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End of life- withdrawal of treatment

Nhenry
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My dad aged 56 was sadly diagnosed with colorectal cancer last April. We were told it was terminal around September time, he's now been in hospital since beginning of December and things have rapidly declined the once confident 18 stone man he was is now a frail afraid 9 stone man. The cancer is now all in the pelvis and physically grown from the inside out causing his rectum to have a wide opening where the cancer has grown out from he is in immense pain. Since being in hospital he's needed blood transfusions, had a dvt, sepsis and now started having seizures the medical team cannot find an explanation for the seizures. We knew he was becoming more unwell I received a call 11 days ago saying we are looking at weeks, he has now been placed on gss red if that makes any sense to anyone? I received a call today to explain they have come the the decision now as he is very very unwell to withdraw all types of treatment this would even include canulas I'm very black and white and need to know where I'm at I understand each patient is different and people can't give a specific time on death! But my question is when withdrawl of treatment is decided by the medical team does this mean death is imminent? They said to just make him comfortable. Do they tend to pass quicker? I want him to not suffer and can't help but think he is suffering? 

Any advice would help! 

Thanks naomi 

  • Hello Nhenry/Naomi,

    Thanks for getting in touch and a warm welcome to the Online Community. I’m Heidi one of the Cancer Information Nurses here on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I can see you have joined our Macmillan Cancer Support Carers only forum and Cancer chat forum, I hope you are finding them both supportive.

    I am so very sorry to hear about your dad’s diagnosis and it is completely understandable that you should want to understand more about the decision to withdraw treatment. It is important that as a family you are comfortable with this decision and have all the information you need.

    For someone that has an advanced cancer where the treatments have stopped, or are not working, the aim of any intervention is for comfort and symptom control.

    It would be unethical for a team to withdraw treatment unless this was clinically the right thing to do, and the kindest. His team would not do this so that he would pass more quickly. Sometimes interventions can cause symptoms themselves, and particularly when the cancer is very advanced this may cause more discomfort or distress.

    When someone approaches the end of their life withdrawal of treatment does not mean withdrawal of medicines that can provide comfort and symptom relief. These medicines are not intended to hasten or prolong life, but to ensure comfort and dignity.

    I wondered if your dad is currently under the palliative care team at his hospital who would be able to give you this reassurance and answer the very valid questions you have.  

    Quite often Macmillan nurses are thought of as nurses that help to manage the symptoms of advanced cancer. Nurses that do this are often called specialist palliative care nurses and they can be based in hospital as well as the community. They are experts in managing symptoms and medications and they will work closely with other members of your dad’s hospital team to help plan his care.

    As we are not part of the NHS it is difficult to know what his hospital protocol may have in place for end of life care, however the gss red top pathway, or referral, may be related to this, please feel comfortable checking with his team.

    You sound like an amazing support and comfort to your dad, and I can appreciate what an incredibly difficult time this is for you. You might find it helpful to read our web pages about emotional support, it is important you look after you too.

    Sometimes it helps to talk things through so please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0808 808 0000, we are here every day from 8am to 8pm. 

    Please don’t hesitate to get in touch again if we can support you further.

    Take care for now

    Heidi

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

    Ref/KM/HC

     

     

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