Stage 4 lung cancer

Jil888 1 month ago

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35 subscribers
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Hello my 89 year old Dad has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer a week last Friday.- he is basically at the end of his life. The following day my 57 year old brother died of a totally unexpected heart attack. Dad was sent home on the two days later and my sister and I ( we are not local) have for that last week been caring for him at home. This has been difficult as we are all trying to grieve. The grief we believe is also escalating his decline. My Mother 88 has declined significantly in the last week and is inconsolable. We are not getting any help at all. There have been no visits from any health professionals since he was discharged. Dad has been in bed since we returned home and is expected to go to the hospital on Wednesday for a multi disciplinary meeting. I think the journey will be a challenge as the hospital is a 35 minute drive.

my questions are

1) what help can we get with end of life care?

2) can we attend the Multi Disciplinary meeting without Dad and what can we expect to be discussed?
3) how can we get a Macmillian nurse

Jo - Macmillan 1 month ago

Hi Jil888,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Jo and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

It is understandable that you have questions about you dad’s care and support following his stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. This, along with the unexpected death of your brother, sounds like an incredibly difficult time for the whole family.

I am sorry to hear that your dad hasn’t received contact from any health professionals since his discharge from hospital, meaning you and your sister have been caring for him without support. I wonder whether you have spoken to your dad’s hospital team or GP about this. If not, then it would be as well to do so.

Either the hospital team or GP can refer your dad to a Macmillan (palliative care) nurse. They are experienced in assessing and managing cancer symptoms, as well as providing emotional support to your dad and other members of the family.

There are a number of other health and social care professionals who can provide help and support, depending on what is needed. Here is some information on getting help and support and nursing and personal care at home. Also, some information on practical and emotional support at the end of life.

Regarding your dad’s hospital appointment to discuss the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting, it would be advisable to discuss your concerns about your dad being able to attend this with his hospital team. If you have the contact number for a nurse specialist within the team, then you could give them a call in the first instance.

The MDT meeting, where a team of specialists will plan the treatment they think is best for your dad’s situation, usually takes place in advance of the appointment. At your dad’s appointment they will talk about the treatment plan decided on and give you the opportunity to ask questions.

It can be challenging supporting someone close to you with advanced cancer, so it’s important that you don’t feel alone in dealing with this. There are a number of ways that we here at Macmillan can offer help and support, so please do get back in touch.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch. You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref: JD/AON

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Stage 4 lung cancer