Dad is still here

mimosa belle · New User Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

Hi all,

My 73 yr old Dad has had pancreatic cancer for a yr. He was diagnosed at UAB May 31, 2006. He was stage 3, with local invasion of veins and arteries. He took radiation for around 2 months, then he’s been on Gemzar ever since. The oncologist said he’d take the Gemzar until the tumor started growing again.

I couldn’t tell you how many times he’s been in the hospital since then. Just two months before he was diagnosed with cancer, he underwent a triple bypass, and I guess with his poor body under so much stress he’s developed an arrhythmia, along with really low blood pressure & high heart rate.

When he was admitted about 3 weeks ago for his blood pressure (80 over 40 something) the dr. overdid the iv fluids. He gained 8 pounds in 24 hours! They put him on diuretics and sent him home. The fluid just stayed in his limbs and he developed cellulites. He was admitted again, and for a week he was in there getting all the fluid off. During that time, the admitting dr., his internal med. dr. and the chemo doc all told us that Dad is a good candidate for hospice. They said the tumor shrunk on his last ct scan. His internal med dr. told us that even though the tumor has shrunk, there may be some metastastic spots elsewhere that are not large enough yet to be picked up on a scan. Dad said he would keep taking the chemo (and he will, until he can’t anymore. He’s going down fighting.)

I’ve had a time pinning these dr.s down on giving me anymore details. It was a real blow to Dad’s fighting spirit to hear them say he should consider hospice. I know the reason he’s lived for a year with this is because of his positive spirit and love for life, and our whole family cheering him on. I know that eventually this horrible cancer will end his life, but I’m not understanding why the dr.s are telling us about hospice and not backing up what they’re saying with any evidence. Also, he is still up walking around, can care for his own hygiene, eat meals with the family.

Dad couldn’t take chemo this past week because his wbc was 1.8. His rbc is 3.66. Hgb is 10.8. Hct 31.8, crea .8 , alb 2.2, and alkp 146. Those were the numbers that stood out as unusual on his last cbc. He’s developed a sharp pain under his right ribs that is going around to his back, and his morphine and short acting pain meds aren’t touching it. He’s been in bed more, and for the past 2 days says he’s really light-headed.

Can anyone tell me what these numbers from his cbc may indicate, if anything? Or has anyone else experienced such vagueness from the dr.s about the condition of their loved one?

catalina · Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Dad is still here

My husband was at UAB, I was NOT happy with his care, we have a copy of his chart and it is a mess. If I were you I would try somewhere else.
Never hurts to get a second opinion.

Catalina

rlee · Site Admin Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 245

mimosa belle,
Unfortunately doctor speak can be confusing. Let me decipher the lab tests for you.

wbc was 1.8. => this is white count, cells which fight infection. Seems a little low as normal is probably around 3

His rbc is 3.66. Hgb is 10.8. Hct 31.8, => all these test indicate the red blood cell level; Also a little low, normal >12 or so

crea .8 , => creatinine is a test of your kidney function, appears normal

alb 2.2, => albumin measures this protein, sort of an indicator of your overall nutritional status. Seems a little low, likely related to you Dad not eating and being sick

alkp 146. => alkaline phosphatase is a test of a liver protein as well as is found in bone. This seems either high normal or just above normal. Not sure what to make of this.

I hope this helps.
_________________
RLee, MD

Any information provided is NOT intended to provide specific medical advice to users but rather to provide users with information to help them better understand their health condition and related care. All readers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified physician for answers to their personal medical questions.

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