If the condition of your relative was such that a four-year survival was possible after treatment, then no DNR order should have been requested.
Usually, tumors eroding into the airway lead to gory and spectacular death, and efforts to reverse the process end in disaster, with everyone in the room soaked in blood and the patient dead.
Glad you had such a good result.
Her throat cancer was cured. The radiation had caused some complications, but even that was temporary. She was operated on with no visible after effects and then underwent chemo and radiation. Yes, she was blessed with a cure but had that order not been discovered and she had swelling that temporarily obstructed her airway, I was told by the nursing staff that nothing...NOTHING..would have been done to open her airway with that order in place.
A cautionary tale that I hope all who read take to heart.
Thanks for your reply.