, that it was not I that said this. Clarify, because I know that some members will assume that it was I that said this. (I don't know who did say it, but obv BotD knows, and he can confirm that it was not I)
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe not one single member read that and assumed I was the 'culprit', I doubt it though. I've pretty much gotten it my whole life. Accusations bordering on me being no less than the devil himself. Truth be told, I actually now find it cute, it bothered me when I was a teenager, but now mostly I find it endearing. Which brings me back to my offense at the comment. I'm not bothered if people assumed I said it, that isn't the reason I've brought this up. I am offending that there is a BB member out there that thinks they are a bigger a-hole than me. I'm the resident king, baby. Don't know who you are, but you want my crown, you will have to try a LOT better than that.
Also, if this thread is pointless, because Als cuz is a gonner no matter what, then everything is essentially pointless, because we is all gonners. We is all terminal. That's the big juicy prize you get for living a life. You get to die. Enjoy it, it only happens once.
Secondly, the primary purpose of my previous post was an attempt to "bully" people into not posting sentimental drivel. To, as much as possible, remove emotion from the thought process. I knew my answers to the questions within seconds of reading them, because I have considered them before. The whole wanting to give it some thought, was actually my get-out for not posting my opinion there and then, because:
A) I wanted more opinions posted first
and
B) I've had a stressfull week, I wanted to wind down with some mindless trash, which encompassed playing time waster flash games.
A quick little aside about opinions. Contrary to the popular facet of a faux-liberal ideology propagated by disingenuous ass lickers. Not all opinions should be respected. Some should be downright ridiculed, and some should just be completely ignored. If your opinion is not well thought out and expressed in an articulate and intelligent manner, why should, or would you expect anyone to give it any thought, if you haven't.
Oh aye, if you think this post is verbose, congrats, you now the definition of a word beginning with the letter V.
One of the reasons I have given this topic some thought prior to now is that, simply as I previously mentioned, I've known people that have been afflicted by cancer.
One such person was my oldest sister. I tend to be very harsh about her, she's a condescending so-and-so, etc etc. One thing I cannot deny about her, nor would I belittle, is that she is one strong lady. She was diagnosed with cancer about 5 years ago. She went through the chemo', all the varying treatments etc. She struggled though, some days she was in so much pain. To her, the most important thing was to remain positive. To believe she could beat it. And I know the thought of her two kids losing her mother at a young age too must have helped her greatly. Anyway, the treatment worked. She 'beat' the cancer. It came back. She had to go through the whole thing again. She whupped its ass second time around too. Then some time after she was diagnosed with Lupus. lol Talk about a losing streak. It was actually a misdiagnosis. I'm a terrible brother, I forget what was actually up with her the third time, but initially they thought it was lupus,a nd it turned out to be something minor.
Now, talk about ironic, about half an hour after posting in this topic, I recievced a phone call from my father. My mother was taking a break in the US, and she fell ill, with pleurisy. She went through some tests, had a scan, and the docs spotted two abnormalities in one of her lungs. It's not confirmed, but it looks like there's a strong possibility she has lung cancer. (by the way, unlike BOTD, I am looking for sympathy. sympathetic karma will not really be appreciated, but will be expected)
Yes there was a violin playing as you read that last paragraph.
Anyway, on to the questions. I dislike the absolutist frame that the questions are set in, but I understand the necessity of that for the topic. I would say though that I have almost no information to go on, as the topic has nothing to do with what I am about to say. I've no idea of the economic position of your cousin or her family, but if this hasn't been done I would seek the advice, and be tested by, several specialists, instead of the opinion of one doctor. As I've already mentioned, doctor's make mistakes, they are human, they aren't infallible, that's not a criticism of doctors, its just the truth.
I think your cousins age is also an important factor, and:
I'd want to know exactly how painful the treatment would be, so maybe I would try it out and if it was too much for me, I'd stop.
This is sound advice.
My answers, will be typed and posted in a minute or two. I need to stretch my legs for ten minutes, sitting in front of this computer is hurting my back.
