My mom was given three months to live in July 2009, and she is still with me. For a while hospice could not handle the nausea and vomiting it was so bad, pain patches and nausea patches have seemed to do the job. She was so weak I would put her in a wheel chair to go to and from bathroom, and no eating for two weeks now. Today she wanted to walk with just my arm to the restroom and asked for and ate a small piece of meat for dinner. Ankels are swollen and hands and feet very cold, but she feels she is getting stronger and going to beat it (she is 83) I am assuming the end is very near.
My Mother in Law was also diagnosed with PC in July 2009, and we had her move in with us at that time. In the past few weeks she has had two chemo treatments of Gemzar, and her CA19-9 levels have skyrocketed to 600,000, I questioned the nurse if they read it correctly, since I have not read of anyone’s level being that high, she assured me that they have had patients with levels that high, and stated the cancer is spreading rapidly in her entire body.
My mother in law is currently on pain patches, pain meds, anxiety meds, antidepressants, injections for blood clots and is also about to start a oral form of Chemo . She also has quite a bit of swelling in her legs and ankles.
This past weekend she became very confused, to the point that you would think she had Alzheimer’s, well we took her to the hospital this morning and her blood work came back ok, her ammonia levels were good, but the doctors feel that an infection is causing the swelling, so they are treating her with antibiotics to see if this helps with the swelling, they also believe that the Liver is not functioning properly causing the Alzheimer’s affect.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to put as much as possible here to see if anyone else has or is experiencing what we are.
Hi, I am sorry about your MIL. I don't know the numbers that my best friend had but she too was very confused. She was cut back on some of the meds, especially the fentanyl and it helped her thinking. As the disease progressed into her liver and possibly her brain she seemed out of it. She too had very swollen legs and was incapable of moving them as she lost all her muscle enzymes. She became a case study as they didn't know what caused it. I don't know what they learned from it as she passed about a month later.
I hope at least your MIL is comfortable. I am sorry you are all going through this
Update on Mother in Law, by the way she just turned 59 yrs of age. The doctor at the hospital has requested a conference with the onoclogist. They have located blood clots in her arms and legs, so the injections that we have been given her for blood clots is not working, she still seems to be in a confused state of mind.
Tell her to keep fighting, and spend every minute that you can with her. I am sitting here with my dad who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last Aug. he's not doing well. The hospice nurse said with the signs he should go within 7-10 days. I'm 36 years old and have moved back in with my parents just so I can be as close to him as possible when the end comes.
Hospice says it is just amazing, but my mother is still hanging in there. She can not move her legs and she is in a constant dazed state but she is still able to ask my daughter and I to get her out of bed so she can sit in her recliner and look outside at least part of the day. We will honor that wish as long as we are able, as my dad had cancer in the spine and he spent his last three months on his back in bed. It does hurt my daughters feelings (she is 28 and stays with GMa from 8 till 2 everyday) when she hears GMa tell a neighbor we didn't get her out of bed all day, or that we have her strapped down and thats the reason she can no longer move, concerned people might actually believe her. I told her not to correct her, and people can tell she is not coherrent. Legs are still swollen, turn purple when exerted, and heard the gurgling the last two nights while she sleeps.
My thoughts and prayers are with your families, with an added prayer for mental strength as well.
It is so important your daughter does understand it is the cancer affecting your mom's thinking. I know it is hard, I was taken back when my best friend of over 40 years snapped at me. We had never had a fight in all those years so I was reeling from the bite of her words. Then she turned on her husband for his ball cap touching her when he leaned over her. Of course, I had to realize how terrible a situation she was in and it wasn't about me. As you stated people can she your mom isn't in her normal state of mind. It is so scary to see our loved ones change before our eyes. So sorry you are going through this.
My Mother in Laws fight has ended, she passed away this morning at our home, she got up this morning calling for her decessed mother, and then collapsed and passed away. Thanks everyone for listening
Casino guy, sorry of your MIL's passing. She called to her mom, wow. She must have seen her. That must bring some comfort, they might be together. She is pain-free but now you have to cope with the pain of losing her. We're here, if you want to talk Melanie
Sorry to hear her fight has ended, but she is at peace. My mom is still fighting the losing battle and I pray someday there will be a cure for this terrible disease.
My Mother in Law was also diagnosed with PC in July 2009, and we had her move in with us at that time. In the past few weeks she has had two chemo treatments of Gemzar, and her CA19-9 levels have skyrocketed to 600,000, I questioned the nurse if they read it correctly, since I have not read of anyone’s level being that high, she assured me that they have had patients with levels that high, and stated the cancer is spreading rapidly in her entire body.
My mother in law is currently on pain patches, pain meds, anxiety meds, antidepressants, injections for blood clots and is also about to start a oral form of Chemo . She also has quite a bit of swelling in her legs and ankles.
This past weekend she became very confused, to the point that you would think she had Alzheimer’s, well we took her to the hospital this morning and her blood work came back ok, her ammonia levels were good, but the doctors feel that an infection is causing the swelling, so they are treating her with antibiotics to see if this helps with the swelling, they also believe that the Liver is not functioning properly causing the Alzheimer’s affect.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to put as much as possible here to see if anyone else has or is experiencing what we are.
My Dad had pancreatic cancer. I think it was a very late diagnosis.
He too developed blood clots and was on heparin. He wore the pressure stockings. He died just 5 weeks after diagnosis. No agressive cancer treatment was offered. He was 73. That was not too old to try to help him.
My mother was diagnosed w/ pancreatic cancer Dec. 2009 right around Christmas. Her condition has worsened dramatically.
Lots of weight loss, vomitting, nausea. No jaundice. We had an edoscopic ultrasound day before yesterday and it shows that it has no spread to her small bowel or stomach. It is quite large though and it's spread to her celiac, superior mesenteric artery (it's inoperable). She's stage III. Her back pain has worsened a great deal.
They are proposing that she get some chemotherapy to keep the cancer under control. I just have a bad feeling about all this i.e. her prognosis.
But maybe I am being very pessimistic.
It may not be uplifting to hear about all these stories of death and suffering, I am very sorry that you all have had to deal with PC but I am very thankful to know what to expect.
Can anyone tell me what to expect with chemo specifically for PC? I know chemo is very different these days. Everyone reacts differently. Also re: clinical trials. We were unable to get a biopsy because the vasculature is too involved and it would cause bleeding. She received a celiac axis nerve block but it hasn't improved her condition so far.
My dad was diagnosed with PC officially on 1-4-10. He is also extremely confused and becoming more so every day. We actually are finding this more alarming than the cancer, as he is still eating pretty well and doesn't complain of pain, except for occasionally in his abdomen. The doctor seems to think this has something to do with the cancer also being in his liver. However, his blood work doesn't indicate this. If you get a response to the confusion issue, please reply. My family is sick about this. Thank you!
My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on February 8th, 2010. She has refused all treatments and refuses to return to the doctor. She is a severe diabetic and has 7 stints in her heart and a stint in her bile duct. She has developed a cough and has started refusing to eat. She has lost 25 pounds since February and losing at almost 2 pounds a day. She wants to die at home so I have place my job and family on hold and moved in with her. Her sugar is way out of control and we are having bouts of blindness, and loss of hearing. She is no longer able to hold down food and now wants to stop all medications. Her abdomen has become very extended and her arms and legs are down to nothing. The pain killers alter her mind so she won't take them unless I threaten to leave. She is still able to walk but I don't know for how much longer. Since she won't let me bring in Hospice or Respite at this time can anyone tell me what to expect as this progress. I am actually in medical school right now but know that each patient is different and just wonder the signs I can look for to know the end is nearing.
