Cancer, Attitude, and Quality of Life
March 12, 2006 by admin
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Oncologists are now beginning to seriously consider “quality of life” (QoL) when treating their cancer patients. Mere years ago, quality of life made little difference, as oncologists and drug companies focused on the “quantity” of life. Cancer drugs that gave even a few months of “absolute survival benefits” were touted as gold standards. Thanks to patient advocates, enlightened healthcare professionals, new cancer therapies, and side effect management options like anti-emetics (anti-nausea drugs), quality of life has become a normal part of conversation between many oncologists and their patients.
Quality of Life has a tremendous influence on attitude of most patients and especially of cancer patients. For many, that attitude is cultivated from within, and the cancer experience can shift a person’s attitude profoundly, whether the person is suffering from cancer or is taking care of a loved one suffering from cancer. A nurse honored for her care of cancer patients remembers two patients with memorable attitudes.
I definitely believe and agree that “Quality of Life” plays an important role specially to cancer patients. Both my parents had/have cancer. My father, having prostate cancer, gave-up and got depressed which weakened him more and more until he lost his battle. (he was diagnosed Oct. 2003 and lost, Jan. 2004)
My mother on the otherhand, knew it was a deadly disease but treated it like a fever, and eventually won over it with the help of chemotherapy, positive fighting spirit, and her “faith.” She was diagnosed on early 2001…it’s now 2006. (forgive my long comment, I got carried away)