Leah-Beth Richards was diagnosed six years ago with Wilms' tumor, she was only two years old. Wilms' tumor is a cancer of the kidney that primarily affects children. The peak time of Wilms' tumor occurrence is at age three and it occurs only rarely after age eight.
Leah-Beth has been in remission twice and is currently battling another relapse of her disease. The eight year old says that she does not want to carry on with treatment. Her parents are standing behind her decision and want to discontinue the radiation they are using to fight the cancer.
Leah-Beth's mother says "I just can't put her through it again". "I'm thinking about her quality of life now, not quantity. We'd rather her have some special months than painful years".
Mrs. Richards claimed that when they told the hospital about Leah-Beth's decision not to carry on with treatment, they were told they did not have a choice.
Who do you think should make the final decision? Leah herself, even though she is only eight, the doctors or her parents?
1. Are you guys trying homeopathic treatments? If so, which ones have you heard could be effective?
Posted at 6:20PM on Dec 21st 2006 by Debbie