Newbie

Hi.  I'm new here.  Caregiver to my sister (67) who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with mets to the brain in 2007.  She a tumor removed from her brain, radiation treatments (whole brain and eventually focused) and chemo treatments.  We have not been in hospice care for the past 5 months due to the brain mets (her lungs were OK at last MRI about 7 months ago).  She had a stroke back in May 2010 with some bleeding to the brain and herniation.  We were told by the hospital that she only had about 2 weeks to live.    Her oncologist and neurologist also advised that there was nothing more they could do to treat the tumors.  That's when we started hospice care.  Her decadron was increased at that time and it has helped tremendously.  She was transferred to a nursing facility and stayed there for the past 5 months but it was not working for her so I brought her some.  She is totally bedridden now and in a confused state most of the time.  She has a fentynol patch and takes morphine as needed for pain.  She still eats everything in sight (decadron!) and is awake and aware of her surroundings.  She has alot of trouble expressing herself so it is frustrating for both of us to understand what she is trying to say.  I just wanted to share my story and see if anyone has any advice or similar stories to share.  I guess I am afraid of what to expect next.  I know what the end will be but what comes in-between now and then is what I am afraid of.  I just want to do my best for her.  Thanks for any support anyone can give.  Barbara

Me again.  There may be some confusion due to my misspelling.  We ARE in hospice care since the stoke in May.  Barbara

On Oct 24, 2010 10:56 PM Barbara25 wrote:

Hi.  I'm new here.  Caregiver to my sister (67) who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with mets to the brain in 2007.  She a tumor removed from her brain, radiation treatments (whole brain and eventually focused) and chemo treatments.  We have not been in hospice care for the past 5 months due to the brain mets (her lungs were OK at last MRI about 7 months ago).  She had a stroke back in May 2010 with some bleeding to the brain and herniation.  We were told by the hospital that she only had about 2 weeks to live.    Her oncologist and neurologist also advised that there was nothing more they could do to treat the tumors.  That's when we started hospice care.  Her decadron was increased at that time and it has helped tremendously.  She was transferred to a nursing facility and stayed there for the past 5 months but it was not working for her so I brought her some.  She is totally bedridden now and in a confused state most of the time.  She has a fentynol patch and takes morphine as needed for pain.  She still eats everything in sight (decadron!) and is awake and aware of her surroundings.  She has alot of trouble expressing herself so it is frustrating for both of us to understand what she is trying to say.  I just wanted to share my story and see if anyone has any advice or similar stories to share.  I guess I am afraid of what to expect next.  I know what the end will be but what comes in-between now and then is what I am afraid of.  I just want to do my best for her.  Thanks for any support anyone can give.  Barbara

I'm getting ready to shut down for the night but want to give you a big hug for taking care of your sister. She is very fortunate to have you.

If you post in the brain section; the gals/guys there can give you a lot of input.

sorry to here about your sister. i too an a caregiver for my mother she is 77. it is hard but just know you are doing everything you can. my story is a little deferantin feb.2009 we were told my mother had cup that had spread to the liver a 7cm tummer an a small one in the lung she went through all the cemo an all it did was make her worse. in an out of hosp an getting weeker by the min. the doctor said it was time to call hospis, so we did. an to make a long story short 6 months in to hospise they took her off. doctors said she had months to live that was over a year ago an she is still doing good.     good luck an take care.