I was somewhat disappointed with this show. While I empathize and sympathize with Ms. Fawcett, her initial reluctance to follow her doctors recommendations here in the US, and go off for treatments (where she wouldn't have to have a colostomy bag) in Germany sends the wrong message to others, delayed her treatments, and likely altered her long term outcome.

Not all of the treatments are thing that we wish to do, for reasons that are often based in feelings other than what we (or our doctor teams) know is best for us. Look at the number of people here who have fought the PEG, not because it wouldn't have been beneficial for them, but because it altered their perception of how sick they were and more. Colostomies are reversible in the long run. But in this case, the distasteful nature of the procedure had an enormous impact on decision making and subsequent decision to go overseas where someone was willing to do something different (not necessarily better or as good) and employ treatment protocols that had unpublished track records of success or measured by other institutions parallel experiences.

My father couldn't stand the idea of having his chest cracked to have a new valve put in his heart, even though one was damaged to the point it had thrown a dangerous clot. He spent two month looking for a doctor that would tell him there was another way this could be treated - alternative treating this mechanical situation through diet etc. He, like anyone who looks long enough, finally found someone who was willing to tell him what he wanted to hear, but not what was necessarily standard of care or even practical. He died six months later, when his bad valve again threw a clot to his brain. Avoidance of what was a commonplace lifesaving procedure in the world at that time, and his ATTITUDE, killed him.

While I find Farrah's spirit to be extraordinary, I find her decision making process flawed. But we are all the architects of our own situation and we have the right to make any decision that we wish. Putting off known treatments that work for alternatives, delays the treatments ability to do their job, and allows the disease to prosper and advance. I don't care which cancer you consider, that statement remains a truism.