Advance decision to refuse treatment & Advanced care plan

I have received the above forms from my pallaitive care team and wish to provide guidelines for my family to save distress in the future. It seems like a blank sheet of paper and I do not know what I types of treatment I should iinclude. I think it is a topic that s=we should think about and I wondered if anybody else has completed such forms in respect of lung cancer treatment and if so what senarios they included??? 

Parents
  • Hi Jayne

    Though not had to face this myself, during my husband's journey with cancer of the lung linings he(we) were often asked to consider this by his palliative care nurse. It was not something my husband was comfortable with talking about to anyone  and in the end the only form he chose to sign was the do not resusciate form as he felt there was no point in 'coming back' to a terminal outcome (his diagnosis from the beginning). He was extremely lucky to have a good back up team through his consultant/gp/community nurses  who placed  no pressure on him and it was only during his last week of life that he finally told me he wanted to stay at home (amazingly during the three years he was ill he had never been admitted to hospital) and he was granted his wish.

    I hope others will come along and offer guidance for what is a very personal and courageous decision. Jules x

Reply
  • Hi Jayne

    Though not had to face this myself, during my husband's journey with cancer of the lung linings he(we) were often asked to consider this by his palliative care nurse. It was not something my husband was comfortable with talking about to anyone  and in the end the only form he chose to sign was the do not resusciate form as he felt there was no point in 'coming back' to a terminal outcome (his diagnosis from the beginning). He was extremely lucky to have a good back up team through his consultant/gp/community nurses  who placed  no pressure on him and it was only during his last week of life that he finally told me he wanted to stay at home (amazingly during the three years he was ill he had never been admitted to hospital) and he was granted his wish.

    I hope others will come along and offer guidance for what is a very personal and courageous decision. Jules x

Children
  • Thank you so much - I hope this brings back happy memories that your husband was granted his wish -

    I think we would all wish to stay at home - but having Lung cancer and a history of epilepsy I am afraid that my family may  not be able to cope.

  • It does bring comfort that he was able to choose and despite his illness was still able to decide this for himself.  His passing comment at the time was that he knew that it was not what  I had expected or indeed my personal preference but despite 37 yrs of marriage he could always throw me a curve ball.  That said I never thought I would have the strength to cope at home but I did not have to do it alone  as both children, grandchildren (6 and 1) plus community care 'held me together'  and we continue to support each other now.  Sending a virtual hug.Jules