June 14th 2024.
Talking about death and dying can be a difficult and scary topic for many people. But for palliative care nurses like Julie McFadden, it's something they deal with every day. As a hospice nurse in California, Julie has seen firsthand the different diseases that can take someone's life, and she's not afraid to talk about it.
During an interview on TikTok star Therapy Jeff's podcast, "Problem Solved," Julie shared her thoughts on the "worst" and "best" diseases to die from. She believes that there are a few diseases that are particularly difficult for patients to go through. One of them is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neurone disease.
"If I ever got ALS, I think I would take medical aid... I just wouldn't want to do it. That's a tough one," Julie said. ALS is a progressive disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and eventually leading to death. It's a rare disease, with only about 5,000 people in the UK currently suffering from it. However, it progresses quickly, and half of those diagnosed with ALS will die within the first 14 months. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for ALS, and it can take anywhere from months to years for a person to succumb to it.
After hearing Julie's thoughts on ALS, TikToker Jessica Weiser commented, "I knew she would say ALS. Lost my dad to it, most cruel thing I've ever witnessed." Another commenter, JZ, shared, "My brother-in-law just passed last year from ALS. Horrible disease." Melissa Perfilio also shared her experience, saying, "My grandma has ALS. It's the worst thing seeing her deteriorate. Wouldn't wish it on anyone."
The next disease on Julie's list was glioblastoma, a grade four, fast-growing brain cancer. Glioblastomas are the most common type of brain tumor, accounting for around 32 out of every 100 primary brain tumors diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017. It's the disease that tragically took the life of The Wanted star Tom Parker in 2022, two years after his diagnosis. The average survival time for glioblastoma is only 12-18 months, with only 25% of patients surviving more than one year and 5% surviving more than five years. The main treatments for glioblastoma are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Julie believes that the worst disease to die from is ALS, but there is one disease that she considers an "easier" way to go: kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys do not work as well as they should. According to Julie, end-stage kidney disease can be a gentle way to pass away. "You just stop dialysis and you go to sleep, and then you die within seven days," she explained. While having a chronic illness and being on dialysis for years can be difficult, the end stage of kidney disease is often peaceful.
There are usually no symptoms of kidney disease in the early stages, so it's usually detected through blood or urine tests. As the disease progresses, patients may experience fatigue, swelling in their hands, feet, and ankles, shortness of breath, and blood in their urine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for kidney disease, but dialysis and kidney transplants can be offered as treatments for severe cases.
Many people can relate to Julie's thoughts on kidney disease. Myfreshstart commented on the TikTok, "Lost my dad to end-stage kidney disease. It was a peaceful, beautiful passing. Nothing left unsaid and SO MUCH LOVE." User Miharty also shared, "My dad passed of late-stage kidney disease. He stopped dialysis when he was ready to go. We all got to say goodbye on his terms. He was done."
Talking about death and dying can be difficult, but it's important to have these conversations and learn about the different diseases that can affect us and our loved ones. As Julie said, "We just have to be more comfortable with the conversation and know that it's a part of life."
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