Choosing Life over Time

After three brutal rounds of chemotherapy and radiation failed to stop the cancer from spreading, Minnie Marshall made the decision to stop curative treatment and in July called Hospice.  Now Marshall focuses on managing her pain and enjoying time with her daughter, rather than undergoing painful treatment that won’t stop the cancer, only prolong the inevitable.

“I’d rather feel healthy in my time left than create artificial time,” Marshall said.  “I told (my oncologist) when the treatment becomes worse than the disease, I wanna stop.”  “I’d rather have two months feeling good than two and a half months and feeling bad the last month.”

Marshall isn’t the only one who prefers quality of life over quantity.  A recent poll commissioned by The Regence Foundation and National Journal found Pacific Northwest residents are more open to end-of-life options than the overall American public. According to the poll, 83 percent of Washingtonians believe enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill patients is more important than extending life for as long as possible. That compares to just 71 percent of Americans who share the same belief.    [from the Washington State Columbian]