My Dad

Defuc · New User Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Im Dave and I just found this forum today.My father is fighting cancer (and loosing) and Im sort of seeking knowledge and understanding. About 6 months ago he had a mass in his lung that was first diagnosed as a acute pnuemonia, but was quickly thereafter disagnosed as A ling cancer stage 3/4 (they couldnt agree at the time) He spent several weeks in the Milwaukee VAs onocology ward,under going test and chemo and radiation,at the time they thought it was contained in the lung and they beat it back pretty well,It didnt apper in pet scans and such to have spread anywhere, he got home and was pretty healthy for a couple months, follow ups looked good etc, then he got nauseous,which got severe along with uncontrolable vomiting,loss of memory,impaired judgement/perception and so forth and was rushed near death back to milwaukee,where they found a mass in his brain,compressing the part that controls appetite,balance and nausea..a week long coma, another series of raidation and he was home again, however he was extremely weak and not at all himself,he'd aged 20yrs in 3 wks..his insides /bowels didnt work correctly and such but with some additional medical care he was getting by...he's been home a month . everyday he deteriorates more and more, needs a walker,but its almost pointless because the last week he only gets up to eat breakfast,and then its back to sleep (about 20hrs a day) his memory is iffy again, and he has severe mood swings. When he was at the VA last they said there are masses in his kindneys and he tested for elevated levels(of something) for prostrate cancer.Now he cant pee either,which sounds bad.Im taking him back for another set of blood work on 03-17-08 , if hes still able..I expect theyll find more cancer thruout,as he is getting worse so fast, and has all the symptoms again of it being back in his brain also.I think Im at the point where they'll say its over,and with how he's suffering ,Part of me wishes sometimes it would just end quickly.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 703 Location: UK

Hi, Defuc.

I am so sorry - your father's situation does sound appalling.

There will be others on the forums who can give you more specific information, but if you have not already got it, then I feel you may have to ask about hospice care [which can be given in the home] to help with palliation of his condition.

You will be in my thoughts.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1035

Hello,

I'm very sorry about the rapid progression of your Dad's condition. Did they actually biopsy for Lung Cancer or is this prostate cancer that has spread?

WBR (Whole brain radiation) and steroids can really mess with someone's brain function. They are a necessary evil unfortunately following this treatment.

If he is on any pain medications, they cause constipation in a big way. He needs to stay hydrated.

You really need to touch base with a care group so he can have more help at home monitoring his condition. Hospice is good when all treatment has ceased, but there are palliative care groups who will also help even if he is continuing treatment.

My heart breaks for you because it is so terribly hard to watch people we love drift away in this manner.

God bless and give you comfort,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Defuc · New User Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks,guys....they diagnosed lung cancer originally,they said stage IV,they treated him with chemo and radiation and seems to get it knocked back, then the last time he became suddently violently nauseous ,uncontrolable vomitting, so they did the scans and found brain "spots"so he was rushed to milwaukee where they decided it was cuasing the nausea and such so they treated the masses in the brain another round of radiation every 3rd day for a few weeks, and got him back ,almost normal,tho he could barely walk and has lapses of memory and mood swings.they saw masses on his kidneys but were concerned with the brain first. since he has been home he had a seeming bloom for a week or two and then a steady decline to a nearly constant bed rest and no appitite , Trying to keep him nourished and hydrated is a almost impossible task for my step mom and brother. With almost no food intake and limited drinking ,Im sure he has some dehydration and anemia/vitiman defeciency probably going on . We're scheduled back in milwaukee the 17th for another scan,and then they should know more what the future holds,or rather how long he has.as they told us last trip itts just a matter of time now that its spreading everywhere,Im not sure how many times they can do radiation or how close together,he just got done a few weeks ago (2nd time) and this batch really messed him up,messed up his digestive tract and he got burns all down his throat and gums, couldnt swallow or chew (they have him wash his mouth and throat with some kind of pink gunk before all his meals) He has a nurse that comes to work with him at home,and to help my Step mom care for him.After next week I hope I know more of his particulars,tho Im dreading the many hour drive to the hospital.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 703 Location: UK

Just a thought.

Have you tried Ensure or similar products? They are fluid, so can be sipped and can be taken as and when wanted.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1035

Random thoughts:

The esophagus burning should lessen in a few weeks, but in the meantime he must get fluids. Vee is right, a drink like Ensure will help with nutrition and fluids. Dehydration is a dangerous thing and can make a person appear to have dementia like symptoms. This is only compounding the effects of the radiation and steroids. The other option is a feeding tube.

There is a calculation that radiologists use for how much radiation a specific area can take.

Most of all, I'm sorry. These are the times that try men's souls.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Defuc · New User Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

We made the drive to milwaukee sunday the 16th had some blood work and a Ct scan again on monday..meeting with the doctor on tueday.he explained where all the cancer had spread since last visit and then said "its time to move from the treatment phase ,to the hospice stage and making Dad as comfortable as possible, more chemo or radiation wouldnt help and would just make him miserable for the time he has left" He gave a time frame of 2 months +/- ,suggesting that if he saw summer ,he would be very suprised. Guess if there is any sort of a positive, he did say, dad would just spend more and more time sleeping (he sleeps 20/24 now) and eventually he will just pass away in his sleep.the cancer isnt doing any thing new in his brain but has spread rapidly into his kidneys and near his liverIm still working to digest it all, I thought I was prepared,and was pretty sure what they would say this visit ,but when they did ,It sort of knocked me for a loop,prepared or not.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 703 Location: UK

I am sorry - it is the hard part of being a child, to see a parent slowly slipping away.

My thoughts will be with you all.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1035

I'm sorry that you had "the talk" with the doctor. It is very difficult to come to this time in the disease and I wish your Dad and family God's blessings to have some quality time together.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 162

Trust me, Hospice will be a Godsend to you and give you some peace. They will also ensure Dad does not have any pain or suffers. That will go along way towards helping you cope.

I am so very sorry you are going thru this. I know how hard it is.

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