The decisions you make about your medical care are not always simple ones, especially as you face the end of your life. When finding a cure isn't possible, you may wonder what the goal of medical treatments should be.
That
is a question no one can answer for you because every person will
answer it differently. What physical limitations can you comfortably
live with? Are the side effects of chemotherapy worth the extra
time it may buy? Only you know the answer that's right for you.
What counts most is that the decisions that affect you also reflect
who you are. Your own values and attitudes should guide the choices
you make.
And
the best way to give your values the priority they deserve is to
think about your choices ahead of time. It can be a lot harder to
think clearly in a moment of crisis when you may barely have time
to understand what your options are. Even worse, you can leave yourself
with no say in the matter at all if you haven't made advance plans
and are no longer able to communicate when a decision is needed.