Hospice

DaisysGus · Regular Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 18

Can anyone give me an idea how long patients last in hospice before they pass? I know each case is different, but what is the average? I'm trying to get an idea as to what to expect.

Thank you in advance.

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 153

DaisysGus,
I think it is very difficult to predict how long someone may go on Hospice. I asked the other day and they told me that after being 6 months on Hospice, they reassess you. They told me some people rally and are actually taken off Hospice for a time. My husband was told he had only a short time left and yet while being on Hospice he has improved dramatically(eating well and walking again). I realize he may be back on the roller coaster again soon but only god knows when that may be.
Prayers sent out to you and your loved one,
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

Joey Gal · Regular Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 35

I myself would like to know when I should sign my dad up to be put on hospice. If I only knew what his prognosis was. I know that is the million dollar question. Frankly I think he thinks he is on the road to recovery. We have told him that his cancer is not curable that it is only treatable and all the treatments he went through were pallative. Due to his brain tumor his short term memory is not what it should be. He has been done with treatments for 5 weeks now and still is weak and hangs out in bed all day.
God Bless all
Joey
_________________
Joey Gal

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 153

Joey Gal,
If your Dad is bedridden at this point Hospice should be called in. They can facilitate getting medicines and equipment you might need (walkers, bedside commode ect). They will send a nurse once a week to start and you have access to a chaplain and a social worker who can help the family as well as your Dad. They can teach whoever is the primary caregiver how to move and bathe your Dad and they are available by phone 24/7 to talk you through any stressful situations (my husband became very constipated and they helped me fix that situation).
They will initially come and assess your Dad's health and make suggestions that will benefit both of you.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

Joey Gal · Regular Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 35

Good Morning Charlene,
I would not really call him bedridden yet. He does use a walker to go back to the bathroom.(6 times last night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). I do have public health nurse come once a week. We used to have home aids that would help with bathing but that stopped last week for some reason. I am going to be asking the nurse on Monday what is up with that. Right now he can get him self to the shower and do must of the shower on his own. Has a hard time drying off and a hard time getting dresses. This 20 minutes totally wears him out and usually ends up throwing up when he gets back to the bed. He just has no endurance to do much. It is frustrating. Eats every meal in bed. We never eat in our living room, we sit at the table and ask him to join us but he will say something like" I better not" "not this time".etc...

My husband and I are going to meet with a minister next week and see if he will start coming to the house for visits. See we are not real good about going to church and I want the person that is going to perform my dad service to know him. Our little country church that we used to attend closed about 10 years ago.

Oh yeah that constipated thing that has happen twice. The home nurse has fixed that both times. That is something awful. Dad is taking generic Murilax (sp) once a day and 2 stool softeners and that seems to keep things rollin'.

Thanks for you concern and the information.

Have a nice day and chat later,
Joey[/list]
_________________
Joey Gal

ddevil41 · New User Joined: 28 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi joey gal, sorry about your dad. I think kinda a general rule is hospice care usually means less than 6 months left. that was the case with my mom. they were great and it allowed mom to stay at home til she passed they have many programs like onecoyote said the chaplin visited mom alot. this seemed to help mom. and the nurses and bathers were all so kind. they also have programs to help the family deal with their feelings and lawyers to help with any legal needs like wills and DNR orders. Hope your dad is comfortable. will be praying for you both, good luck, Gary

Joey Gal · Regular Joined: 30 May 2009 Posts: 35

ddevi41**Gary,
Yes that is how I take it too that hospice is for people with 6 mths or less to live. We have a hospice room at our hospital. I am probably one of those strange ones but I do not want my dad to die in my house. Sorry in advance to those of you that think I am insensitive or cold or what ever you may want to call it. We have all the legal stuff done expect signing the dnr which of course can not be done until a later date.
My dad is comfortable, thanks for caring about him...Gary..very kind of you.

I would like to post a question and not sure how to post it but here is what I would like to know and I know all people are different.

How long after pallative treatments does a person live? 39 lung radiation done in June 09 and 4 days of chemo done April 09.
I feel like a crappy daughter asking this but I need to get myself ready for what is ahead of us.

Thanks to everyone...You are all great people!!!!

Joey
_________________
Joey Gal

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 153

Joey,
You are not alone in wondering how long someone has. The problem is that it is the $64,000 question that only God (or whom ever) can answer.
My husband was told he only had weeks left (he had to stop chemo after the first infusion) and went on Hospice. It has been 2 1/2 months now and my husband is eating like a horse and actually walking around the house....go figure.
Everyone plays on the cancer roller coaster differently. Some people go fast after they enroll in Hospice, others live a few years. My husband's Hospice nurse told us that after 6 months they reassess you. People holding their own are taken off Hospice until they need it again.
As for not wanting your Dad to die at home, I don't think you are insensitive. I can equate it to not wanting to see a loved one after they die (in an open casket for instance). You don't want to have that image in your head forever nor do you want to look around your home and only see the vision of your Dad dying.
This is a tough thing to go through, I wish it on not even my worst enemy. Cancer really does suck.
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

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