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Some parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:42 am
by Gob
A six-year-old boy whose cancer diagnosis sparked a high-profile legal battle in Australia has died.
Doctors said Oshin Kiszko should undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat his malignant brain tumour.
But his parents, Angela Kiszko and Adrian Strachan, refused treatment because of the severe side effects.
After a court decided in March that Oshin had to receive chemotherapy, a judge in September ruled he could be given palliative care.
The Perth boy died early on Wednesday morning, his mother confirmed to local media.
"My love Oshin took his last breaths peacefully as I lay cuddling him at 2am," Ms Kiszko told Seven News.
"Oshin's journey has been extraordinarily traumatising for him and I am grateful he no longer needs to suffer through this nightmare."
The legal fight began after Oshin underwent brain surgery at Perth's Princess Margaret Hospital in December 2015.
Doctors recommended follow-up chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but Oshin's parents believed the side effects would ruin his quality of life.
"I thought I could not put myself through it. Why could I put my son through it?" Ms Kiszko told Nine's 60 Minutes programme in April.
Doctors took the matter to the West Australian Family Court, which ruled in March that Oshin must undergo chemotherapy.
At a hearing in May, the court heard evidence that the boy would have at least a 30% chance of survival if he received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The matter was adjourned when Ms Kiszko and Mr Strachan committed to continuing chemotherapy only.
In September, a judge ruled Oshin's cancer was so advanced he could be given palliative care.
A court statement at the time said "specialist medical opinion confirmed that the delay in therapy had substantially reduced Oshin's chances of a cure, which are now remote".
Re: Some parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:55 am
by BoSoxGal
Assuming the subject is up for discussion:
Every person I personally know who was diagnosed with some type of cancer has died within 1-14 years of diagnosis. Lung, breast, esophageal, pancreatic, colon. Most of those people suffered agonizing chemo/radiation treatments and devastating permanent side effects which greatly compromised quality of life prior to death.
So, is it ever okay to say 'no, thanks' when the medical establishment attempts to push one down the only acceptable road (to its thinking) of toxic treatment?
I say fuck that. If I'm ever diagnosed, I'm very likely to refuse standard treatment dependent on staging of the cancer. I'd rather have a pretty decent year or so to make amends, say goodbye and do some bucket list than to go down the hellish path that cancer treatment and a life in hospitals can quickly become.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:17 am
by dales
Here's my take on cancer treatments.
My late father was diagnosed with cancer when he was in his 60's. Utilizing radiation therapy, he was cured.
He died 20 years later from a heart attack. It was merciful and quick.
Some Parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:35 am
by RayThom
dales wrote:Here's my take on cancer treatments.
My late father was diagnosed with cancer when he was in his 60's. Utilizing radiation therapy, he was cured.
He died 20 years later from a heart attack. It was merciful and quick.
That sounds like prostate cancer. To treat.. or not to treat? Doctors are still debating the prognosis associated with doing something as compared to doing nothing. It appears that mortality runs about equal.
Almost all other cancers metastasize much more rapidly requiring the earliest possible treatment. My game plan -- if ever diagnosed with cancer -- is one course of treatment with radiation and/or chemo and that will be that. I know too many who have suffered immensely when opting for one procedure after another... to no avail. I value my quality of life, I'm not putting up with all that nonsense and false hope.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:20 pm
by Big RR
A good friend of mine got throat cancer in his 50s, and the only treatment they had was radiation. He was scheduled to have a course of 15 treatments (one, twice a week) , and when treatment 13 came around, he decided he couldn't handle it anymore; when he told the doctor, he said that my friend could stop, but then would have to start all 15 again. I talked with him about it and he said he would do them all over again, but he couldn't take one more at the time.
It made me think, what could be so bad that you would opt for 15 more treatments in 1-2 months, rather than just taking 3 over the next week and a half? This man was in his right mind, but the treatments and side effects were just too hard to live with.
He eventually gritted his teeth and had the last 3 on schedule and is now alive (about 5 years later), but the radiation caused vascular damage that led to a major heart attack a year later, leaving him weakened and debilitated; it reduced his immune system which led to a fungal infection of both eyes--one had to be removed, the other has about 30% vision. And a while later it led swallowing problems so bad that he cannot eat or drink anything now--all nutrition is provided through a gastric tube. He is still alive, but the quality of life is pretty bad (he kind of reminds me of Job).
If I had that choice now, I doubt I'd opt for treatment.
But back to the OP, this was the case of a child, nd we cannot permit the parents to make medical decisions for a child in all cases, lest we get kids brought to faith healers instead of the doctor or JW kids not getting blood transfusions needed for life. But what should the prognosis be before the courts overrule them? I'd hate to see a kid in the same shape as my friend.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:33 pm
by dales
That sounds like prostate cancer.
No Ray, it was breast cancer.
Strange but true.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:16 am
by Jarlaxle
BoSoxGal wrote:Assuming the subject is up for discussion:
Every person I personally know who was diagnosed with some type of cancer has died within 1-14 years of diagnosis. Lung, breast, esophageal, pancreatic, colon. Most of those people suffered agonizing chemo/radiation treatments and devastating permanent side effects which greatly compromised quality of life prior to death.
So, is it ever okay to say 'no, thanks' when the medical establishment attempts to push one down the only acceptable road (to its thinking) of toxic treatment?
I say fuck that. If I'm ever diagnosed, I'm very likely to refuse standard treatment dependent on staging of the cancer. I'd rather have a pretty decent year or so to make amends, say goodbye and do some bucket list than to go down the hellish path that cancer treatment and a life in hospitals can quickly become.
I saw 2 people go through cancer treatment. One did one session of chemo, and said she would rather be burned alive tban do another. The other went through the whole series of treatment, and died in agony after most of two years as an invalid, and three months begging people to shoot him.
If ever diagnosed with cancer (unless one easily treated with only surgery), I will probably eat my shotgun that day.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:32 am
by Burning Petard
My wife was diagnosed and treated with surgery for colon cancer more than five years ago. Her diet has changed (can't handle nuts, for example. She really covets pecan pie) After her last colonoscopy in September, the doc said take two years til the next one--it looks good.
As others have said, your results may vary. I was shocked how Tess Smith left us.
snailgate
Re: Some parents
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:34 am
by datsunaholic
My family history with cancer is mixed. My Dad died less than 3 years after diagnosis with colon cancer, surgery and 2 (plus one aborted) attempts at chemo. It had spread to the stomach and was well into Stage 3, possibly 4 before he ever thought of getting checked out. The 1st chemo got him well enough to go back to work briefly, but his goal of working until 70 (so that my Mom would have health insurance) was thwarted by it, as he had to retire for heath reasons at 67. The second chemo set got him well enough to travel to see my sister's wedding, but that was pretty much the last thing he was able to do. The last 6 months were awful, with a 3rd chemo attempt shut down because it would have killed him outright. At that point following doctors "advice" was just going to make it worse, and he died at the age of 68. He'd had skin cancers removed about 5 years before that. His mother (my grandma) just had her first skin cancers removed this year, at the age of 93. She's trying for 100, and 3 years ago I would have said she'd make it, but her COPD is getting so bad that I'm in fear it she won't make it. She has outlived everyone in her generation, and is the only blood relative on her side of the family to ever make 90. (the other side of my family has several that made 90+, with one still alive)
My great-grandfather on my Mom's side had either prostate or testicular cancer in his 50s or 60s, treated by removing all affected bits. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 97. He was still fairly active up to 95- was still bowling league with a 100 average and driving himself to the alley 20 miles away. He was ticked off with the cancer diagnosis, because he wanted to beat George Burns to 100.
One aunt (my Dad's sister) had breast cancer in the late 1980s, she's still with us, and relatively healthy at 69.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:21 pm
by Jarlaxle
On the off chance I see 65 (I don't expect to), I will almost certainly be in a wheelchair, an advanced state of senility, or both.
Some Parents
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 4:23 am
by RayThom
Jarlaxle wrote:On the off chance I see 65 (I don't expect to), I will almost certainly be in a wheelchair, an advanced state of senility, or both.
Yikes, Jlax, you must be in really bad shape. I haven't been in good health since the late '90s but I'm sticking around for as long as possible. My mom died at 89, my father at 94. They had many "senior moments" along the way but senility was never a problem. Barring any horrible downturns I'm good for another 25 years.
Besides, birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.
Re: Some parents
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:45 pm
by Jarlaxle
Early-onset dementia runs in my family...not helped by my multiple concussions. Add to that back, knee, and hip problems.