Death Dying Prostate Cancer Presented by the Prostate
Death & Dying: Prostate Cancer Presented by the Prostate Awareness Foundation John Bohan MS PAF Mentor The Prostate Awareness Foundation (PAF) offers information, support, and education about the treatment options available to those with prostate cancer. Ken Malik Executive Director & Founder 415 -675 -5661 www. prostateawarenessfoundation. org kamalik@prostateawarenesssfoundation. org jbohan@prostateawarenesssfoundation. org
Questions Knowing that we are all going to die: 1. How do you think you will die? 2. How would you like to die? 3. Where do you want to die? 4. What preparations eventuality? can you make for 5. Have you made any of these preparations? this
“I intend to live forever, or die trying”
Death & Dying: Prostate Cancer
Dilemmas Many of us will be faced with difficult decisions re death and dying. As we cover this subject we will look at the following dilemmas: Quality vs Longevity Enlightenment vs Morbidity Planning vs Victim Positive vs Negative To cover these subjects we will be reviewing: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Definition of Death Causes of Death Hospice Death Café Stages of Dying with dignity The Final Exit
“I’ve now been celebrating the anniversary of my cancer diagnosis for fourteen years… I think about what happened to me, the pain, the fear, the crisis. I give thanks because I was transformed, because I am a much happier man since that second birth. ” Anti-cancer- a new way of Life David Servan-Schreiber MD Ph. D David died of cancer in 2011 about 20 years after diagnosis.
Death & Dying “Prostate cancer patients have a higher risk for dying from various causes other than prostate cancer, including external causes and heart failure. “ nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database
(What is death? Cont. ) “We are alive, therefore we will die. This is the simplest, most obvious truth of our existence, and yet very few of us have really come to terms with it. This inspiring website gives un-parallel Buddhist insight into death and dying, helping us to develop an awareness of our own mortality in a way that will totally enrich and transform our life. Mastery of these topics will enable us to meet our death with grace, clarity, and fearlessness, and experience happiness in all our future lives. “ http: //www. death-and-dying. org/
(What is death? Cont. ) “Death is the cessation of the connection between our mind and our body. Most people believe that death takes place when the heart stops beating; but this does not mean that the person has died, because his subtle mind may still remain in his body. Death occurs when the subtle consciousness finally leaves the body to go to the next life. Our body is like a guesthouse and our mind like the guest; when we die our mind has to leave this body and enter the body of our next rebirth, like a guest leaving one guesthouse and travelling to another. ” http: //www. death-and-dying. org/
(What is death? Cont. ) “The mind is neither physical, nor a by-product of purely physical processes, but is a formless continuum that is a separate entity from the body. When the body disintegrates at death the mind does not cease. Although our superficial conscious mind ceases, it does so by dissolving into a deeper level of consciousness, the very subtle mind; and the continuum of the very subtle mind has no beginning and no end. It is this mind which, when thoroughly purified, transforms into the omniscient mind of a Buddha. “ http: //www. death-and-dying. org/
Causes of Death
Causes of Death in Men USA In Men 65 -74 Coronary Heart Disease is number one cause of death and Prostate Cancer is 7. Lung Cancer, Colon-Rectum Cancer, Stroke and Diabetes lead Prostate Cancer. Worldlifeexpectancy. com/ usa-cause-of-death-by-age-and-gender
Five Stages of Dying Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
HOSPICE “Hospice is not a place. Hospice is care that comforts and supports patients and their families when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. Hospice can be provided anywhere a person calls home. It is a medical discipline that treats symptoms, not causes, of terminal illness for people in their last months, weeks and days. The goal is not to cure, but to make the most of the time that remains. Hospice care is provided by a remarkable team of professionals specially trained to care for the terminally ill. They control pain and discomfort. They help the whole family deal with the emotional, social and spiritual aspects of death and dying. ”
(HOSPICE cont. ) “If you were in control of your last months of life, what would you want? Most of us would want to be free from treatments that don’t make us better and may make us worse. We would want to be comfortable, in the familiar surroundings of home and loved ones, with the best care available. We would want compassion and dignity. We would want our family to be relieved of stress so we could spend our time together reminiscing and sharing our thoughts. Hospice makes this possible. Although we can’t control the time of our death, hospice, also referred to as palliative care, gives us control over how we are cared for near the end of life and where we choose to be. ”
(HOSPICE CONT. ) “…It’s a powerful feeling to have options at the end of life, to be able to make our own decisions, to know that our personal wishes will be carried out. In addition, studies show that early hospice care can improve quality—and quantity—of life: In a study, patients who chose hospice care lived an average of 29 days longer than similar patients who did not choose hospice. ” http: //www. hospicebasics. com
DEATH CAFE “A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. ” The purpose is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. ” http : //deathcafe. com
(DEATH CAFÉ cont. ) Death cafes are places where people interested in discussing issues related to death can meet and share. Some are ongoing and you can set up your own. http : //deathcafe. com
(Final Exit cont. ) “Everyone wishes to die well. Quickly, without pain, without anguish and sparing loved ones a protracted deathbed watch. Quite often this manner of death comes naturally from sudden heart failure or from collapse leading to a coma followed by a rapid end. But not always. The only way to be reasonably certain of a good death is to plan it, and plan, if at all possible, when one is still in good health. ” www. finalexit. org/
Dying with Dignity As we know, dying from cancer is particularly unpleasant. When faced with: Loss of Autonomy Decrease in functionality Loss of Dignity Subjected to an intolerable degree of pain How will you cope? At present 3 States allow some form of assisted suicide: Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. 13 others are considering passage of an end of life Options act including California.
(Dying with Dignity cont. ) “Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death. ”
(Dying with Dignity cont. ) End of Life Options Act: Currently being proposed by Lois Wolk and Bill Monning Calif. State Senators. 1. Two Physicians must certify you have less than 6 mos to live. 2. You must be sufficient of mental capacity to understand the consequences. 3. You must self administer the lethal dose.
The Final Exit “There is an organization called the “Final Exit” who will assist you with preparations for the “Final Exit”. At no cost to you , they will come to you and help you make arrangements. Because it is against the law in most states, you have to do most of the ground work yourself, which includes buying the materials, setting up the scene and turning on the gas. They recommend Helium which is a painless, quick acting gas where you don’t suffocate but pass out gradually. ” They can be reached at www. finalexit. org.
The Final Exit
Common Themes As one reviews the death and dying subject, certain themes begin to appear: • Quality of life is more important than length of life. • There is a strong belief that when one dies his existence does not end. That quality that is “you” the holder of your consciousness continues beyond the material essence of your body. • The power of positive emotions surrounding one’s demise can lengthen your life, enhance your health and improve the quality of your experience.
Conclusion If one were to theorize a scientific view on existence from birth to death it might be that we are fields of energy with consciousness that materialize as human bodies thru birth. These bodies have a life span which terminates in death whereupon the energy field returns to its pure energy form (The Soul). The energy form continues to have your identity and a consciousness. There is anecdotal evidence that the place we go to can be an enlightened, wonderful, positive, loving place. Christians and Jews call it heaven, Moslems call it paradise, Buddhists call it nirvana, scientists say it cannot be measured.
END THE Death & Dying: Prostate Cancer
Acknowledgments David Servan-Schreiber MD Ph. D http: // www. death-and-dying. org nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database http: //www. worldlifeexpectancy. com Elisabeth Kubler-Ross http: //www. hospicebasics. com http: //deathcafe. com http: //www. finalexit. org Joe Troise
Death & Dying: Prostate Cancer Presented by the Prostate Awareness Foundation John Bohan MS PAF Mentor The Prostate Awareness Foundation (PAF) offers information, support, and education about the treatment options available to those with prostate cancer. Ken Malik Executive Director & Founder 415 -675 -5661 www. prostateawarenessfoundation. org kamalik@prostateawarenesssfoundation. org jbohan@prostateawarenesssfoundation. org
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