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True, but we do require them to give their children food. It seems to me that just about everybody agrees that there’s some point at which you don’t let parents decide for their kids, or let minor kids decide for themselves–the issue is where you draw the line. For me, this case is pretty far from the line.</p>
I ran across this old thread, and wondered what happened. Check this out: http://www.citypages.com/news/anthony-hauser-father-of-boy-who-refused-chemo-dies-at-56-6538061
I’m glad the kid was forced to get treatment and is in remission.
The Dad had cancer too but died of cardiac arrest. Maybe if he’d had some medical treatment other than pureed vegetables…
My guess is that they didn’t believe in vaccines either.
Wow–9 kids under 18–that will be a lot for the widow to support! Glad the boy survived his cancer treatments and is in remission. He’s probably one of the older kids.
No, actually, he’s not. And for good reason.
That is absolute bunk. Chemo/radiation is FIRST LINE for many cancers. And for many cancers, this can effect a total cure, where the patient actually DOES become “healthy again.” Both my father and my husband would be dead right now if not for first line cancer treatment that consisted of chemo, and for DH, chemo and radiation. Both of them are completely healthy. DH takes no medications at all, and my Dad only takes some medicine for his atrial fibrillation. He just celebrated his 80th birthday and is spry, energetic, and mentally strong as anyone I know. Without chemo, we would have lost him in 1992.
Of COURSE not all cancers can be cured. Some have dismal cure rates. But a cancer with a 95% cure rate-that’s the poster child for benefits of chemo.
@nrdsb4 you’re responding to a 6 year old post 
It also just occurred to me that the link hunt posted is 5 years old. I wonder how the now-20 year old is doing.
^^^^Bangs head against keyboard.
I did not notice the date on the thread. I just got back from a crappy day at an American medical facility. 
Brain cells obviously beyond fried.
Most cancer patients die of cardiac or respiratory arrest, neither of which would have occurred if the patient wasn’t dying of cancer. So it most certainly could have been a direct result of his cancer.
We allow children over the age of 12 to make decisions regarding their reproductive health without any input from their parents. We assume that a 12 year old is capable of making those decisions…why can’t a 13 year old decide on the path to take when it comes to cancer?
So sorry nrd. I hope your day gets better.
To answer dietz’s question (without contesting the idea that 12 year olds can make repro health decisions): 99.99% of people who go on birth control will not die from birth control or anything related to repro health. Cancer is a different beast entirely.
FWIW, latest report that I could find: http://www.twincities.com/2010/03/26/sleepy-eye-daniel-hauser-turns-14-is-cancer-free/
Oh the horrors. Considering the alternative, even if chemo was responsible for it, it is a small price to pay.
“And the family thinks the chemo is why he now needs glasses”
Hoping the press has this wrong and that the family isn’t that ignorant…
I needed glasses about that age, as did huge numbers of kids. Jeez.
To whoever “liked” my post from 2009, just be aware that I don’t at all believe that anymore. The kid should have gone through chemo. Especially now that I’m going through treatments similar to chemo (and that is my next step if these fail).
The state should do its best to make sure kids survive to adulthood. Then if they want to believe the mojo about vegetable purees, have at it.
ETA: Also my partner is a red head but he went from bright red to a brown/red around his mid-teens. His dad said the same happened to him. Seems pretty common among gingers.
^^^^ That is a great example of how life’s experiences - and age - often change the black and white thinking of youth.
Wow, an interesting blast from the past. Post from 2009 by Nova:
“Cancer drugs are not the most profitable ones out there. They are expensive to develop and oftentimes expensive to manufacture.
Right now, many of the chemo drugs are the best treatment available. The solution is not elegant but for many, it is choice between living and dying.
The biggest growth areas for cancer drug development are immunotherapy and therapeutic vaccines. Most of you new cancer drugs are antibodies.”
An FDA release from 2011 : http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm268781.htm
Yes, these drugs are coming of age.