last stages

2008-08-19T00:46:57Z

On August 20 my dad stopped taking in food. On August 21 the home care nurse said we should come home to say our goodbyes as he is the stages of dying. We did get home and I said what goodbye I could and he is still with us as of August 24. His breathing is very erratic at times and he seems to be sleeping 95% of the time. He can still squeeze our hands. He sure doesn't look like himself anymore, so thin and pale. It was so hard going back home, when I left on the 21st I thought I was going to be planning a funeral but ..... he is hanging on and that is hard on all of us to see him suffering and my mom suffering too because she isn't ready to let him go. So now I am at home, 8 hours away by car, waiting for yet another phone call. Is it wrong to wish he doesn't suffer too long?

The story

2008-08-17T20:14:07Z

New to the whole blogging thing. Here is the story, 2 years ago my Dad was found to have CLL (Chronic Leukemia) - lived a very normal life but he did decide to retire from his job of 36 years. In January of this year, his Oncologist started him on a 4 month round of oral Chemo for this Leukemia. Both my brother and I live 8 hours away so we were relying on my mom telling us what is happening. He lost a lot of weight - had no appetite while taking the chemo - which we thought was normal to a point. In May he started complaining of SEVERE neck pain and was just given pain pills by his Doctor. When he went to see his Oncologist in June he was surprised to see Dad's condition and ordered an MRI and CT Scan - with these results it was found that there were Lesions on parts of his bones and brain and liver. He went into the hospital for more tests, to relieve his neck pain he was put in a halo to stabilize his neck. We were told by his new Cancer doctor that there is metastasized cancer in the bones of his neck and hip, his brain and his liver. He was given what was termed as "life saving" Radiation on his neck, hip and brain for about 10 days. We have since found out that it is lung cancer - my mom won't phone the Doctor to find out any more so it is up to my brother and I to do it long distance. My mom is taking care of my dad at home with help from nurses 3-4 times a week. She had promised him she would bring him home, and she did, now she has promised that she won't put him in pallitive care until she absolutely has too which drives my brother and I crazy because it is so stressful and I guess it is her way of coping with this big change and the terminal diagnosis. In the last 7 weeks my dad is probably about 75 pounds - I think he was about 140 at some point earlier this year. It is heart breaking to see this change in him so quickly. We know he is glad to be at home for a time - I mean at home he gets to SMOKE - yes, he is a smoker. My brother and I aren't. At what point does the denial give way to "I know I am going to die"? Seems to us(my brother and I) that our parents want to be left alone so they can deal with his illness in their way - by not paying attention and that drives my brother and I crazy with worry because it is not healthy. Thoughts anyone?

Massive weight loss

2008-08-17T18:30:43Z

My Dad has lung cancer that has spread to his bones and brain. He has lost a ton of weight since his diagnosis last month (July). He is taking more morphine as well. Has anyone had experience with the cancer moving so fast?? As a family we are scared, because weekly we see a decline in my father.

Kellylynn's blog

last stages

The story

Massive weight loss