I remember the first time I heard a cancer support group member share their decision to discontinue treatment. I was shocked and immediately prepared to conduct a mental health assessment. But then he explained. His remaining treatment options offered little promise – minimal chance of extending his life, and even less of improving its quality.
During cancer care, there often comes a moment when patients and their doctors face one of the most difficult decisions imaginable: whether to continue aggressive treatment or shift the focus toward comfort and quality of life. It’s a crossroads where medicine, ethics, and personal values meet.
The question people often wrestle with is this: Is it worth extending life at all costs if that life is spent ill or unable to enjoy the time that remains?
At Red Door Community, we encourage our members not to face this decision alone. We guide them to collaborate with their medical team and their loved ones. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong choice – only what is right for each individual, aligned with their life goals.
Within our support groups, members find a safe, compassionate space where they are understood and never judged. Supported by others who truly understand the weight of this decision, they can explore their options openly and honestly.
Some patients may opt for one more round of treatment, hoping for a bit more time while others may find peace in transitioning to comfort-focused care. Both decisions are acts of courage, rooted in self-awareness and love.
For families, these moments can feel overwhelming and even guilt inducing – wanting to hold on to hope yet not wanting to see their loved one suffer. Support groups and individual counseling can help families navigate these emotions and focus on accepting their loved ones’ choices.
Our community has helped us understand that life is not measured solely in the days lived, but in the quality of those days. At Red Door, we walk alongside our members through these difficult decisions, honoring their choices and their humanity every step of the way.
Blog Post by Migdalia Torres, Executive Director, Program at RDC
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