Last Stages GBM - update on my dad

kashrel · Regular Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 25

Thanks for all the replies to my earlier post - I appreciate the support and info. My dad is in a slightly better way. His doctor gave the family the option of doubling the steroid dose to see if it could control the swelling and increase his levels of consciousness. The family were very divided on this decisions as some of us felt ( me included) that we should help him to end his sufferring and just let him go - others felt we should give him every chance he has. So the dosage was doubled and now he is more alert but very confused, bedbound and fully dependent , very weak. At some point the dosage will have to be dropped, as the steroids bring other risks, and I would imagine we will land up in the same position as we were 2 days ago. How long this will take I just don't know.

I have learned that there are stages of the illness and we appear to be at the end. Hope throughout the illness takes on different forms and my hope now is that he passes away peacefully, painlessly and surrounded by the love of his wife ( of 39 years)- and five children.

When I first joined this forum, I had no idea of the journey that lay ahead - and what a journey this had been.

Sorry so sad today Crying or Very sad

Karen
Melbourne
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Karen
Melbourne

brainman

[quote="kashrel"]
I have learned that there are stages of the illness and we appear to be at the end. Hope throughout the illness takes on different forms and my hope now is that he passes away peacefully, painlessly and surrounded by the love of his wife ( of 39 years)- and five children.

When I first joined this forum, I had no idea of the journey that lay ahead - and what a journey this had been.

Sorry so sad today Crying or Very sad

Karen
Melbourne[/quote]

Karen, this may be the only blessing of dieing with GBM vs other cancers. It has been my experience that people do gradually sleep more and more, slide into a pain-free coma, and then pass on into the next life. The only advantage of taking higher dosage of steroids is that it might prolong the periods of alertness. The risk is that it might make him more pron to infections. Try to make the most of this time with him. Speak with him even if he appears to be sleeping. If you have anything to say to him, now is the time. He might have a tomorrow, but none of us is guaranteed anything but today. I will continue to hold you and your father 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 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/

michelesmith · Experienced user Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 72

Karen,
My thoughts and prayers are with you through this hardest of times. Continue to spend time with your dad and know that even though it is hard, you will be glad you did later on. Also know that we support you and you will make it through this too. This disease makes all of us here survivors, whether we are the ones with the disease or the family left after it.

Michele
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Michele

brunette

Hi Karen,

I totally understand your pain. My mum passed in March and I was with her for every minute of her last week. Thankfully she was in a coma like state , so she seemed like she was sleeping. It was very peaceful when she passed away.

Altho it was a tremendously hard time, it was a relief when she finally " let go"

Yes, you have some hard times ahead, but the pain eases slowly. Even now, 3 months on, I cant believe my darling mum is dead. But Im learning to laugh again. My love and best wishes to you and your family xxxx Jen.

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