chemo/radiation or not

  My father (73)has been recently diagnosed with PC.  No possibility of resection; we had three consultations.  Would it be less painful and more humane to forego the chemo and radiation or will those give him a better quality to his last days?

 We are researching alternative treatments, such as diet and suppliments. 

  Right now he is in good health but has much pain.  Even his blood work is good.

  
 

only he can make that decision..if he is able. of course, you and your family can offer him support and advice based upon your research. just as i did for my husband. but ultimately it is his decision. it's one of the things for now that he still has control over. cancer, and any serious illness or injury, has a way of making you feel out of control...helpless. my husband and i wanted to do everything we could to beat it and that included chemo and radiation as well as some major changes in lifestyle and diet. but we have chosen to end this third round of chemo midway. he is not showing any signs of cancer at this time and the chemo seems to be getting the better of him. so we are stopping. but i still continue to investigate ways that we can live healthier. i hope that you will too. sincerely jimandkathy

HELLO VICKS-HEART PLEASE CHECK YOUR PRIVATE MESSAGES I HAVE CONTACTED YOU THERE...SHEMAY _____________________________________________________________

On 7/2/2007 Vicks-heart wrote:

  My father (73)has been recently diagnosed with PC.  No possibility of resection; we had three consultations.  Would it be less painful and more humane to forego the chemo and radiation or will those give him a better quality to his last days?

 We are researching alternative treatments, such as diet and suppliments. 

  Right now he is in good health but has much pain.  Even his blood work is good.

  
 

My mother in law had PC in the head of the pancreas, also non-resectable.  She started chemo on Halloween of 2006.  The idea was that if we shrunk the cancer that the pain would lessen and maybe we could get her well enough to see her sister in Florida.  The chemo made her nausea worse.  She was only able to do a small number of chemo treatments as her overall health was spiraling downward (weight loss, pain, nausea, dehydration).  January was the last time we were able to actually do chemo.  By early February, she ended up in the hospital.  My mother in law passed away in early June.

Here's my hindsight take on the chemo thing.  If we could do it over, I would've said not to do chemo.  Although the disease was making her miserable, so was the treatment.  She would sleep pretty much the entire next day after a treatment. 

Now, every cancer & every patient is different.  If the patient is able, then they need to decide for themselves.  Decisions become so difficult when they are life and death.  Most people don't want to make the wrong choice. 

Good luck!

 

On 7/2/2007 Vicks-heart wrote:

  My father (73)has been recently diagnosed with PC.  No possibility of resection; we had three consultations.  Would it be less painful and more humane to forego the chemo and radiation or will those give him a better quality to his last days?

 We are researching alternative treatments, such as diet and suppliments. 

  Right now he is in good health but has much pain.  Even his blood work is good.

  
 

I am so sorry to hear about your father. This is an awful disease to have to face. My mother was diagnosed January 8th with Stage IV PC. She was experiencing so much pain and nausea that she wanted to do whatever possible to fight this disease and hopefully find relief. In her case, the chemo did help. Her tumors shrank. She was able to significantly reduce her pain meds, and was able to eat better. We also tried changing her diet, but to be honest.... with this disease, whatever she felt she could eat we gave her. If something sounded good to her, we got it for her. With the decreased appetite, she drank alot of Ensure and Propel water. But on days that she wanted more, we gave her what she wanted. There are many side effects from the chemo that she had to deal with, but there are medications to help with these.

If your father is willing, then I would definately suggest trying chemo. Be persistant with the doctors on getting the best meds to reduce nausea. My mom experienced alot of nausea from the chemo at first, but after finally getting her better medication, the nausea subsided and the chemo did help.

Sadly, my mother lost her battle on May 27th. I believe God showed his mercy on her by allowing her to simply just- stop breathing. She didn't experience all the symptoms you read about others experiencing in the end stages. (for this we are grateful) She was just sitting in her chair, and in a blink of an eye she quit breathing.

I would suggest spending as much time together as possible. Say all you want to say, and let there be no regrets. And most of all, search the scriptures for the hope that's found in Christ. Be certain he's in a saved condition based upon the Word (not just what man says, but what God says). God won't give him more than he can bear if he looks to him for guidance and truth. I know your heart is breaking. This is such a difficult burden for your family to bear. I promise to keep you in my prayers.  May God be with you and your father.

Nicole

On 7/2/2007 Vicks-heart wrote:

  My father (73)has been recently diagnosed with PC.  No possibility of resection; we had three consultations.  Would it be less painful and more humane to forego the chemo and radiation or will those give him a better quality to his last days?

 We are researching alternative treatments, such as diet and suppliments. 

  Right now he is in good health but has much pain.  Even his blood work is good.

  
 

Just know that every case, every person - is different.  My mother, 75, is also undergoing chemo.  She has good days and of course bad days.  We will all take 1 good day, even if that means 5 bad days.  But it's mom that needs to decide, albeit this is so hard on all of us.  I'm not sure what to tell you.....I've had the same thoughts as you.  Altho - in mom's case, she was able to have the whipple (April 06) and bless the lord, she is still with us.  I'm realizing, after reading all of these posts, what a miracle it is that she is still able to fight this disease.  But every case is different.  My thoughts are with you.