It's been three months since Betty was diagnosed with cancer, and I
was told that she had 6 - 8 months to live, if treated, so I assume
that she currently has 3 - 5 more months, or until February to May.

Today I took Betty in for her chemotherapy again.  But when the
oncologist spoke to me, it was with more furrows in his brow than
usual.  The cancer was growing larger, and in the past couple of days,
it's penetrated completely through her jaw, leaving a growing lesion
on her chin.  The chemo had utterly failed, he informed me.

So he gave me another option - an experimental chemotherapy drug.  But
this one needs to be administered through a 6 hour drip.  Betty would
need to be at the clinic all day.

This was the first time I considered saying no.  I was putting Betty
through all these procedures, each more desperate and ineffective than
the last.  I sensed that we were grasping at straws.

But the oncologist said that he estimates perhaps a 15% chance of a
positive reaction to this procedure.  I was sold.

I told the oncologist that I wanted an evaluation after just one
treatment.  She goes in on Thursday.  If this latest treatment doesn't
work, then I might just let it go.