Hi Pauline - nice to hear from you and I hope you are feeling ok.  You are so right with what you say.  I find it very sad that we have to consider such drastic options because of lack of facilities, it shouldnt be that way x

No, it shouldn't Max, that is why I think this is such a helpful post.  It isn't just talking about assisted dying, but letting us unburden ourselves with the fear of what the end may bring.  Not something we can really talk about with family and friends.

Hi Pauline

The consensus on this thread seems to be that it would be better to have decent end of life care rather than have to legalise euthanasia because of a lack of it. Dying in hospital is so clinical and unpersonal, my mother died in hospital with hepatitis she told us everyday she wanted to go home, the logistics of her doing so were very difficult but I think it would have been possible to do. I regret it to this day that I and my family did not make an attempt to fulfill her wishes. My father died of cancer at home, without pain or anxiety, with his family constantly around him. We brought him home after spending a week at the hospice, his death was hastened with the Liverpool pathway a hospice nurse visited daily. I think it is important to speak with our families about how we wish to spend our last days. I have no fear of death itself , but I am afraid of the bit before I get there. I would like to be free of pain, not have my life extended to endure more suffering, and I wish to be at home with those I love. But I would also like to have the option of an early exit should I so choose if the situation becomes unbearable.

Hi Kim.  I think your sentiments would be echoed by the majority and I also agree that it is important for us all to talk to our families about our wishes.  We should feel fully assured that, whether we choose to be cared for at home or in a hospice, those we love will be able to be there with us and adequate and pertinent care/facilities will be provided.  It is perfectly feasible with the drugs available nowadays that we should not have the added worry of being in unbearable pain.  Bob Cole's experience has been extensively covered in our daily newspapers but wouldn't it have been wonderful if instead of lobbying for and promoting legalised euthanasia, the Press had explored and uncovered the shortfalls in our healthcare system and the real reasons why this unfortunate gentleman had to make such a drastic decision. Take care.

I see that the Assisted Dying Bill is to be debated this Friday. Archbishop Justin Welby has waded in with his opposition to it apparantly supported by Jewish, Muslim, Sikh leaders. If it goes the way of the similar bill in Scotland it will be defeated. Pity they don't ask those to whom it matters most for their opinion. Instead of being able to ask a GP for a prescription of pharmaceutical grade medicine to end my life at a time of my choosing, should I need to. I will now have to risk a botched suicide attempt by using drugs, possibly of inferior quality, bought online.

I know that good palliative care is the correct and best way at the end of life, but in practice it is severely lacking in the UK as I witnessed nursing both my parents and a good friend in their final days.

Two weeks ago I became quite ill, terrible pains in my ribs, burning pains in my back, my stomach was hugely bloated, pains in my kidneys and bowel and I was bleeding.  I phoned my gp surgery but they said they couldnt do anything and neither could my local hospital.  So I phoned the hospital I have to attend in London.  Left a message on the answerphone and someone phoned me back at 8.00pm saying she would find someone to speak to me.  I spent 4 days curled up in bed thinking the worst, before an oncologist phoned me at 10.00pm. His advice was that as I had an appointment on 22nd that I should take paracetamol.  I am learning to live with it all, but if I had something stronger God knows what I would do. If this is what I can expect I know I am becoming quite frightened.

Hi Pauline

I am horrified at the lack of care you are receiving, most of us here know what excruciating pain cancer can cause and how reluctant doctors are to prescribe "enough" pain relief. 8 paracetamol and 8 iboprofen a day only just take the edge off of severe pain. OK opiate and synthetic based opiate painkillers are both dangerous and addictive but it really doesn't matter when you have limited time in front of you. There seems to be some sort of moral imperative that it is good to suffer some pain, and that in no way should you experience any form of euphoric high as a side effect of taking a pain killer. This same moral imperative applies to taking your own life to escape a world of unbearable pain only to prolong the inevitable. What perverted logic do our religious and political leaders subscribe to. This point of view is from my own experience both as a cancer patient and as a carer to both my parents and a good friend who I nursed to the end of their lives. Pauline I hope you are now recieving decent care and pain relief, it is very frightening when you get no response when your are in trouble, your story has left me quite disturbed too. Best wishes Kim

Kim, I have to wait two weeks before I see a n oncologist.  I take enough pain killers to help me sleep, which is what I am doung all the time now.  It even hurts to breathe.  I have never asked for help before , since having cancer, and just thought they might have seen me earlier.. it is scary knowing that no-one will help me.

Pauline

Do you have someone to act on your behalf? If so get them to phone your oncologist's secretary tomorrow and forcefully impress upon them that you need to see someone urgently. I know this is difficult to do by yourself when you feel really ill. Also a call to your GP to  press home the message won't go amiss, plus a call to the McMillan nurses at your hospital, sometimes you have to fight your ground otherwise you get pushed to the back of the queue. Maybe the nurses here may be able to help you out if you call them, I am seriously worried for you, you need some help now don't be afraid to be pushy asking for it. Kim