Linda passed away in her sleep last night. I can't believe it all went so fast. She was all happy in May, then got diagnosed and it had already spread to her other organs. The chemo did not go well at all. They moved her to the hospice - she was eating again and I had my hopes up that she was getting stronger.
My last memory of her was a great big bear hug she gave me at a family party.
I am sorry to hear this, I know they said she only had a short time left but you always hold out hope for a miracle. I am sad that she even had to go through the chemo since they thought she was so far gone. That is such a horrible treatment.
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1980, and passed away in 1991. Back when she had chemo, she had to undergo it for a full year! These days, the drugs are much better, and chemo lasts a much shorter period of time now. I can't even remember the last time I heard of anyone's having chemo for a really extended period.
Barbara always swore that she would never go through it again, so when her cancer returned (and it was in her bones), she refused chemo a second time. She realized that she was probably terminally ill anyway, and wanted "quality of life" at that stage.
I'm so sorry about the loss of your cousin. She clearly tried her very hardest to get well, given her circumstances. The only blessing is that she didn't have to suffer for a long time, and that she died peacefully.
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
