Update – Hospice

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  • Post
    • April 8, 2012 at 4:07 am
    CaringforMom
    Participant

      Sad to report that we began Hospice this week for my Mom.

      She fought with all the strength she had, but the agressive cancer has overtaken her.

      Additional mets in brain, tumors still growing in liver, lungs, abdomen, bowel.

      Just too much to fight.

      Hospice has been a huge blessing already.

      The doctor did not give much of a time estimate, other than 1 to three months.  He also added that this is a very agressive cancer.

      Sad to report that we began Hospice this week for my Mom.

      She fought with all the strength she had, but the agressive cancer has overtaken her.

      Additional mets in brain, tumors still growing in liver, lungs, abdomen, bowel.

      Just too much to fight.

      Hospice has been a huge blessing already.

      The doctor did not give much of a time estimate, other than 1 to three months.  He also added that this is a very agressive cancer.

      I think if we were more agressive early on, if ipi had been available earlier…..a lot of "what ifs" running through my brain right now.

       

      Be agressive with your options – request ipi early and the BRAF test early.

       

      There are a lot of great new methods/drugs available and my gut tells me that if we were able to get those new therapies earlier we would have had more of a chance of recovery and more years with my Mom.

      Keep fighting everyone!

      Thank you for sharing, for your posts and for sharing information.

      You have all been a blessing to me.

      Would love any information from those who have entered Hospice from Stage IV…..what kind of time do we really have??

      Thanks so much.

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 8, 2012 at 5:27 am
        FormerCaregiver
        Participant

          Sorry to read that your mother's condition has deteriorated. As the doctor has said, melanoma is indeed a very aggressive cancer. However even if it is treated aggressively with everything that medical science is able to throw at it, there are no guarantees at all.

          At the moment there is much that oncologists don't know about melanoma and the way that it behaves the way that it does, and why can a very small number of people achieve durable remissions while a great number do not.

          So, please try not to be overly retrospective. I have had a look at the info on the profile page, and your mother's treatment history indicates that she has received appropriate medical care throughout her illness.

          Hope this helps

          Frank from Australia

            • April 11, 2012 at 2:27 am
            CaringforMom
            Participant

              Thank you Frank.  As I get a few days behind me, I take comfort in whatever my Mom contributed to the fight of this disease for others by her participation in the clinical trial may help others.  Thank you for your kind words on her treatment history.  I am very proud of her for fighting as hard as she did for as long as she did.  Thank you and blessings to you.

              • April 11, 2012 at 2:27 am
              CaringforMom
              Participant

                Thank you Frank.  As I get a few days behind me, I take comfort in whatever my Mom contributed to the fight of this disease for others by her participation in the clinical trial may help others.  Thank you for your kind words on her treatment history.  I am very proud of her for fighting as hard as she did for as long as she did.  Thank you and blessings to you.

                • April 11, 2012 at 2:27 am
                CaringforMom
                Participant

                  Thank you Frank.  As I get a few days behind me, I take comfort in whatever my Mom contributed to the fight of this disease for others by her participation in the clinical trial may help others.  Thank you for your kind words on her treatment history.  I am very proud of her for fighting as hard as she did for as long as she did.  Thank you and blessings to you.

                • April 8, 2012 at 5:27 am
                FormerCaregiver
                Participant

                  Sorry to read that your mother's condition has deteriorated. As the doctor has said, melanoma is indeed a very aggressive cancer. However even if it is treated aggressively with everything that medical science is able to throw at it, there are no guarantees at all.

                  At the moment there is much that oncologists don't know about melanoma and the way that it behaves the way that it does, and why can a very small number of people achieve durable remissions while a great number do not.

                  So, please try not to be overly retrospective. I have had a look at the info on the profile page, and your mother's treatment history indicates that she has received appropriate medical care throughout her illness.

                  Hope this helps

                  Frank from Australia

                  • April 8, 2012 at 5:27 am
                  FormerCaregiver
                  Participant

                    Sorry to read that your mother's condition has deteriorated. As the doctor has said, melanoma is indeed a very aggressive cancer. However even if it is treated aggressively with everything that medical science is able to throw at it, there are no guarantees at all.

                    At the moment there is much that oncologists don't know about melanoma and the way that it behaves the way that it does, and why can a very small number of people achieve durable remissions while a great number do not.

                    So, please try not to be overly retrospective. I have had a look at the info on the profile page, and your mother's treatment history indicates that she has received appropriate medical care throughout her illness.

                    Hope this helps

                    Frank from Australia

                    • April 8, 2012 at 1:24 pm
                    Gene_S
                    Participant

                      My prayers are being sent to Mom, you and the rest of the family.

                      Don't be to hard on yourself as everyones body takes this disease differently and only some get complete response.

                      Hospice has been great for our family when needed for other members that were not melanoma patients but they did a great job for us in easing the burden and with compassionate understanding for us.

                      Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

                        • April 11, 2012 at 2:29 am
                        CaringforMom
                        Participant

                          Thank you Judy!  That is my Mom's name. 🙂

                          • April 11, 2012 at 2:29 am
                          CaringforMom
                          Participant

                            Thank you Judy!  That is my Mom's name. 🙂

                            • April 11, 2012 at 2:29 am
                            CaringforMom
                            Participant

                              Thank you Judy!  That is my Mom's name. 🙂

                            • April 8, 2012 at 1:24 pm
                            Gene_S
                            Participant

                              My prayers are being sent to Mom, you and the rest of the family.

                              Don't be to hard on yourself as everyones body takes this disease differently and only some get complete response.

                              Hospice has been great for our family when needed for other members that were not melanoma patients but they did a great job for us in easing the burden and with compassionate understanding for us.

                              Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

                              • April 8, 2012 at 1:24 pm
                              Gene_S
                              Participant

                                My prayers are being sent to Mom, you and the rest of the family.

                                Don't be to hard on yourself as everyones body takes this disease differently and only some get complete response.

                                Hospice has been great for our family when needed for other members that were not melanoma patients but they did a great job for us in easing the burden and with compassionate understanding for us.

                                Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

                                • April 9, 2012 at 2:29 am
                                KRob
                                Participant

                                  I'm sorry about your mother.

                                  May you all find the strength to get through this time.

                                  May peace be with all of you.

                                  • April 9, 2012 at 2:29 am
                                  KRob
                                  Participant

                                    I'm sorry about your mother.

                                    May you all find the strength to get through this time.

                                    May peace be with all of you.

                                      • April 9, 2012 at 6:49 am
                                      deardad
                                      Participant

                                        It's such a difficult time Im sorry to hear about your mum. 

                                        My thoughts are with you and the family.

                                        Nahmi from Melbourne

                                        • April 9, 2012 at 6:49 am
                                        deardad
                                        Participant

                                          It's such a difficult time Im sorry to hear about your mum. 

                                          My thoughts are with you and the family.

                                          Nahmi from Melbourne

                                          • April 11, 2012 at 2:30 am
                                          CaringforMom
                                          Participant

                                            Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.  I appreciate them very much.

                                            • April 11, 2012 at 2:30 am
                                            CaringforMom
                                            Participant

                                              Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.  I appreciate them very much.

                                              • April 11, 2012 at 2:30 am
                                              CaringforMom
                                              Participant

                                                Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.  I appreciate them very much.

                                                • April 9, 2012 at 6:49 am
                                                deardad
                                                Participant

                                                  It's such a difficult time Im sorry to hear about your mum. 

                                                  My thoughts are with you and the family.

                                                  Nahmi from Melbourne

                                                • April 9, 2012 at 2:29 am
                                                KRob
                                                Participant

                                                  I'm sorry about your mother.

                                                  May you all find the strength to get through this time.

                                                  May peace be with all of you.

                                                  • April 9, 2012 at 11:05 am
                                                  MeNDave
                                                  Participant

                                                    I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  Please don't look back and say "what if".  I know how easy it is to do, but  please don't dwell there.  Nothing good comes of it.  Spend as much time as you can with her.  When we brought my brother home with hospice, we spent alot of time looking at photo albums and watching movies.  I'll cherish that forever.  As far as time, Mikey was 2 months from the time we brought him home, although the doctor (and hospice nurses) thought it would be less than a month.  There are signs (Mikey began sleeping more, and became less responsive), but it is really up to the person.  My heart goes out to you, as looking back, I remember this time as being my low point.  Just remember, that with the grace of God and good friends, you will get through this.

                                                    Sending lots of hugs to you and your family, stay strong.

                                                    Maria

                                                    • April 9, 2012 at 11:05 am
                                                    MeNDave
                                                    Participant

                                                      I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  Please don't look back and say "what if".  I know how easy it is to do, but  please don't dwell there.  Nothing good comes of it.  Spend as much time as you can with her.  When we brought my brother home with hospice, we spent alot of time looking at photo albums and watching movies.  I'll cherish that forever.  As far as time, Mikey was 2 months from the time we brought him home, although the doctor (and hospice nurses) thought it would be less than a month.  There are signs (Mikey began sleeping more, and became less responsive), but it is really up to the person.  My heart goes out to you, as looking back, I remember this time as being my low point.  Just remember, that with the grace of God and good friends, you will get through this.

                                                      Sending lots of hugs to you and your family, stay strong.

                                                      Maria

                                                      • April 9, 2012 at 11:05 am
                                                      MeNDave
                                                      Participant

                                                        I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  Please don't look back and say "what if".  I know how easy it is to do, but  please don't dwell there.  Nothing good comes of it.  Spend as much time as you can with her.  When we brought my brother home with hospice, we spent alot of time looking at photo albums and watching movies.  I'll cherish that forever.  As far as time, Mikey was 2 months from the time we brought him home, although the doctor (and hospice nurses) thought it would be less than a month.  There are signs (Mikey began sleeping more, and became less responsive), but it is really up to the person.  My heart goes out to you, as looking back, I remember this time as being my low point.  Just remember, that with the grace of God and good friends, you will get through this.

                                                        Sending lots of hugs to you and your family, stay strong.

                                                        Maria

                                                        • April 10, 2012 at 5:02 am
                                                        Ali
                                                        Participant

                                                          I am so sorry.  God bless you and your mom.  She is lucky to be cared for so much.

                                                          Ali

                                                          • April 10, 2012 at 5:02 am
                                                          Ali
                                                          Participant

                                                            I am so sorry.  God bless you and your mom.  She is lucky to be cared for so much.

                                                            Ali

                                                            • April 10, 2012 at 5:02 am
                                                            Ali
                                                            Participant

                                                              I am so sorry.  God bless you and your mom.  She is lucky to be cared for so much.

                                                              Ali

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