She passed away today.

Do we really need this thread to be about was it wrong to criticize RFK Jr. - a rich white man who, even if you're a fan, I think you can admit he can handle two paragraphs of criticism from a dying mother - or how we don't need to feel sorry for a dead woman because her mom had a famous last name?

Jesus. I don't really subscribe to the "everyone on DCUM is awful" mentality but this thread sure has all the awful people in it.

This is just horrific. I feel so terribly for her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

There’s a reason most leukemia is called “acute.” Unlike solid tumors, it doesn’t hang around quietly for awhile before it’s detected. Once that one cell flips and starts multiplying, you can go from fine to dead in days to weeks. She absolutely would not have lived this long without any treatment.

Or the equipment used caused the leukemia and the treatment accelerated the damage.

Huh?

My heart breaks for Caroline. So much loss in her life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

And the change can happen fast.

I felt mostly okay when I was diagnosed. A little tired and achy. Nothing too weird for a 49 year old woman who works FT and has a family. However, three different doctors told me I’d be dead in two years without aggressive treatment.

Wishing you all the best in your journey ❤️

X100 ❤️

Thank you so much. I’m doing well all things considered. Two things saved me: Very good insurance and living in an area where there were multiple specialists for my cancer.

I’ve always followed the previous generations of Kennedy’s but didn’t know much about Caroline’s children, which is probably a credit to their parents giving them a relatively low profile upbringing. The prospect of any 35 year old dying tragically and leaving behind young children and a grieving family is devastating. My heart goes out to their family. It is devastating on multiple levels. Sincerely hope their family knows no more sorrow and we can get the country back on track towards eliminating these awful diseases.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

And the change can happen fast.

I felt mostly okay when I was diagnosed. A little tired and achy. Nothing too weird for a 49 year old woman who works FT and has a family. However, three different doctors told me I’d be dead in two years without aggressive treatment.

Wishing you all the best in your journey ❤️

X100 ❤️

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

And the change can happen fast.

I felt mostly okay when I was diagnosed. A little tired and achy. Nothing too weird for a 49 year old woman who works FT and has a family. However, three different doctors told me I’d be dead in two years without aggressive treatment.

Wishing you all the best in your journey ❤️

Same here. All the best to you, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

And the change can happen fast.

I felt mostly okay when I was diagnosed. A little tired and achy. Nothing too weird for a 49 year old woman who works FT and has a family. However, three different doctors told me I’d be dead in two years without aggressive treatment.

Wishing you all the best in your journey ❤️

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

And the change can happen fast.

I felt mostly okay when I was diagnosed. A little tired and achy. Nothing too weird for a 49 year old woman who works FT and has a family. However, three different doctors told me I’d be dead in two years without aggressive treatment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

Treatment is brutal but she would’ve lost the battle much sooner without it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

There’s a reason most leukemia is called “acute.” Unlike solid tumors, it doesn’t hang around quietly for awhile before it’s detected. Once that one cell flips and starts multiplying, you can go from fine to dead in days to weeks. She absolutely would not have lived this long without any treatment.

DP But thank you for this explanation. A friend of mine died over this past w'end of AML which was detected by chance when she hoped to donate a kidney and went for a full panel of blood tests. She lasted 5 years but not without multiple, grueling treatments.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

I lost my mom Nov 2024 to acute b-cell leukemia. Her oncologist explained it quite simply - it’s a blood cancer and the cancerous blood cells multiply more quickly than new blood cells can be made, eventually crowding out and stifling the healthy blood cells. You can’t excise it and all the current treatment options for adults are a stop gap for a few years at most. It’s a devastating diagnosis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would have happened had she just said no to treatment? How long would she have lasted? The treatment sounded brutal.

I always wonder about this. By her own account she was feeling healthy and strong until the diagnosis, then declined precipitously after starting treatment. I often wonder if not knowing is better for longevity, at least for a period of time.

There’s a reason most leukemia is called “acute.” Unlike solid tumors, it doesn’t hang around quietly for awhile before it’s detected. Once that one cell flips and starts multiplying, you can go from fine to dead in days to weeks. She absolutely would not have lived this long without any treatment.

DP But thank you for this explanation. A friend of mine died over this past w'end of AML which was detected by chance when she hoped to donate a kidney and went for a full panel of blood tests. She lasted 5 years but not without multiple, grueling treatments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She was brave and generous to suffer the clinical trial treatment to help advance treatments for others.

Maybe, but she was also very human and wanted to explore any possibility that might allow her to live.

No sacrifice, stop glorifying. She did what was best for her and her family. Presumably what we would all do.

+3 She also had incredible connections to get into the trials in the first place. Plus her medical care would have been extraordinarily expensive. Not begrudging her, just noting the reality.