How much longer?...

Henry · New User Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 3

After suffering severe abdominal pain that prevented him from eating or using the bathroom for 2 weeks, my uncle decided last Friday (9/19) to visit the ER. That morning, exploratory surgery was performed to yield a diagnosis of Stage IV pancreatic cancer. The doctors say that he is in the "most advanced phase possible" of Stage IV cancer.

After spending a week in the hospital, he was transported to a hospice center yesterday morning; he also started chemotherapy earlier during the week. According to the doctors, he has a "couple" of months if the chemotherapy is ineffective and a "couple more months on top of that" if it is effective.

I didn't get a chance to go by hospice yesterday to see him, but my parents did, and they remarked that his abdominal area was becoming increasingly distended. Several days ago, his pain became intense enough to warrant administration of hydromorphone (Dilaudid), although yesterday he was "prescribed" oxycontin and oxyfast instead.

I'm just curious...based on the physical descriptors I've provided, how much longer do you think my uncle has to live? Do you think he'll live to celebrate (or at least witness) Thanksgiving? Does it sound like he'll even be around in 2 weeks?

brainman · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: How much longer?...

Hi Henry. I am very sorry about your uncle's advanced Pancreatic Cancer. You are asking us to make a very difficult prediction because it is so much dependent on your uncle's will to live and fighting spirit.

With proper motivation and therapy, I do think he could live for several more months... at least through the Holidays.

You and your uncle are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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Queensland Girl · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:29 am Post subject: Re: How much longer?...

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear about your uncle and that he has been diagnosed with this terrible disease.

My Dad suffered from the swollen abdomen and needed the fluid removed twice. He was also on Oxycontin for a few months before he passed away. My Dad lived for 4 months after chemotherapy was stopped.

With us, Dad's pain gave us a clue that the end was coming. He was prescribed higher doses and was requiring breakthrough pain medication as well as the high dose oxycontin.

Unfortunately there is no sure predictor of how much time a person has left. All any of us can do is to be there as much as possible as a loved one can rally or go downhill so fast.

My thoughts are with you at this time
_________________
Regards,

Queensland Girl

Mum diagnosed June 1993, surgery and chemo died August 1993 (Pancreatic Cancer)
Dad diagnosed July 2007, chemo only died January 2008 (Pancreatic Cancer)

karolynca · Experienced user Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 51

No predictions can be made and when visible signs and symptoms can be identified is just a matter of days. Sorry about this piece of news, I will say a prayer for you all
_________________
Dad ~ Passed away from Multiorgan failure due to secondary liver cancer on July 2008

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=34365

jessica026 · Regular Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 44

i think when you get down to a matter of days the signs become pretty obvious..hospice should also provide you with a book that is very educational about the last stages of life.

Big Sister · Experienced user Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 68

Since I've been reading and writing on this forum, many people have come seeking absolute information about "the end" of a patient's life. The question seems easy but the answers are not.

First, we don't know how long anyone has on this earth. That's up to a Higher Power. Perhaps that's not really the question you're asking. Your question may indeed be "How long should my mother suffer?" Or "How long does my father have to endure this?"

If you first acknowledge that any answer offered here is limited to one mortal advising another, based on very limited experience, I would say the following:

The dying process is at once slow but rapid. Changes in the body are steady and occur all too fast. Pancreatic cancer patients cannot take in food to any great degree as the entire digestive system is affected. Without food or liquid the body begins to shut down. Muscles turn soft, the patient sleeps a lot, pain begins and then accelerates. Pain medications are given and these increase sleep and lethargy. Sometimes there is steady vomiting or steady diarrhea; sometimes both at once. If the bile duct is plugged, the skin and eyes turn yellow with or without the insertion of a stent. Sometimes the skin itches or the patient begins to hiccup incessantly. Sometimes all of the above - together.

Because the symptoms never let up, the patient changes from fighting the disease to accepting what's happening and just wants it done. Loved ones see weight dropping fast, often, as in my brother's case, from 280 pounds to a death weight of 175 - in just 8 weeks.

We human beings do not die easily.There is simply too much tissue, bone and blood to make the final transition easy. The last few days can vary but clearly there are serious bodily changes occurring, ones which I cannot and will not describe here or anywhere. Suffice it to say that the patient does not "go gently into that good night," as the poets like to say. It's a really rough trip for both the ailing one and the watchers. The good news is that the final hours are intense but short.

Although I felt and still feel that we were all robbed of a wonderful man, too fast and too soon, I could not wish him to remain with us under those circumstances; I know that my brother's beautiful soul is at peace and that he is suffering no longer.

You ask questions about the end so you can prepare yourselves. "What can we expect?" is the question I asked over and over. There was never any answer. There is really no preparation for death except to know it's inevitable, and then concentrate on the practical things which must be done in order to make transition easier, things like money, wills, property, last wishes, insurances, etc. Not crass or cold but necessary so that grief is not increased because of chaos.

My heart goes out to you as you watch your loved ones begin their final trips. Is it easier to deal with than a heart attack or a car wreck that takes them - boom? I don't really know. It's hell for sure on the watchers; I hope I measured up to the task. Good luck and blessings on you.

Big Sister

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