Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer

   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #11  
It times like this when family come together and make the last days as comfortable as possible...

It is never easy and I am very sorry for him and his loved ones...
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #13  
Your Step-Dad & your family are in my prayers sir.

Be well,
David
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #14  
With the others in my condolences, we have all been there or soon will be and appreciate how hard it is.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #15  
Thinking of you during this difficult time. I just finished going through something similar. The doctors gave my mom two weeks to live and she made it three weeks. My mom was way too weak to also go through surgery for cancer that caused a hole in her esopohgus. My mom just wanted to be comfortable and did not want to be in any pain. We were able to get a local hospice involved, which I was very happy with. I did not know much about hospice before this, but I am a believer in them now. They were able to control her pain and she was able to still communicate and be cognizant of her surroundings up until the end.

All I can say is try to be there for your step-dad as much as you can.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #16  
Dennis, that is indeed a sad situation and more so because of the failure of the medical system. If your mother wasn't an RN, Louis's symptoms might have been completely overlooked. I'll keep Louis in my thoughts and prayers.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer
  • Thread Starter
#17  
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers, every bit helps.



Thinking of you during this difficult time. I just finished going through something similar. The doctors gave my mom two weeks to live and she made it three weeks. My mom was way too weak to also go through surgery for cancer that caused a hole in her esopohgus. My mom just wanted to be comfortable and did not want to be in any pain. We were able to get a local hospice involved, which I was very happy with. I did not know much about hospice before this, but I am a believer in them now. They were able to control her pain and she was able to still communicate and be cognizant of her surroundings up until the end.

All I can say is try to be there for your step-dad as much as you can.

The Hospice is a great thing, the Hospice they are using, is the one my mother works for, so she knows all the nurses which is good. The bad part is his Medicare or Medicaid (not sure I was a bit PO'd at that discussion) will only pay for 4 days of full time care, since there saying he isn't in extreme pain. Good thing is he seems to be getting "some" appetite back which is his only hope right now since the Cancer is isolated to the pancreas.

Dennis, that is indeed a sad situation and more so because of the failure of the medical system. If your mother wasn't an RN, Louis's symptoms might have been completely overlooked. I'll keep Louis in my thoughts and prayers.

Jim, when I spoke to the Cancer surgeon (Not Louis Doc) he said almost verbatim what you posted. He also said that her suspicions where correct earlier, but as many folks do, they don't "push" the issue. He told me if he had seen Louis 3 weeks earlier before he became so weak from malnutrition, he'd already be recovering from the surgery. ( IV food, "TPN", hasn't worked)

The more I live around the medical profession the more disheartened I get with it. Good, caring and THOROUGH doctors, seem to be hard to find these days.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #18  
The more I live around the medical profession the more disheartened I get with it. Good, caring and THOROUGH doctors, seem to be hard to find these days.

Yep, it seems that specialists and outpatient primary physicians are often more managers than doctors. My current "doctor" is a Nurse Practioner, and she gives me better care and attention than most doctors I've ever had.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer #19  
Yep, it seems that specialists and outpatient primary physicians are often more managers than doctors. My current "doctor" is a Nurse Practioner, and she gives me better care and attention than most doctors I've ever had.

My primary care doctor also works for a hospice group. His wife used to be the Nurse Practitioner that my wife used, but then she left to teach at the Southwestern Medical school, but my wife likes the new Nurse Practitioner, too.
 
   / Step-dad has Pancreatic cancer
  • Thread Starter
#20  
Spent the afternoon with Mom and Louis yesterday. My Wife helped mother with Louis, 2 nurses, so i was in the way, so I was told:laughing:

I did manage to talk mother into cutting his medication, the previous Doctor has him on several anxiety and depression drugs, those drugs make him sleep and also kills an appetite.

My wife also made home made Spaghetti and homemade sauce,Louis actually ate a whole bowl , so that was good. It is hard on Mom in many was obviously, but not micro managing his food like she has, trying to avoid heart disease, seems to be an obstacle. I think i have convinced her that at 76 and in the shape he's in, I'd give him Ice Cream if it built up his strength enough for the surgery. In my mind, with a projected 2 weeks to live, I don't think anything else matters at this point. except eating whatever he will put down.
 
 
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