Our precious daughter-in-law, Nancy, is going through what many of us have gone through; someone she loves has cancer. Her nephew, Danny, for whom she baby-sat and who, 9 years ago, lived with her and her family while he attended college, was told he has 6 months to live. Nancy and Bill (Bonnie’s son) and everyone in the family are devastated.

Danny is married and he and his wife have 3 young sons. He has 3 rapidly growing brain tumors. His doctor operated, which left him with a reduction of ⅓ of the mass of one tumor, no reduction of the other two, and double vision. His doctor did not advise radiation at first. He said it would reduce Danny’s mental capacity due to the area of the brain involved. However, he changed his mind and with the family’s permission (I was not consulted at this time), Danny underwent a series of radiation treatments. Chemotherapy was also ruled out at first. But, just as Danny finished radiation treatments, his doctor discovered an experimental chemotherapy that looked promising and asked Danny to sign the papers that allowed the doctor to prescribe it for him. Danny is now taking chemotherapy.

Nancy asked me what I would do if I were diagnosed with brain cancer. The following is my reply: