So this is how it will be
 

My mom was admitted to the hospital on Christmas eve. She had numerous “small” things going wrong. Blood infection, UT infection, blood chemistry was messed up. A kidney wasn’t working. Her blood chemistry is messed up because the cancers are growing aggressively now in several sites, putting pressure on the useful organs, trying to push them out, causing unimaginable pain. Her kidney isn’t working because one tumor has basically flattened it. So she has four IV bags hanging over her bed, pumping potassium, whole blood, iron sucrose, dilaudid, antibiotics, and who knows what else trying to make up for what the cancer won’t let her body do for itself. The only part of her the cancer hasn’t affected is her mind, but the drugs that make the pain bearable have taken that away. So this is how it will be - a daily battle, the doctors struggling to make up for what the cancer takes away and all the while we know who the winner will be.

Damn! Pretty much the same path my mother went through. Hang tough, be strong. This is indeed one of the worst things on this journey called life. My sympathy to you. It's small comfort knowing others have gone through the same thing, but small comfort is better than none. :(

I am not afraid of dying. I just worry that it will somehow end up like you describe about your mother. I wish you well. For your mother, I wish her peace.

My sympathies to you and your mother. Have you considered hospice?

Sorry to hear this. Lost my dad to gastric cancer last May. Fortunately, his pain was rather limited and he went downhill rather fast.

Cancer sucks, Moses as always gets to the heart of it. Hospice sounds apropriate.

Sorry to hear... my parents are in their 80's and still living in the home we grew up in... however they seem to have weekly doctor appointments, I fear something like this is in my future.

OTOH they have beaten colon cancer (mom) and esophagus cancer (dad).

Well that f***'n sucks! Sorry for your pain.

Everyone has a place, and a place for everyone. Sorry to hear about this portion of your/her life. My mom went through nothing like this, but it was quick. Prayers to you and your's.

In the end, we all go, but I am so sorry to hear of the pain this is causing your Mother and you.

Best
Les

What are the options?

I remember when my grandfather got cancer. He was a hard man, fought in the south pacific in WWII, worked as a cowboy on a huge ranch in New Mexico after that.

He was about 75 but still got up early and did all his chores every day.
If he didn't have anything else to do he'd go down the street and cut all the weeds on a vacant lot.
One Monday morning he said he couldn't get out of bed. Grandma called the paramedics who took him to the hospital. That evening I got the call, you better get here fast. He passed two days later.

No one could believe how bad that stuff had eaten him up inside and he was still working and not complaining.
It was sad but as least he went relatively fast. I had to wonder how much pain he was in before, he was as tough as he was stubborn.

The point is, how long do we prolong it? At what point do we decide the quality of life is so bad it isn't worth it anymore?
i don't know the answer to that and hope i never have to make that decision.

I'm sorry to hear this. My best wishes to you and your mom.

Patrick,

My best wishes for you and your family! This is very tough! Be there for your Mother, spend time with her, let her know she is loved. So much pain can be helped with knowledge your loved ones are there with you.

I wish for the best for your Mother!

Sorry to hear this Patrick.

Best wishes for comfort for your mother and family.

Well said.

Cancer is a terrible disease.

Hope you mother can rest peacefully at some point.

Damn Patrick that's awful. Sorry to hear this. Strengthto you, peace to Mom.

Wow Patrick. Barely a month since your Dad passed, too. Hang in there buddy. Visit here, send us PPOT'ers a PM if you want. You know how to reach us.

I'll be checking on you soon.

God Bless. I pray for peace and understanding for you and your family.

My sympathies go out to you and your family. Given what our family went through and the outcome, with my dad, we should have considered hospice a lot sooner

best wishes

Sorry for the pain you're having to bear Patrick, I hope there is other family to help with the load.
Jim