Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Puyallup, Wa.
Stage Iv Cancer. Posted: 12-18-07 03:23am
This is a first for me.. so it would make
me more comfortable to introduce myself.
My name is Mary. I'm 23 years old, and I
have a 4 year old son named Zachary. I am
originally from Memphis, TN. but my
husband (Patrick) is in the army, and we
are currently stationed at Ft. Lewis,
Washington.
A little over a month ago, my father
(Jimmy-58yrs old) was admitted to the
hospital with what we thought was a
perforated bowel. It turned out that he
has a mass in his colon. (which turned out
to be benign) but when performing the CAT
scan, they found several masses on his
liver (so many that they are unable to
count) and 2 masses in his right lung.
They are malignant. We were told that the
cancer started in his lung, and that it is
small cell. The doctors scanned him from
head to toe, and said it has not spread
beyond those 2 organs. In the past month,
he has gone from being a loud, vibrant,
spirited man, to a zombie.
He has lost a lot of weight.. He was
usually around 250lbs, and he is now at
190. He doesn't eat solid food, he only
drinks Boost shakes, when he is forced.
He has to wear diapers, because he has
lost control of his bodily functions. He
sleeps all the time. He doesn't talk much,
and what he does say doesn't make sense.
He gets confused about who people are by
name.. (didn't remember my step-brother
who has been in our lives for 10 yrs. and
didn't remember my husband who has been
around for 2 years) He is starting to
jaundice now, and is being combative with
my step-mom when she tries to give him his
medicine. He just went through 3 days of
chemo, on the 12th, 13th, and 14th, and is
now at home.
His doctors have not given us many
answers, and they seem to be dragging
their feet on trying to help him. I last
saw him a month ago and as I said earlier,
I live in Washington, so traveling to him
is difficult.. I would like to know how
long we have with him, and at what time
should I go to be with him. Also, are
there are any recommendations on how we
can get him to eat. I am a realist, and I
know what is coming. I would just like to
be able to understand what is going on,
and what the body's process is, in a
situation such as this.
Thank you for any advice you can offer.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2080 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 36
Thanked:11
Posted: 12-21-07 06:08am
Liver cancer is sometimes called a "silent
disease" because in an early stage it
often does not cause symptoms. But, as the
cancer grows, symptoms may include: weight
loss, loss of appetite and feelings of
fullness, weakness, nausea and vomiting,
jaundice, fever.
Does he have pain in the upper abdomen on
the right side, that may extend to the
back and shoulder?
Does he have swollen abdomen (bloating)
and swollen legs?
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daddysgirl23
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Puyallup, Wa.
Posted: 12-22-07 02:40am
Yes, His belly has been swollen for as
long as I can remember (even through
childhood.
His legs have been swollen for about 3
weeks now, My step mom has stockings on
his legs to keep blood from clotting.
As of today, The hospice nurse came by
to check on him, and she called an
ambulance. He was put in the hospital to
be put on antibiotics, to get hydrated,
and to get pain meds to keep him
comfortable.
She also was very honest with us.. She
told us that he is in the first stage of
death, and that it will not be much
longer. His
wish was to not be put on any type of life
support.. and that he wants to die in the
comfort of his own home, and the nurse
told us that in his current state; While
they are trying to stabilize him enough to
go home.. he still may not make it back
home.
Thank you for your help.. Merry Christmas!
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daddysgirl23
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Puyallup, Wa.
Bittersweet News Posted: 12-31-07 20:42pm
My father lost his battle with cancer on
December 26th, 2007 at 9:42 am. Of course
we are sad that he is no longer with us,
but we are relieved that he isnt in pain
anymore.
His temperature kept going up to 104 F,
from 12/23 - 12/25.. and when given
tylenol, it would drop to 101f. On the
morning of the 26th, his temperature went
up to 107.2 F, and his blood pressure
started dropping. He went into a coma, and
passed away shortly after. He never made
it back home. He
was supposed to be released into our care
that morning.
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Canary
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 11
Posted: 01-13-08 08:25am
I am very sorry you lost your father.
That is a lovely photo of him and I am
sure you will have many treasured memories
of him. Thank you for posting again and
telling us about him. As you said, it is
a blessing that he is no longer suffering
but it all seems much too quick for those
left behind to have to come to terms with.
I have lost several family members and
friends through liver cancer - all, like
your father, too young. Your father's
liver cancer was secondary but when it is
primary, it can remain 'silent' for years
until almost the last stages, when it is
too late to intervene. I feel that there
should be more routine screening for liver
cancer, especially in families where there
appears to be a tendency towards it.
I wish you all the best and hope that time
will ease the pain of your loss.
His
wish was to not be put on any type of life
support.. and that he wants to die in the
comfort of his own home, and the nurse
told us that in his current state; While
they are trying to stabilize him enough to
go home.. he still may not make it back
home.
