Future Research

I have a lot of ideas when it comes to treatment vs. no treatment in elderly cancer patients. It all comes down to one question: How often is it better for elderly cancer patients to go without treatment and still live a fulfilling life? My grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. He has had the most common forms of treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation.For the past several years, his health has gone downhill. He is still with us, but has been in and out of the hospital for reasons other than cancer treatment. These reasons include side effects of his cancer treatment. I have since began to wonder.."Would he still be with us if he never received treatment for his cancer, and lived life as if cancer-free? And if so, would he be in as much pain as he is in right now?" I know it all depends on the type of cancer and if it has spread, but sometimes it seems as though the treatment is worse than the disease itself. I think more research should be done on this topic, especially for elderly patients, because my grandfather has become a completely different person ever since he began treatment. I just want there to be a way to preserve the quality of life for this population of people affected by cancer.