Latest messages for CancerCompass discussion http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23729,0.htm Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ We received my mother-in-law's diagnosis of stage 4b pancreatic cancer on 27 April; doctors said either 1-3 months or maybe 3-6.  Yesterday hospice said we were transitioning to hours or days.   We're struggling through this, and not experts -- but we've had hospice help (guidance and support) for 4 weeks now.  You do the best you can -- getting hospice help right away was a really good decision.  They are great professionals - caring - and their humanity is just amazing.  I googled to find out what happens when someone stops drinking -- brought me to this site -- drinking fluids stopped 40 hours ago for us, BP 80/65 (shouldnt be equal or close to equal), rattled breathing.  Not waking anymore, but pain seems to be managed through meds. She's a tough lady -- hospice is great.   lifefan Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Unfortunatey my Mom is dying from pancreatic cancer.  She was diagnosed 7-17-10.  She stopped eating 19 days ago.  Hospice comes everyday...and for the last 7 days they prepared me for her to pass in 24 hours.  Her BP is 140/60, still has urine output and daily BM's. She is strong like Mule...but i have to admit i am sooooo tired. cincomas Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT my brother was in a coma (traumatic brain injury) when he passed away.   He went 8 1/2 days without any IV's or nutritional support.   If you start seeing purplish red streaks up the legs and arms,  that's a sign that death is near. Can you call hospice??   There is so much they can do to  make him comfortable. I'm very sorry for your family.   Will say a prayer for him (and you) KaylainTx Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Hi. do not give him milk or milk products, if the broth contains fat dont give him that either, I am prone to IBS so I know what irritates the intestines/bowel. Try thin oatmeal porridge (water no milk) with honey, and maybe a glass of hot water with two teaspoons of honey and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, if he can drink that add a little lemon juice, perhaps thin tomatoe soup, try different things but avoid milk and fats stu46 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT I realize this is an older post but wanted to put some better information.  Patients in active dying can go usually 1-2 weeks with food or water.  It takes little to no food or water to sustain them and the body will cannibalize existing fluids in the tissues.  Our hospice nurse the longest she had seen was 32 days because all that was functioning was heart and lungs.  My father in law is in hospice now, on day 12 with no food or water.  Hospice will not administer IV's because it will flood the lungs and cause death faster, food causes cramping in the bowels and a lot of pain.  He's not starving, he just sleeps deeper and longer every day. madlisee Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT My husband has lung cancer and his appetite has been non-existant for the last few months but up until recently he was able to manage rice pudding (home made), a small bowl of soup but now he gets nauseated just looking at them!  If I cook anything the smell of it cooking makes him nauseous.  He will manage a Boost or Ensure but won't have one every day; I make them with fruit, yogurts and even ice cream!  He has lost a LOT of weight this past 4 weeks and I am at a loss foodwise now.  I will add when he was first diagnosed he was given 2 to 6 months - that was almost 2 years ago I am happy to say, but now things are happening quickly.  One thing he will drink occasionly is Carnation Instant Breakfast and it has some nourishment. After reading your letter I realize this is part of the upcoming process of his life coming to the end.  He isn't the least bit depressed, always smiles but he is SOOO thin!  elain Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT Our Hospice nurses told me that people usually die about two weeks after they stop eating and that not wanting to eat shows that the body is shutting down and metabolism is changing.  They said not to urge him (my husband) to eat but to offer light food and liquids only if he wants them. In my experience so far this means he might drink about 1/4  glass of milk or half a  cup of broth and just that little bit triggers  violent diarrhea (with incontinence) so the body doesn't seem interested in digesting anything. I can see the life processes shutting down and he is  so so so tired. rosaflor Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT My relative has latter part of stage 4 ovarian cancer metastisized.  She has not eaten more than a few bites of applesause mixed with meds or cereal a day, for over a month.   She does drink a cup or so of water everyday. She cannot eat much as it makes her sick to her stomach or very full after two bites. BusyPerson Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT well lets be realistic.... 3 without water and 30 w/o food.... dont think of him as starving to death sweet heart...... do you have hospice or hosparus involved? mamasgirl_1 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Hi .. I am sure I am too late as this was posted 2 years ago .. However, for the rest of your family and friends ... I don't get anything for this but Tanya Harter Pierce wrote 'outsmart your cancer' - she has the second edition out with a cd noting case histories of person recovered or recovering. Having been in the medical field and upon entering I expected way too much .. we are not as advanced as I anticipated. Tanya wrote her first book while I had already started and had gathered too much information. I was going to write one similar but she did it so much better and I have had such poor health I still am not online with other books I wrote intially back in they 70's ... The information in her book is accurate and most useful and I believe can help relieve a lot of suffering -- I pray this helps your familyt and others .. a777chance Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT On May 04, 2008 12:00 AM 1stdaughterinlaw wrote: My father-in-law is in the last stages of Stage IV gallbladder cancer with mets to the stomach and liver.  He is severely jaudiced and cannot walk without assistance.  My father-in-law has now stopped eating.    It has been five days since he ate a bite of food.   He is drinking very little and his urine looks like rust.   He says his stomach hurts but that's the only pain he has, except for his toes being very sore (I don't understand this at all).  He sleeps all the time now and my husband said he blacked out 4 times this morning while trying to go to the bathroom.    How long can he last with no food and very little liquids?   Somebody please help.   I am so worried.  I can't stand the thought of him starving to death.  A person can live without food for quite some time, usually for many weeks. The body will use its fat and protein stores (muscles) to help it survive. If a person has a lot of fat stores (is very heavy), they will live longer than a person who has very little fat (very thin), so how long a person can survive depends a lot of the person. Of course, if you go without food for a few weeks, you will be very weak since you have been using your own muscles for energy. Water is a different story. A person will die within 3-4 days without water. The size of the person really doesn't make much difference. If you need support let me know. Sincerely, Brandon countryman Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT My heart goes out to you.  I watched my father go without food or water for a week to ten days--his desire was not to have his life prolonged through artificial means, if he couldn't recover from congestive heart failure.  He choked on any liquid and had to have numerous lung therapy (tube down his nose to remove the fluids from his lungs) which was very invasive.Ativan and morphine and 24 hr. watch with one member of the family always with him was how we managed.  I know his care was better as someone was always with him.  He was comfortable and had no worries-at 88-passed quietly while I was with him.  It was hard on the family but hopefully he was comfortable each day due to meds.   Ausgang Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks to everyone who replied.  My father-in-law has now gone over a week with no food and is now drinking very little liquids.  He is at home with Hospice coming every other day.  He does not want to go to the hospital nor does he want an IV.   I am so worried that he is suffering, as he is now talking out of his head and cannot stand on his own.  He is so weak that it takes several people just to get him out the bed to go to the restroom.  I know God is still in control and He will take him home when it is his time.  But I can't stand to see him suffering.   He is such a proud man and for his children to have to help him to the bathroom..... well, I know he would not want this.  Please, everyone, keep our family in your prayers.  He has so many people that love him and would want him to stay here if he were getting better, but no one wants to see him suffer like this.  1stdaughterinlaw Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 5/4/2008 1stdaughterinlaw wrote:My father-in-law is in the last stages of Stage IV gallbladder cancer with mets to the stomach and liver.  He is severely jaudiced and cannot walk without assistance.  My father-in-law has now stopped eating.    It has been five days since he ate a bite of food.   He is drinking very little and his urine looks like rust.   He says his stomach hurts but that's the only pain he has, except for his toes being very sore (I don't understand this at all).  He sleeps all the time now and my husband said he blacked out 4 times this morning while trying to go to the bathroom.    How long can he last with no food and very little liquids?   Somebody please help.   I am so worried.  I can't stand the thought of him starving to death.  My uncle had lung cancer and his IV's were removed and he was basically starving to death, although the cancer is what was killing him and did, but eventually the family told the doctor to put the IV back in so they did and he did die about 1 week later.  As far as suffering, my uncle wasn't able to talk in the end, but when you love someone you don't want to see them suffer.  I know as someone whose husband has peri ampullary cancer Stage IV, if he would ever get to this, I would be completely clear that he would be on IV fluids until the good Lord decided to take him.    eggbert Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My sister was in hospital when she was in the end stages of her cancer. One day I noticed they had removed her IV and then they told us to not give her anything at all to drink.... no water....nothing. We could only put a tiny piece of chipped ice in her mouth if she begged for a drink. She was unconcious most of the time but she did come to once in a while just to ask for the ice. When we asked the nurses how long she had to live we were told that without water she would die within three days and mercifully she did. There was no sign that she suffered at all. On 5/4/2008 1stdaughterinlaw wrote:My father-in-law is in the last stages of Stage IV gallbladder cancer with mets to the stomach and liver.  He is severely jaudiced and cannot walk without assistance.  My father-in-law has now stopped eating.    It has been five days since he ate a bite of food.   He is drinking very little and his urine looks like rust.   He says his stomach hurts but that's the only pain he has, except for his toes being very sore (I don't understand this at all).  He sleeps all the time now and my husband said he blacked out 4 times this morning while trying to go to the bathroom.    How long can he last with no food and very little liquids?   Somebody please help.   I am so worried.  I can't stand the thought of him starving to death.   Shemay Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Call his doctor immediately - they can give him nutrients through I.V.  NewYorkCity Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father-in-law is in the last stages of Stage IV gallbladder cancer with mets to the stomach and liver.  He is severely jaudiced and cannot walk without assistance.  My father-in-law has now stopped eating.    It has been five days since he ate a bite of food.   He is drinking very little and his urine looks like rust.   He says his stomach hurts but that's the only pain he has, except for his toes being very sore (I don't understand this at all).  He sleeps all the time now and my husband said he blacked out 4 times this morning while trying to go to the bathroom.    How long can he last with no food and very little liquids?   Somebody please help.   I am so worried.  I can't stand the thought of him starving to death.   1stdaughterinlaw Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT