Farrah Fawcett's Documentary Controversy.

[rie'smom]

Anyone watching? So far so good and sad. Pretty interesting. They said she rejected a colostomy surgery. I wonder what that would have done for her?

My cousin's husband didn't want the colostomy surgery either. He had to have it after battling for 3 years and by then it was too late.

I also heard them say they avoided chemo treatments that would make her hair fall out for as long as they could.

These kinds of decisions stump me. Let the hair fall, have a colostomy, don't put up roadblocks to getting well.

 

[momrek06]

It was sad. It must have been heart breaking for the family and Alana to tape.
Rather ironic that Ryan O'Neal is living his most famous role "A Love Story" .

O..M..G, MuffyJo, that is just so true.

 

[wvdisluv2]

My cousin's husband didn't want the colostomy surgery either. He had to have it after battling for 3 years and by then it was too late.

I also heard them say they avoided chemo treatments that would make her hair fall out for as long as they could.

These kinds of decisions stump me. Let the hair fall, have a colostomy, don't put up roadblocks to getting well.

I don't think anyone can say what they would do in this kind of situation unless they were in it I couldn't say for sure what I would do.....it is easy to make judgements when it is not *your* life.....I won't pass judgement on Farrah or anyone else in this position....I can only pray for her and her family~how sad

 

[mousey]

Its easy to tell someone else what they should do about their health, but if you were in the same situation going through countless scans, procedures, lab work, xrays, etc....you might feel different how you wanted to be treated. There comes a point where enough is enough. So sad about Farrah!

 

[4nana]

I admire Farrah for being such a brave soul and doing this documentary. It contained a wealth of information that many may have never known otherwise. Even tho touching and sad, IMO indeed very well done.

Having lost my dear Dad after battling cancer for years, I hope and pray this helps give others fighting cancer the faith, strength, courage and hope. May this documentary encourage those suffering with this disease to seek second opinions, investigate all types of treatment, to never give up hope, and fight the beast to the end.

My heart and prayers go out to Farrah, her family and friends. She's fought a very brave battle.

 

[akhenaten]

I will not watch. I've already dealt with burying family members who died due to cancer. I don't need to share in a stranger's tragedy.

I agree with you...

 

[wvdisluv2]

---------------------

Her choice.. Maybe she did this as an inspiration for others who are "fighting the fight".. I too have had many family members and friends die of cancer - some who are still fighting it.. That won't prevent me from watching it.. I think it's a courageous thing to do..

What time on the east coast?

I'll tape it and watch it at another time..

 

[Tuffcookie]

It made me sad and I could only watch part of it.

TC

 

[beattyfamily]

It was very good and very sad. It brought me right back to when I was 12 years old and had my Farrah scrape book.

The absolute saddest part for me was the last 10 minutes with her son.

 

[MiniGirl]

I was not a Farrah fan during the Charlie's Angels years, but did become a fan after all that. I am a cancer survivor. (non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I was diagnosed a year after my college graduation and have been cancer free for 20 years now.) My mom lost her battle with cancer though 13 years ago, so I have been there as a patient and as a by-stander while I loved one fought it.

I admire and applaud her for doing this. I missed the first hour of the film though, but from what I could see, it seems like she really did this to effect change. She seemed frustrated by the lack of research that had been done for certain types of cancer and that so many treatments were not available here in the US.

Looking back over the years, Farrah has not been a celebrity that jumps on the bandwagon for every cause that came along. She was in the spotlight for who she is but didn't seem to be one of those who seeks it out. If she wants to use her celebrity status to raise awareness for these things and help those who will suffer with this in the future, I have no problem with that.

This film was her choice and her idea. Nobody was forced to watch.

 

[Feralpeg]

My cousin's husband didn't want the colostomy surgery either. He had to have it after battling for 3 years and by then it was too late.

I also heard them say they avoided chemo treatments that would make her hair fall out for as long as they could.

These kinds of decisions stump me. Let the hair fall, have a colostomy, don't put up roadblocks to getting well.

While that would seem to make sense, it isn't that easy. When I was 31 and told that I had breast cancer, it was overwhelming. I got multiple opinions. They all told me I needed to have them remove my breast, yet I didn't want to do it. I was only 31. I wasn't married. It was so hard. My parents had both died and I really didn't feel I had anyone to lean on to help with the decision.

I know it will sound silly, but I can remember watching a commercial on TV. It was a commercial for perfume with Jayne Seymour. She was wearing this little sexy top. Very feminine and you could see the curves of her breasts. I remember thinking that I would never be able to wear something like that. It sounds stupid now, but was devastating at the time. In the end, I had the surgery. Has it been easy not having a breast? NO! It hasn't, but at least I'm alive.

Please don't try to second guess how people facing cancer should feel. You can't imagine what it is like until put in that position.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It was very good and very sad. It brought me right back to when I was 12 years old and had my Farrah scrape book.

The absolute saddest part for me was the last 10 minutes with her son.

I also made a Farrah scrapbook! I wonder if I still have it? I was so MAD at her when she left Charlie's Angels.

Yes, that was so sad to see Farrah and Ryan with Red. Overall it was certainly a brave thing for her to do.

 

[4greatboys]

This is a really well-done documentary. I really feel bad for her having to put up with the stupid papparazzi. Not only enduring terrible side effects of chemo and radiation, but you have to put up with people taking your picture when you're at your worst? Ugh.

I think this is a very touching and poignant film. I admire her strength. Farrah has put a face to the millions of people suffering with an un-sexy kind of cancer.

I agree

I admire and applaud her for doing this. I missed the first hour of the film though, but from what I could see, it seems like she really did this to effect change. She seemed frustrated by the lack of research that had been done for certain types of cancer and that so many treatments were not available here in the US.

So true. I hear so much about breast cancer, everyone walks for it, there is all kinds of research done but I hear nothing about the cancer that took my mom's life. they didn't even have a chemo for that particular one at the time, she just got was was the closest kind to it.

 

[stellablue]

I was not a Farrah fan during the Charlie's Angels years, but did become a fan after all that. I am a cancer survivor. (non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I was diagnosed a year after my college graduation and have been cancer free for 20 years now.) My mom lost her battle with cancer though 13 years ago, so I have been there as a patient and as a by-stander while I loved one fought it.

I admire and applaud her for doing this. I missed the first hour of the film though, but from what I could see, it seems like she really did this to effect change. She seemed frustrated by the lack of research that had been done for certain types of cancer and that so many treatments were not available here in the US.

Looking back over the years, Farrah has not been a celebrity that jumps on the bandwagon for every cause that came along. She was in the spotlight for who she is but didn't seem to be one of those who seeks it out. If she wants to use her celebrity status to raise awareness for these things and help those who will suffer with this in the future, I have no problem with that.

This film was her choice and her idea. Nobody was forced to watch.

I could not bring myself to watch it-my mom just got diagnosed with cancer (an incurable form) and I am not ready to watch something like that.

Wow, you got diagnosed very young-congratulations on being cancer free and I am so sorry about your mom. My BFF got diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma shortly after her 30th birthday. She beat it & has remained cancer free for the past 4 years and we feel so blessed.

 

[stellablue]

I was not a Farrah fan during the Charlie's Angels years, but did become a fan after all that. I am a cancer survivor. (non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I was diagnosed a year after my college graduation and have been cancer free for 20 years now.) My mom lost her battle with cancer though 13 years ago, so I have been there as a patient and as a by-stander while I loved one fought it.

I admire and applaud her for doing this. I missed the first hour of the film though, but from what I could see, it seems like she really did this to effect change. She seemed frustrated by the lack of research that had been done for certain types of cancer and that so many treatments were not available here in the US.

Looking back over the years, Farrah has not been a celebrity that jumps on the bandwagon for every cause that came along. She was in the spotlight for who she is but didn't seem to be one of those who seeks it out. If she wants to use her celebrity status to raise awareness for these things and help those who will suffer with this in the future, I have no problem with that.

This film was her choice and her idea. Nobody was forced to watch.

I could not bring myself to watch it, but I agree that the film was her choice and people can choose to watch it. My mom just got diagnosed with cancer (an incurable form) and I am not ready to watch something like that.

Wow, you got diagnosed very young-congratulations on being cancer free and I am so sorry about your mom. My BFF got diagnosed with stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma shortly after her 30th birthday. She beat it & has remained cancer free for the past 4 years and we feel so blessed.

 

[minkydog]

My cousin's husband didn't want the colostomy surgery either. He had to have it after battling for 3 years and by then it was too late.

I also heard them say they avoided chemo treatments that would make her hair fall out for as long as they could.

These kinds of decisions stump me. Let the hair fall, have a colostomy, don't put up roadblocks to getting well.

Well, here's the thing. There are several drugs that will treat different kinds of cancer; not all of them cause hair loss. If you had the choice between chemo that would make you sick, but preserve your hair would you take it? Or would you go for the chemo that makes you sick AND takes your hair? As for the colostomy, only she knows why she opted not to have that(at least at first. I'm sure she probably has one now.) Believe me, radiation to the rectum cannot be a good thing. But if she could avoid a colostomy by enduring the side effects of radiation, maybe she is willing to do that. I thought I was going to be sick watching the liver treatments, and I'm a nurse!

Everyone walks that Cancer road alone. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for cancer. What a nasty disease.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

The absolute saddest part for me was the last 10 minutes with her son.

Yes, I thought it was very well done. So sad to watch the ups and downs and I cried the last 10 minutes when her son was visiting.

 

[Mickey527]

It was very sad to watch especially the last minutes. I did miss the first 1/2 hour though so don't know much about what was discussed early on. I do feel sorry for her and what she has gone through already and for those who will lose her soon.
But what gets me is the thousands of people who watched would never sit through those little 30 minute "commercials" for Jimmy Fund or the group that Marlo Thomas is head of. The ones with the people we don't know who have cancer. I know I have a very hard time watching the little children getting their chemo and the suffering they go through. Unfortunately we are a society who feeds off the "celebrity" no matter what they do.
I fought the battle and am almost at my 5 year mark, but it was a tough year with a week hospitalization after every chemo, and open wounds for 6 months with nurses coming to my house 3 times a day for treatments. Luckily my insurance paid for it but I remember sitting in the "chemo room" with 16 other people some who did not have insurance. I remember those people worrying about who would pay their mortgage and rent because they were using their money to pay for their chemo.
What I don't understand is when people refuse treatments that would lengthen or perhaps cure the disease. Suzanne Somers made a big thing about how she refused the normal treatments and did homeopathic stuff to get rid of her breast cancer. I find it hard to believe after what I went through that eating differently would have removed the demon from my body. I sometimes wonder what else she used that we didn't hear about. But she does deserve privacy and I am glad to see another person did become cancer free.
I also have a hard time seeing people who travel to other countries to get optional treatments that are not proven effective. Again, I don't know the story behind Farrah going to Germany because I didn't see that part. But after seeing some who could not afford treatment here in the US it was hard to see someone spending the money she spent to get unproven treatments.

 

[KandD]

It made me sad and I could only watch part of it.

TC

Me too...I kept going back and forth through the channels. It was really sad. My boyfriend didn't even stay in the room, he couldn't watch it at all.

I do have to say that there were parts of the film where she still looked REALLY good. So sad....

 

[C.Ann]

I taped it last night - but haven't watched it yet.. However, I'm glad that her wishes have been carried out..