My Father's Last Chapter

Zeak · Regular Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Sonora, CA

I know this isn't the right forum, but I don't know where else to put it.

My 74 yo father has two tumors in his brain (diagonsed two weeks ago) that has metastasized from his lung cancer. He decided to just go home and let nature take it's course (no surgery, chemo, radiation etc.) which I think is a good decision.

I'm just trying to find out what to expect as the tumors grow larger and start doing their damage. He has one that is egg size in the left size.

The first week went well. He's was on steroids and dilantin. Last week he started to get REAL agitated and the docs took him off the steroids and put him on anti-anxiety meds. So far, it's only worked alittle. Hospice has started to get involved and he has 24 hr care at home.

So what should I expect (I know everyone is different)? Now that he's off the steroids, I'm thinking the tumors will grow faster.

No one seems to be able to give me a time line either. Can anyone offer their experiences with this?

Thanks, and I apologize for putting this in the wrong forum.

7/16 Update: His care giver called this morning and said he now has a backache and he appears to be shuffling a bit when he walks. He also has to almost manually lift his right leg to go up stairs etc. His mood has improved.

ksplat · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: My Father's Last Chapter

Dear Zeak

I am so very sorry to hear about your Father & his suffering. I believe pain management is the key to him being comfortable at this time. I'm sure with hospice involved this side effect will be addressed.

I am familiar with brain tumours not lung cancer. I know the neurological deficits from brain tumours can be very severe. For instance the problem with your Father lifting his R leg would be a deficit from the brain tumour. Hospice will be a great resource, comfort & support to you too! I will include a link to a hospice website which may help answer some of your questions.

http://www.brainhospice.com/

I have also moved your post to the Lung Cancer thread, there is a fantastic community of support there for you. Members who have been on a similar "journey" to your Father & you.

How long has your Father been battling Lung Cancer & what was his actual diagnosis? If you can answer these questions I'm sure this will help our members give you more accurate advice.

Thinking of you & prayers being sent up for your Father & you.

Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Zeak · Regular Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Sonora, CA

"How long has your Father been battling Lung Cancer & what was his actual diagnosis? If you can answer these questions I'm sure this will help our members give you more accurate advice."

My father was diagonsed with lung cancer about a month ago and it metastasized to his brain. He has two tumors in his lungs and two tumors in his brain. Not to sure on the lung cancer type, but they were going to operate until the brain cancer showed up. My father is very un-healthy: smoking since 12 yo and a "sundowner alcoholic" (starts drinking about 3 unitil bed.

brainman · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: My Father's Last Chapter

Zeak, I am very sorry about your father's advanced lung cancer. It is very hard for anyone to give you a time line because there are so many variables. It sounds like your father is not in the greatest of heaths to start with. That definitely works against him. The tumors in his brain will probably not be the ultimate cause of his death but they might affect the quality of whatever time he has left. This really depends on the location and size of those tumors.

You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1403

Zeak,

I'm very sorry to hear about this diagnosis for your Dad but well understand his choice to not take treatment. Brainman is correct, too many variables. Only God knows when the time will come -- I know, hard answer to hear, but the truth.

Vee Smith posted a good link with information about what to look for toward the end, but for the life of me, I can't find it. Maybe you can pm her for the link.

My very best to you and your Dad,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Zeak · Regular Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Sonora, CA

Thanks everyone. The "brainhospice" website is really good and lets you know what to expect as time goes on.

Thanks again, Zeak

hopeful · Regular Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 30

Hi Zeak

I'm so very sorry to hear about your father's condition. My father has recently passed away from lung cancer with mets to bones and brain. Timelines differ for everyone, from all that I have read but once the cancer spread to the brain, together as a family with his oncologist it was decided to let dad have the time left to him without chemo. He did continue radiation to supposedly minimize the side effects of the tumors, but I don't know if it helped. He didn't appear to be in pain. He too became agitated, but hospice and anti anxiety meds helped a great deal with this.

I'll keep you in my prayers, it sounds like to you are taking excellent care of your father.

Zeak · Regular Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Sonora, CA

Thanks for the support. It really helps to write this stuff out.

7/23 update: Dad's speech is almost impossible to understand. His cognition and ability to understand have decreased in the last week. Confusion is growing more prominate and his balance is getting worse. He is also having trouble sleeping. He still pissed at me for taking his truck away from him!!

Why do cancer victims have trouble sleeping? Worry?

Thanks, Zeak

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1403

Zeak,

Boy, I would be a genius if I had an answer to the sleep question. My husband had horrible sleep problems. In his last days, he barely slept at all. Something actually goes on in the brain that prevents the body from sleeping is what we were told. For my husband, it was his breathing -- his brain function kept him awake because he couldn't get enough oxygen. I've seen this agitation in a lot of people with brain mets too.

I know -- just when you think things can't get harder for them, they do.

God bless and give all of you strength to persevere.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

brainman · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: My Father's Last Chapter

Zeak, I too wish I had the answer to the sleep problem. I go from sleeping too little (as you can tell by how long I am logged in Smile

) to sleeping all the time. I always feel tired.

There can be so many causes for insomnia and other sleep disorders. Worry/anxiety certainly can be a reason. Be sure to mention this problem to his medical team. They might be able to help.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 198

Hopeful's description of her father's situation mirrors my mom's case exactly.

Zeak, my mom too had metastasis to the brain. She had multiple leasions. She did choose to do the whole brain radiation, but out of a prescribed regimen of 5-6 weeks of WBR, she could only manage 10 before she got too weak to continue. The purpose of thw WBR is to try to shrink the brain tumors. The brain tumors are what caused her difficulty swallowing, hearing, and affected her walking too.

The steroids are to prevent the swelling in the brain caused by the tumors. I don't think it has any affect on shrinking them, but the way mom's oncologist explained it to me is the combination of the WBR and steroids was to prevent her from having the horrible side affects brain tumors can cause, from bad heaches to possible seizures.

The steroids should help minimize swelling but they may be increased as your dad progresses, which can cause personality and other side affects.

As far as time, no one really knows. In my mom's situation, she had mestastasis to the adrenals, brain, and two days before she died, I was informed to her spine too. She was diagnosed the 1st of December and passed January 5th.

With regards to sleeping, she too experienced insomina and short bouts of disturbed sleep. Once she was placed on the anti-anxiety meds and morphine, she was restiing much more peacefully. This is a woman who was not given to anxiety attacks. As strong willed and even keeled as they come. The brain tumors cause the anxiety, and I have no doubt they cause the insomina too.

My heart goes out to you, your dad, and your family as you walk this difficult path. But know that it has it's own bittersweet blessings too in that it can bring familes closer with their loved ones.

sealnomore · Regular Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

Hi Zeak,

My father was 74 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer and brain mets. He did do 10 whole brain radiation treatments and two chemo rounds before he was unable to handle anymore. He was diagnosed 3-3-08 and passed June 2. My dad pretty much followed the textbook hospice timeline for dying to a t. I found that timeline to be helpful for me in preparing myself. I'll see if I can find it online.

You mentioned a care giver in your post, is your dad in Hospice? I hope so, they are a huge help.

I am sorry for what you are going through and I very much understand.

Take Care,
Debbie
_________________
Debbie
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=31708

koikkeril · Super Moderator Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 334

Hello Zeak
I read you post whilst I was away at the hospital and thought I replied. It goes to show how much stress we carry around with us, I obviously replied from my head and heart but forgot to write it down and post it to you Rolling Eyes

How are you and your dad doing? I noticed how quiet you have been so I thought I would see if you have an update for us....

It seems you have a good caregiver that is on the ball and updating you often. I presume you are away from home, so this alone must be more difficult for you. I presume the leg and shuffle is the mets.
I looked into the hospice site myself and found it to be a very good site for our education as to what may be and when...
Keep up the good strength you sound as if you are finding the answers you are looking for....
God Bless....Koik
_________________
Husband diagnosed with stage 1V NSCLC Febuary 2007.....Lost his battle August 27th 2008 but lives on in my heart.

Zeak · Regular Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Sonora, CA

"I would see if you have an update for us...."

I guys, still here. Just real busy juggling work, care givers, Hospice, my father and his friends who call me almost daily asking if there is anything "we" can do for him. I'm finding out that most people have an immediate human reaction to want to save people which is pretty cool, but they can't seem to let it go and accept the fact that it was my father's choice to opt out of treatment and just go home. It's just frustrating.

Anyway, he's a bit worse from last week. Has to use a walker, speech is almost all jibberish and understanding things is getting worse. He took a header going down the deck stairs and banged up his knee which doesn't help the balance probems. I'm having a carpenter friend go up and build a ramp for him so he doesn't have to use the stairs.

Hospice starts tomorrow and I will be meeting with them this weekend to go over everything. Good thing is no headaches yet. Not sure if it's depression, the tumors or the meds, but it almost seems like he's "stoned". Real mellow, sort of quiet and not saying much. Mood is pretty good. Started going to bed early which is way unusual for him. Naps on the couch before dinner.

On thing that happened last week is he fired up his quad and rode it down the the lake about 1/4 mile from his house. The caregiver freaked and called me in a panic. I told her not to worry about it; the worst he can do is hurt himself and at least he's not driving his truck (we took it away). It was a bit of freedom for him and that's fine. Going up this weekend and wll report his status.

Everyone take care.

Zeak

LizNDale · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: My Father's Last Chapter

Hi Zeak,

I'm sorry about your dad, and what you're going through. We have similar situations, you and I, (with some differences of course....)

My 79 year old mom was diagnosed in June with stage 4 Lung Cancer, with mets to her brain and adrenal glands. Numerous lesions in her brain, most of them small with 2 rather good size ones in her frontal lobes.

No Pain, praise be...

Has had 15 rounds of whole brain radiation and 2 Chemos, with 2 to go. She's now using a walker, and is very weak. She too has trouble sleeping, but will not take anything for it.

There's a few of us going through this journey with our parents at the same time. Not the kind of club I ever wanted to join, but I like the support!

Take care, and hope we can help each other as we go through this.

Liz
_________________
My Mother - Stage IV NSCLC - Adenocarcinoma
Mets to Adrenal Glands and Brain
Diagnosed Thursday June 12th 2008
Died Sunday September 7th 2008

Her Story:
http://cancerforums.net/about9639.html
Her Statement of Faith Memorial:
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=10528

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