listen, i know it sounds extreme for a 29 year-old to make this choice, but i can't help but think that those that are criticizing her decision have mostly not been around people suffering from brain cancer. i recently watched my father die from brain cancer, and i want to make a few things clear about the choices she has in front of her - because they may not be clear to people.

when you have a tumour in your breast or your leg there may be serious consequences in removing it that may affect your lifestyle. a mastectomy is a hard choice. but, it doesn't affect who you are as an individual - cognitively speaking.

the chemo and the radiation therapy are treatment options, but they don't actually remove the tumour. the only way to remove the tumour is surgically. what this means is that you're removing a part of your brain, and depending on where the tumour is, it could leave you in a very altered state. it puts treatment of brain cancer in a different category than treatments of other cancers.

my father's first operation did not seriously affect his individuality. the second seemed to affect his ability to reason, and the third legitimately left him mentally challenged. there was no other solution - it was the operation or certain death. in the end it didn't save him, but if it did he would have been left a fraction of his former self. he made the decision to fight until the end, but nobody would have begrudged him had he decided differently - except for maybe himself.

it's a very traumatic, difficult experience for everybody involved. i realize she's decided to live a little longer, and i hope she enjoys that time with her family. but i'd really plead with people not to think they can understand this choice or that they can second guess it in any meaningful way. if you're lucky, you'll never have to make a choice this hard in your life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0eVum0weKg