Last edited Thu Jan 7, 2016, 11:35 AM - Edit history (1)
I apologize that I haven't seen this until now.
Since you asked, I'll offer my thoughts on this, but I'll do it in reverse order (easiest first).
FYI, I have stage IV cancer, years of chemo, modest amount of radiation (I think).
Spots before my eyes. No, I haven't experienced this. However, the chemo I had for a long time had steroids in it and it created a chemo-induced diabetes which will fuck up your vision (and thirst, and mentality, etc.). That's the only thing that comes to mind in my experience. You probably had a different mix of chemicals, but I don't think you're off in attributing that visual effect to one of them - I just don't know which one.
DNR/DNI is one of the issues I've thought long about. I am aware that my situation is terminal. I'm also aware surgeries are risky. I don't have a problem if I go into surgery (none anticipated right now) and there's a problem on the table and they have to pull me back (happened once already) but because it is terminal I don't want to be revived or intubated out of surgery, particularly if I'm not likely to come out of it. My family is with me (note: if your family is NOT with you then you particularly need to get legal documents expressing your wishes, although that's a good idea anyway). We've had family members kept on life support before - not a lot - but we all agree it's no place we want to be if it's likely terminal anyway.
Anyway, your thoughts may differ, but that's my take on it. You can feel free to PM me if you want and discuss it further. I find it a fascinating aspect I never really had to explore until I was the subject itself, then it became all too real.
I will say my Dad was on life support and we all wanted him off. He was rendered basically paralyzed by a stroke and could only communicate with eyeblinks. No one, especially him (we knew from before), wanted that. Luckily, he was able to leave us after a few days, but I don't think any of us, certainly not him, would have wanted him to continue in that state.
On edit: Oh, as an addendum, I have also been diagnosed with myelodysplastic disorder, mainly based on my difficulty making platelets. I don't recall any spots on the eyes, at least in my case. You may well be different, but the point is that I never had it and therefore I can't attribute it to my myelodysplastic syndrome. YMMV.
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