Aunty with colon cancer and metastatised liver cancer. Help!

Only4aday

Hi All,

I found this forum whilst searching google for some information.
Im hoping that someone can give me some information or help.

My aunty was diagnosed with colon cancer about 2 years ago now. At the time that they found the colon cancer they found she already had several tumours that had metastatised to her liver.
They removed the colon cancer and as far as I know it has not returned.
However the metastatised liver cancer is a different story.
She has been undergoing several types of chemo since not long after her diagnosis. They stopped chemo a few months ago, as the cancer is growing larger and spreading, the chemo was doing nothing.

I found out that the cancer has now spread to her bones. Im cant really find any information on this and im really not sure what it means. I guess I am looking for a rough time frame to expect. Weeks or maybe another couple of months? Is it normal for it to spread to her bones? Is that a sign that the end is closing in quickly now?

I am too scared to ask her too many questions, as I dont know how to and I dont want to bring it all up and make her feel worse Sad

I know she is in alot of pain. Her hands and feet are causing her the most pain and they have for some time. She is sleeping for most of the day and really nauseas. She barely eats and has lost alot of weight over the past 6 months. Im not sure if thats due to the cancer or due to the depression caused by it. She doesnt appear to be jaundiced or have any fluid as yet.

My mother died of cirrhosis of the liver 5 years ago now and I watched her go through absolute agony. She spent alot of time in hospital and had many procedures to keep her alive, even though all we were doing was prolonging her pain at that time Sad

My aunty is different, so I dont know what to expect.
What are some of the signs to look out for that will show the end is near? How do you know when there is only weeks left or days? I know she has specific wishes that she doesnt want alot of medical procedures to prolong her state of life, she simply wants to be comfortable and let nature take its course.

I just want to make sure I spend all the time I can with her and that im in some way prepared for that time when it does arrive. I want to make sure ive said everything I want to her and nothing is left to regret.
I understand that you arent doctors, but people who have been through similar circumstances and any advice or ideas would be grealty appreciated.

Thank you.

brainman

Hi Only4aday, I am very sorry about your aunt's cancer. It sounds like she and you are very close. I hope this forum can be of help to you.

As time passes, your aunt's liver will stop filtering out the toxins from her blood. The build up of toxins in her system will cause her to loose her appetite, sleep more and more, and generally just not feel good at all. When that happens, it is just a matter of days or weeks. I wish I had better news for you. Try to make the most of this time that you still have with her. I know it is easier said than done, but try to just live one day at a time. Help your aunt to get the most out of every day.

You and your aunt are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Only4aday

Thank you brainman.
Yes we are very close, she is as close to a mother as I have after losing my own.

Im not thinking that she has a long time left at all, but its hard to try to guess if it will be a month or a few, or even just a few weeks.

JayDS

It is not unusual for a metastatic cancer to spread to the bones and this may be causing some anemia which can be among the things that make her so tired.

If it is affecting how her kidneys function she may be retaining water which would cause swelling of feet and hands.

My thoughts go out to you and your whole family. I, and so many others here, know only too well the emotional pain as a result of a cancer in the family.

Only4aday

It spread to her lungs also. We found this out when she went into hospital as she was in such severe pain. She called an ambulance and went in for pain management and they thought she might have had a clot in her lungs. The results came back that there was no clot, it was infact cancer that had aggresively spread throughout her lungs.

After watching the apin my mother went through, she had decided to not be trated for any infections etc and not to be rescusitated. Her wish was for it to run its course and simply for pain management to try to make her as comfortable as possible.

3 days after going to hospital she developed an infection. 2 days later, on Jan 24th she passed away Sad

This was so sudden an unexpected. We knew she had limited time left, but were thinking at least a month more before she got to the point of inability to care for herself, let alone death.
It was so fast and with no warning. I watched my mum slowly die from liver cancer and in the days leading up to her death it was so obvious that the end was near, as her kidneys were failing, liver was failing and she was bleeding from everywhere.
This time, no warning at all.

She was the closest family member I have and im ripped apart. I cant cope and I have no idea how I will get through this.
She passed away on the thursday night and i was told that she passed away on the friday morning. My wedding was the following day Sad

We had plans to marry in April, but changed our midns and planned the whole wedding in a 2 week time frame, just to ensure she woudl be well enough to come to the wedding and not be in too much pain. I will nwo forever regret not making that decision to move the wedding forward just 2 weeks earlier than we did Sad

Now I not only had no parents at my wedding, but my entire family was grieving and in such shock and my closest family member and 2nd mother wasnt there either Sad

I have no idea how to cope with this. I woudl give anything to have her back for just 5 minutes Sad

brainman

Only4aday, I am very sorry that your aunt has died. Although she had cancer for 2 years, her decline was indeed too fast Sad

. I am sorry that she died before your wedding but you tried... you had planned to get married in April but rearranged your plans in order to try to include your aunt. There is no way you could know that she would die so soon.

I hope this community can help you cope with the loss of your aunt. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Colon Cancer and Rectal Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others