Can anyone give me a timeframe

vodka1ime · New User Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

hi,
my grandfather was diagnosed with liver cancer in feb 07 (he contracted hep c during a blood transfusion in 87), we only found out when the jaundice appeared, since then it has started spreading, in march the doctors placed a stint in his bile duct and the jaundice went, it came back around 5/6 weeks ago, they have tried putting more stints in twice but they cant get them in far enough to drain anything. my grandfather has since refused anymore treatment. he is an insomniac so does not sleep and even with the sleeping pills the doctor is giving him it dont help, he keeps getting sharp paint, the itching is horrendous and he can find no comfort. I adore my grandfather but now i am just hoping the time will come for him to leave us as i cannot bear to see him suffer anymore, does anyone know of any medication or anything that might give him some ease???? he has lost around 70 pounds but has swelling in the stomach, he is bright yellow and his voice is getting weaker aswell as his body, he is staying in bed most of the time, although he is disabled due to a car accident he is still mobile but gets tired very easily, can someone please give me some sort of timeline of how much time i have left with him. I just want his suffering to be over.

Thankyou

brainman

vodka1lime, you sound like a very loving grandson or granddaughter! Your grandfather is lucky to have you. No one can tell you exactly what will happen. His medical team will have to best answer for your questions. However, it does sound like the end is near for your grandfather... week vs months maybe. Crying or Very sad

I am sad for you and your family. Spend as much time with him that you can and try to make it quality time. If you have anything to say to him, now is the time. I was blessed to be with my mother and then my father when they died. I would not trade those last few days for anything!

I will keep you and your grandfather in my thoughts and prayers.
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laupw

Sir,
Your Grandfather is fortunate to have such a loving person, who cares so deeply for him.

When my mother was diagnosed with HCC due to HCV from blood transfusion, the consultant confinded in me that he thought she had only weeks to live. This i assume was base on how
far advance the cancer was in her liver - perhaps 80%?

The alpha protein level in the blood gives a good indication of
the progress of this dreadful disease.

Please spend as much time with your grandad as possible, and physically helping as well. There is no telling how much time he may have left on earth.

She [my mother] was diagnosed in January. even then she was active. But my mother became very ill after the chemo embolisation in March. I saw my mother in April at her home, she appear to be in high spirit, but i saw she lost substantial weight, which may me feel desperate for her. She passed away on 12th May, shortly after arriving in hospital when her health dramatically turned for the worse. my father was by her side.

Before she pass away, she removed her oxygen mask and tried to say something to him. Alas, my father mention she was not able bring forth words from her lips. I think she wanted to say that she loved him so much, and that he must take care of himself.

At that time I did not realize how far advance the cancer in her liver was. I thought that the chemo-embolisation was helping to slow thr progress of the cancer.

So you must spend as much time with your grandfather.

Take care,

philip lau

swenson96825 · New User Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Honolulu

I'm sorry to read about your grandfathers suffering.

I agree with brainman, no one can really give a timeline. I've wondered the same thing with my mother whose recently taken and extreem turn for the worse. The only thing I have been told by my mothers hospice team is once they are unable to swallow by them selves, you're looking at days not weeks. Sad

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