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llancaster
New User
Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Father -in- law Help with where we are at |
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| This is my first post but I am trying to help and prepare my children and husband for what is ahead in what I fear will be the near future... Here is where we are , my 79 yr old father in law who has had breathing problems and usually get pneumonia a couple times of year went in on May 18th with what they thought was an ulcer, after being moved to a larger hospital and decidein to do a bypass around the digestive tract they found it was cancer and the host was the pancreas, it was seen on his stomach, small intestine and a nogul on his lung. He is lsing weight and tried a couple forms of chemo but Dr.s say it is very aggressive and numbers are going way up. We are now only doing oral chemo and have developed severe jaundice, Friday they tried to put a stint in the liver and couldn't due to it being very blocked so they are trying a different route with the stint tomorrow. His bowel movements have become white and urine dark brown. Dr.s haven't told any of us a timetable and my in laws are scared to ask but my husband would like at least an idea and I need to prepare my three kids ages 12-6yrs for what is happening. I don't want to lie and say things will get better if they are not going to. Anyone have any clues to where we might be at and what possibly we could expect next? |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3956
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Father -in- law Help with where we are at |
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Hi, I am so sorry that your father-in-law has such an advanced case of Pancreatic Cancer! I do not know how long he can survive if they cannot get a stint in place. Without blood moving properly through his liver, the toxines will continue to build up in his body. You do not need to lie to your children. Just tell them that he is very, very sick and needs to know that they love him very much. I will be thinking about and praying for you and all of your family.
_________________
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/ |
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Big Sister
Experienced user
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:09 am Post subject: Re: Father -in- law Help with where we are at |
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Hello, Lancaster -- Those of us who post on this forum are reluctant sharers since there are few happy endings to our stories. Still, you will find many writers here who will guide your steps through the next several weeks as you deal with your father-in-law. Brainman Jim was the first to offer condolences; I am the second.
Most of us who write here are loved ones of pancreatic cancer sufferers. One or two writers have the disease and are struggling to maintain some semblance of a life; these brave souls are held in special favor.
Make no mistake: your husband's father is a very sick man and his disease is mean, nasty and aggressive. My own brother was 60 when diagnosed, a strong, healthy man, still employed, jut seeing his last child graduate from college and looking forward to his own retirement. It was not to be. From the doctors' announcement of Stage 4 PC, it was just 8 weeks until he died, his body a shell of what he once was.
His family did everything the doctors told them to do from stents to chemo, from dams to multiple biopsies. And, to be honest, Geoff went along, thinking that in this day and age, death couldn't come so easily. He told me many times that since he was a Vietnam vet and had been through all that when younger, surely he could beat this.
The only one I know who has beaten this disease so far is Freeio who posts on this forum regularly. We all keep our eye on him and send prayers in his direction as he has suffered much but gives us all hope. He has a very informative website and you can find much information there.
I have written many times to families about things to do now, steps to take so that the days following death are easier on the survivers. Find all those stories and read them. It's well worth the time.
Take a deep breath, Lancaster, and tell your husband to do the same. Be honest with your children, especially if they love their grandfather. Your family is in for an awful ride.
Fondly, Big Sister Pat |
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llancaster
New User
Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject: Father in law |
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| Today they attempted to put the stent in through another route but it was way to blocked so now he has a tube w/ a bag hooked to it coming out the side of his body and hopefully will get to come home tomorrow. the Dr.s didn't say much just it is very aggessive. My husband saw him tonight and said they have already emptied the bag once but his color is already starting to look better , hopefully we will have a few good days now. |
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