How do you know you are in your final chapter?
I’m a very positive upbeat person when it comes to this dreadful illness. After ADT, Xtandi, multiple radiation, spinal surgery to remove prostate origin tumors, and now multiple months of chemotherapy I’m wondering how do you know when it’s time for end of life planning. I was given five yrs life expectancy when first diagnosed with stage 4 . It has been five yrs and now starting chemotherapy, which I thought I d never agree to do it. There are things I want to do, go, plan for the grands before I die. So , how do you know? Or do you just tuck the inevitable away and wait for the doc to tell you?
I am sorry about your travails. You seem to do very well under the circumstances. I was diagnosed in 2022 with Stage 2, T1 Prostate Cancer, presently in Active Surveillance.
My assumption is that I may die at any time so I have to be prepared all the time. Being 83 years old now, I know that the most precious people in our lives can disappear at a moment's notice. And so can we.
I found this info that was helpful in my end-of-life planning: https://aging.extension.wisc.edu/files/2022/11/Planning-AHEAD-workbook.pdf
I want to minimize the problems that may arise from my death by being really prepared, things written down, clarity on what my wishes may be.
In the meanwhile, unless my body tells me otherwise, I think and act as if I will be relatively healthy for many years to come.
I hope that you too find a way to deal with the inevitable. All the best to you
