What’s life without a little risk?
I personally believe that life is a bit of a juggling act. It will never be 100% perfect but I wouldn’t want it to be. Without the risks, adventures, unexpected occurrences I don’t think it would truly make us who we are meant to be. I don’t think you can ever plan point by point what is going to happen and I’m a true believer of you never know what’s coming around the corner. I’m not religious but I do believe that we all have great destiny in us and that experiences that life gives us helps as some sort of guidance towards our future.
Hands up I’m not the greatest risk taker and for me the risk has to be truly calculated to see if taking it will benefit me or others around me. Part of me doesn’t like to take risks because I know life is precious and I’ve already had enough interference with my life haha. I then think part of it is just down to personality. I don’t think there is any wrong or right answer to how much of a risk you take in life.
Anyway this morning I saw an advert for a television programmed called “You’re Killing My Son: Mum on the Run”. The television programme will look at the story of a young boy called Neon Roberts who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. In December 2012 his mother Sally Roberts went on the run with her son after disagreeing with the treatment course of radiotherapy . She preferred alternative treatment using alternative therapy due to the risks and side effects of radiotherapy. This went to court due to the welfare of the child and it was decided that the standard treatment protocol of radiotherapy should be followed. The news story interested me at the time and I even talked about it in one of my university interviews.
But what would you do?
Trust me, I know Radiotherapy has its risks and does have side effects to the body, but then if it’s going to enable you to live or have a better quality of life then surely isn’t it beneficial? Obviously if there are no benefits to having the treatment then its not worth the risk of going through. Therefore treatment plans for cancer are always carefully thought through with the risks and benefits being balanced for the patients welfare. However is there really any right or wrong answer?
I’ve always known that the treatment I had would cause side effects but then to me it was worth going through it as I didn’t have an alternative. Ok so I’ve had some highly toxic drugs and yes ok I’m not in 100% picture health but at the end of the day I’m still here. Well then to me all those risks of operations, procedures, drugs and radiotherapy have been of benefit to me. I’m still here despite all my problems and I’m not planning on going anywhere 😉 Those risks and how my illness has intertwined to be part of my life has given me great insight . I would never change what has happened in my life- I do really believe it has helped to make me who I am and to hopefully move forward and be able to help others.
When the treatment protocol of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was brought to attention to my parents, my Dad did actually joke to the consultant about what if he refused that I had treatment. He sternly got told that if he and my Mum refused consent for my treatment then it would go to court appeal. Obviously it shows that even the hospital thought that the risks of my treatment and future side effects would be outweighed by the benefits to me. Its quite interesting when you actually think about it!
Anyway I hope this has made you think a little….
If you interested in watching “You’re Killing My Son: Mum on the Run” it will be on Tuesday 13th at 9pm on Channel 4
S xxx
campbellsramblings 