Lance Armstrong had cancer in three different areas, was treated and went on the win the Tour De France (more than once). Not that this is a strong parallel with your mother. My father got married to his second wife (after my mother died) when he was 85 and told me that those were the best years of his life. She, unfortunately died of lung cancer six years later. My father lived to 92 and passed away from Lymphoma. I have a close friend with lung cancer and she is being successfully treated with chemo and radiation. I think that Brian covered the philosophical aspects extremely well and there are no easy decisions within the context of this disease. I was also blessed with being a primary caregiver for my father in his last months and it was a very spiritual experience. We had the assistance of Hospice care which demystified the process and was helpful beyond words. What always surprised me about my dad was how much he loved life, despite the handicaps, limitations and pain. He fought to the end and gave me the ultimate gift of being a living role model for me now that I am the cancer patient. People get discouraged, think about it, take off the gloves and then come back fighting it's part of the human condition.