CancerCompass message board discussion started by Swens67 on 4/11/2005 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,1865,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My father has been fighting the bravest fight I have ever witnessed going on 19 months now. we are post 1 radical and 1 partial nephrectomy. He was diagnosed terminal last September and we were told a few weeks to a few months. Even his Oncologist is amazed he is still hanging on. We have noticed a significant turn for the worst in just the last few days and I have a few questions I would like to throw out. Firt, I would like clarification on whether medicare will allow him to continue dialysis treatments if we begin hospice care. I was told months ago that medicare would not allow a hospice patient to continue dialysis and recently I was informed that medicare would allow dialysis during hospice care. Next I would like any information on what we can look for that will indicate my father is nearing the end of his life. Are there typical signs to watch for? All of his children spend a great deal of time with him at this point. We all would like to be with him when he goes. We tend to take turns at this point, but we hope to have enough time to gather and all be present when he goes. I have not been able to find any information that would help us to know when we reach a point where we may only have a number of hours. I understand every case is a little different, but any help here would be appreciated. Thank you. Paula Swens67 Mon, 11 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT Paula, I am on the same road as your dad. I am facing a partial on my remaining kidney. Did his spread anywhere else? How has he progressed after the second surgery. What oncology did he try? Thanks, John G. North23939 Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT There is an email list specific to renal cell carcinoma; join it at http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/ and other patients who have been in this situation will help you. Trishpm Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT