Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has experience of this to deal with intractable cancer pain?
My brother has metastatic oesophageal cancer. His oncologist says he can't have more chemo because his immune system is so low. He's had a number of infections inc sepsis and pneumonia which have put him in hospital for lengthy stays.
The cancer has metastised to his sacrum where it presses on nerves. He lost bowel and bladder control about a year ago due to the nerve issue. He has had an internal morphine pump fitted but unfortunately even with the increased doses he now has plus bolus, it isn't touching the pain. He is virtually bed bound because any movement is so painful. He has some slight fractures in sacrum which I assume are also caused by the tumour.
The destructive block is not common from what I've read because it causes loss of bowel and bladder control and loss of feeling in legs but he doesn't have that control now and can't possibly walk on one leg with a stick due to the pain.
Macmillan nurse came today and was horrified at the level of pain he has. She is trying to arrange for him to have a short hospice stay where hopefully they could get his pain under control. But he really doesn't want to be drugged up to the point where he just lies in bed and sleeps.
we were hoping to get second opinion from Royal Marsden but so far haven't had any response.
Thanks for any info anyone could provide.
