Chemo May Be Forced on 17-Year-Old Cancer Patient

[Hiandmighty]

It sounds like the system is working as it should...

 

[gitana1]

Yes, chemo sucks. Nobody has said chemo is a picnic.

She's a minor. No different than if she needed a blood transfusion and her mother was against it.
She's got one of the most curable forms of cancer and I'm surprised her mother supports her decision.

You are 100% right. I think this mother is delusional.

Respectfully snipped....

For ME.... I'm still a bit torn, but do tend to think the courts should stay out of it because she is close to adulthood. For ME, like I said in a post above, I've seen too many people die from the treatment and not the Cancer. If she wants to pursue other treatment, she should be able to. It is her body. :twocents:

Without the chemo there is zero chance of life. This is the one and only form of cancer that is highly and consistently curable with chemo. It is the one form that doctors can really consistently beat. I got this info straight from my father's oncologist.

Could there be other treatments for this type of cancer? High steroid treatment?
Cancer treatments of America use different methods than the awful chemo programs.
My husband has MALT lymphma and he is on IV steroids and a chemo type pill.
He has never been sick, no lose of hair .........the only side effect so far is his highs and lows.

There is no other treatment that can cure this form of cancer. However, it is the one form that is highly and easily curable with chemo.

I think it's pretty obvious mother influenced the girl. Mother seem to think chemotherapy is poison. Their alternative treatment ideas appear to be vitamins and eating right.
Seems that girl would most certainly die if they were allowed to stop the chemo.

Exactly. I've read articles and seen reports indicating that mom did all the talking yelling about alternative treatments (which I am in favor of, BTW), and how the chemo would kill her, while the daughter sat quietly.

Apparently, she is totally calm and happier about her treatment now that she is out of her mother's custody and receiving chemo. I have a feeling the kid was scared, confused and heavily influenced by her neurotic mother but knew deep down than her mom was choosing death for her. I believe she is relieved to have a chance at life now.

 

[gitana1]

"The mother took the front seat on this," John E. Tucker, assistant Connecticut attorney general, testified before the panel. "She (Fortin) didn't bring her to the first medical appointment.
"The child was very quiet, did not engage in conversations during the medical appointments. And for a 17-year-old, as you can imagine, that's a little bit unusual," Tucker added. "Really, the mother did all of the talking and sort of the fighting with the medical personnel. And so, really, the child stands in the shadow of her mother here. She's not an independent decision maker. It was really the mother driving the bus."
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/cance...able-cancer-must-continue-chemo-court-n282421

 

[K_Z]

I get the impression, from the mother's comments, that she considers this type of cancer to be synonymous with a chronic, but not rapidly life-threatening condition (such as diabetes, or high blood pressure, or thyroid disease, or PMS, or eczema, or similar). As if it was a "lifestyle" condition, not an acute illness that could be rapidly fatal.

Anyway, to a terrified and confused teen, who just wants the whole terrible diagnosis to go away, how much more frightening and confusing to observe this kind of behavior in her mom-- her strongest ally, who loves her deeply.

I don't want to condemn this mom too harshly, because I think she does love and support her daughter, but is just rather ignorant and suspicious of science and medicine. I really hope she can change her focus from fighting "the system" to supporting her daughter. I wish she would ask to be allowed unrestricted, but supervised visitation-- or be offered that option. They need each other, and I'm afraid that keeping the mom to only twice weekly visits will only cause the animosity to simmer until it boils over. If mom were there, in the room, able to help her daughter, be with her, and hold her, etc-- that might change her focus to be on Cassandra. Cassandra needs to focus on her treatment and healing-- the decision has been made for her to get the treatment protocol. I really hope mom will emotionally come around, for Cassandra's sake.

 

[lizzybeth]

As someone who had chemo for five years, starting at age 11, I have a question. Why did you take the chemo the second time if it sucked so bad? Because you wanted to live right? Well, then this seventeen year old has decided she doesn't want to live. Maybe it isn't right but if "Cassandra" was over eighteen then I would say let her make that decision. In this case I think the courts made the right decision. I'm going by what I "feel" though and not what's legal.

 

[lizzybeth]

Chemo is poison-- it's toxic. that part is true. But with proper care, the body has an incredible way of healing itself once the cancer is gone. The mom and daughter had no alternate plan for what they wanted to do instead of chemo, other than exercise and eat right.

Which I have to say is ignorant. Eating right and exercise doesn't cure cancer. Chemo is the best option if you want to live. As far as fertility, I was told I most likely couldn't conceive. I have two healthy, adult children.

 

[STANDREID]

I think this girl is probably doing this to please her domineering mother which is very sad.

That said, she was considered to be mature enough to be driving a car at 16 and making decisions out on the road that determine whether I or my family live or die so I suppose she's old enough to make this medical choice as well.

 

[SurfieTX]

I think this girl is probably doing this to please her domineering mother which is very sad.

That said, she was considered to be mature enough to be driving a car at 16 and making decisions out on the road that determine whether I or my family live or die so I suppose she's old enough to make this medical choice as well.

The above is what sticks in my craw too - if at 16 one can drive, at 17 (in most states) be charged with a felony as an adult legally, why not this choice? The US is so screwy when it comes to an official adult rite of passage. When are you an adult? When you drive, commit a crime, legally smoke, legally drink, vote, join the Armed Forces? When exactly? What's the point in muddying the waters so much?

 

[jjenny]

I think this girl is probably doing this to please her domineering mother which is very sad.

That said, she was considered to be mature enough to be driving a car at 16 and making decisions out on the road that determine whether I or my family live or die so I suppose she's old enough to make this medical choice as well.

She can't legally drink or vote.

 

[K_Z]

Here is an interesting situation for comparison/ contrast, from Virginia. The circumstances are nearly identical to Cassandra's case. (Daniel Hauser's situation-- Minnesota case-- isn't really comparable, because he is intellectually disabled.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._Cherrix

Virginia v. Cherrix is a court case in which the Commonwealth of Virginia sued to force Starchild Abraham ("Wolf") Cherrix (born in June 1990), aged 16 at the time of the court case, to undergo further conventional medical treatment for a highly treatable form of cancer, Hodgkin disease.

Cherrix was diagnosed with the blood cancer and underwent an initial round of chemotherapy in 2005.[1] When he was told in early 2006 that he needed further treatment, he rejected any further use of chemotherapy or radiation because of the side effects. His parents supported his choice, and were subsequently accused by the state of medical neglect of their child. The lower court decided against the parents, but the decision was overturned on appeal and the parties reached a compromise in a consent decree, in which Cherrix would receive treatment from a board-certified specialist of Cherrix's choice.[2]

The case resulted in a new law, dubbed Abraham's Law, that increased the rights of patients aged 14 to 17 in Virginia to refuse medical treatment.[1]

Cherrix reached the age of majority in June 2008, and has been free to pursue or reject treatment without legal oversight since then, like any other adult.[3]

His website:

http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/abraham_cherrix.html

If you search "Wolf Cherrix", you can see he has some fundraisers in place to help fund his alternative medicines to treat his cancer. His cancer has cycled in and out of remission for many years, most recently returning about a year ago.

 

[stormshine]

The problem with saying "she's almost a legal adult so she should be able to make this decision" is that all it does is move the line a little bit. So you say a 17 year old can make the decision for herself, then shouldn't a 16 year old? And so on and so on. That's why the law defines an arbitrary age (18) at which most people should be assumed to be able to make such a decision for themselves and lets the courts handle exceptions. In this case, the court ruled she's not mature enough. The same court could rule that a 14 year old can make the decision for themselves in similar circumstances. There's plenty of people over 18 who aren't mature enough, but the line has to be set somewhere.

 

[gitana1]

The problem with saying "she's almost a legal adult so she should be able to make this decision" is that all it does is move the line a little bit. So you say a 17 year old can make the decision for herself, then shouldn't a 16 year old? And so on and so on. That's why the law defines an arbitrary age (18) at which most people should be assumed to be able to make such a decision for themselves and lets the courts handle exceptions. In this case, the court ruled she's not mature enough. The same court could rule that a 14 year old can make the decision for themselves in similar circumstances. There's plenty of people over 18 who aren't mature enough, but the line has to be set somewhere.

Very insightful post. This is precisely what has happened in this case and what courts routinely do in matters involving children. For example, in my custody cases, and determining whether a child may have his or her wishes considered by the court, they must determine the child's maturity level. Your understanding of the law, age limits and that and how the courts may handle exceptions to the rule, is exceptional, IMO.

 

[FlyerFan28]

As someone who had chemo for five years, starting at age 11, I have a question. Why did you take the chemo the second time if it sucked so bad? Because you wanted to live right? Well, then this seventeen year old has decided she doesn't want to live. Maybe it isn't right but if "Cassandra" was over eighteen then I would say let her make that decision. In this case I think the courts made the right decision. I'm going by what I "feel" though and not what's legal.

I am going to assume you are asking me, and since no one else has bothered to ask me why I have this opinion, I will tell you. I'm not against chemo, far from it and in fact, I am wholly against 'alternative or holistic' treatments for cancer. My point was that it is her body and she should have some say as to what she endures. That is my only point in replying chemo sucks. I had inflammatory breast cancer, the most deadly form out there. Neoadjuvent and post mastectomy chemo plus radiation is the standard of care for it. I had some highly toxic badass drugs with nasty side effects - twice. If I had to do it again, I would because I know it works. But, I would never force someone into against their will.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I have a 17 year old daughter. There is no way in heck I would let her refuse chemo when the cure rate is so high. NO WAY!
I'm sorry, but I do not understand this mother.

JMO

 

[lizzybeth]

Please don't think I was attacking you. I was trying to make a point that you decided to receive chemo again because you wanted to live. This young lady has to know that if she doesn't take chemo, she isn't going to make it. Therefore, she's making the choice to die.

Being a childhood cancer survivor I have a higher risk of developing another type of cancer than the one I had. If I did get cancer again I would determine whether I wanted treatment or not by the type of cancer I had. If it was highly treatable, like Hodgkins disease then I would definitely take it again.

I'm glad you decided to receive chemo the second time around. I hope you continue to be healthy. My sister had breast cancer and luckily it hasn't returned. I don't know how I would deal with it if she decided not to receive treatment if it recurred but I would respect her decision.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

I get the impression, from the mother's comments, that she considers this type of cancer to be synonymous with a chronic, but not rapidly life-threatening condition (such as diabetes, or high blood pressure, or thyroid disease, or PMS, or eczema, or similar). As if it was a "lifestyle" condition, not an acute illness that could be rapidly fatal.

Anyway, to a terrified and confused teen, who just wants the whole terrible diagnosis to go away, how much more frightening and confusing to observe this kind of behavior in her mom-- her strongest ally, who loves her deeply.

I don't want to condemn this mom too harshly, because I think she does love and support her daughter, but is just rather ignorant and suspicious of science and medicine. I really hope she can change her focus from fighting "the system" to supporting her daughter. I wish she would ask to be allowed unrestricted, but supervised visitation-- or be offered that option. They need each other, and I'm afraid that keeping the mom to only twice weekly visits will only cause the animosity to simmer until it boils over. If mom were there, in the room, able to help her daughter, be with her, and hold her, etc-- that might change her focus to be on Cassandra. Cassandra needs to focus on her treatment and healing-- the decision has been made for her to get the treatment protocol. I really hope mom will emotionally come around, for Cassandra's sake.

K_Z,

I wish the mother had people in her life, with the same care, concern and knowledge that you have, that could give her such great guidance and words. You and others here have such a knowledgable (sp?) compassion...that I believe the mother could use. If only some of the WS'ers could talk to her!

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Just 14 months ago, I watched my ex-hubby agonize whether to try chemo options (5 options, ranging in aggressiveness, just to give him a little "added time," versus curing) or just start hospice for Stage 4 Melanoma. As a 49-year old, with his children raised and several grandchildren, it was still a decision that he struggled with, of course. My heart goes out to this 17-year old, who isn't going to be as mature, and educated on her cancer (and factually, won't be when influenced by her mother's feelings and beliefs - not meaning to be overly harsh on the mother, but it's difficult not to be). I hope Cassandra is able to see through the treatment setbacks, continue the treatment, and be thankful (years from now!) that the court intervened.

 

[K_Z]

I just wish more people understood that to "fully support and love someone" doesn't also mean you have to agree with, accept, and encourage self destructive choices or behaviors. (Or in this case, self-destructive avoidance of lifesaving care.)

I think the mother should be allowed to be there in the hospital with Cassandra, if they both want that. I do think that supervision is still necessary, to make sure treatment isn't sabotaged, but I think keeping them apart with only brief twice weekly visits is just stoking the fires of resentment (mother's resentment, mostly). Better we should nurture this mother/ daughter bond, as they both face scary and difficult times. Lead by example, welcome the mother's care and presence for her daughter, show her what she can do, and how she can help nurture Cassandra. Help the mother feel needed, especially since she is so angry her decision making was usurped by the courts.

Sure, having hostile family members around on a hospital unit is no picnic for the staff-- but these are really the families that need us most to teach and lead by example. I'm sure there are some nurses that would want no part of caring for Cassandra if Mom was there all the time, and would avoid being assigned to her, but others would step up, and hopefully build a bridge of trust over time. Difficult families are always a challenge, but we owe it to them to try, and try again-- as long as there is no overt abuse of the staff, or sabotage of the medical and nursing care. Angry families mean we just have to work harder to understand each other. I've learned over many years that often "angry, critical, and resentful" = "very scared." Angry patients and families often feel out of control, anxious, and intimidated by medical care and experiences, if you look behind the anger.

(But often that's pie in the sky optimism-- because in the next breath, I can tell you that angry & resentful patients and families are the most draining and frustrating people to care for.)

 

[joypath]

Just a quick up-date: http://wtnh.com/2015/01/16/dcf-hospital-receiving-threats-over-forced-chemo/

“I understand there are people outraged by my situation, but making threats is not and will not help me in any way at all,” wrote Cassandra to News 8’s Stephanie Simoni via Facebook. “DCF will not allow me to be released as long as these threats are being made. It’s making them feel like the hospital is the safest place for me.”


As it stands now, she will begin her third of 5 chemo sequences on Monday, at this point, she's responding favorably to therapy. The article makes it seem that she's under Draconian guard, that's hardly the case but she is observed & monitored for MEDICAL reasons!

 

[wendybtn]

Without criticizing this particular mother, I cannot imagine a mother who would allow her only child to die without being able to express a single coherent reason for her decision to allow it.

I think she is operating completely on emotions and not stopping to logically think about what is the best for her daughter. Too bad she does not have a good friend or family member who can sit down and help her reason through her emotions and make the best decision for her daughter, IMHO.