When Cancer Can't Be Cured

Cancer changed my life completely. Instead of planning years ahead, I just had to start planning the week.

Justin, Auckland

If cancer treatment does not kill the cancer cells, remission cannot be achieved and the patient continues to live with the life-threatening disease, knowing that it may eventually be the cause of his or her death.

Once all medical innovation has been exhausted and remission has not been achieved, the patient may be told that the cancer is no longer treatable and that they will die from cancer. Young people that have been told such news have said that talking about it honestly with their doctors, family and friends gave them the opportunity to say what was important for them.

They felt that knowing the truth was important to enable everyone to make informed decisions about the future, and that discussing the possibility of death made it more possible to concentrate on living.

I live one day at a time, and still have hopes and dreams by the truckload. I have really good days, I have bad days and I have really crap days. The doctors really can't do much, because of where the cancer is. I try to be positive, there is no point in worrying about it. It is not going to make it go away. It is just a matter of living and seeing how long it takes. The truth is I'll never get rid of cancer, it'll get rid of me.

Michael, Hawkes Bay

Enjoying life with a terminal illness often depends greatly on having symptoms under control. Even if the disease has no cure, palliative medicine can be administered to relieve symptoms and treat any emotional or physical distress. Many cancer patients that are terminally ill find that their priorities change and life and death take on new meanings. They often decide to take greater control of their lives and focus their energy on setting short-term, realistic goals and living for the present, rather than focussing on the uncertain future. Their appreciation for life comes from 'the living part of life that is captured in moments, not years'. (Samuelson, 2000, Voices from the Edge, Longstreet Press: Atlanta)