Pancreatic cancer TW

[skidunks]

I posted a few months ago that my aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She has quickly been declining and her hospice nurse advised her and my uncle that she seems to be starting the dying process. She’s not hungry anymore, she has fluid in her lungs and her heartbeat is irregular. A week ago she fell using her walker but was able to get back up with the help of her sister.

My question is (and I know everyone is different), how long does this process take? What are your experiences? She’s so tiny, she was before her diagnosis, and I can’t imagine her body going through this.

[awkwardpenguin]

I am so sorry you and your family have to go through this.

I am glad she has hospice support. In my experience once they are not hungry and not eating it is a days to weeks timeline. But it's a very individual process and depends on so much. Hospice gave us a pamphlet of what to expect in terms of process, but each "stage" length can vary a lot and that's part of why they can't tell you.

[minzy]

Oh I am so sorry to see this. I remember you posting before and wondered about your aunt recently. I am sorry she is at this point already, it seems so soon. I do not know this part with my dad’s pancreatic cancer journey yet, but I have heard there are signs that hint at timing and others can probably chime in better. Big hugs.

[underwaterrhymes]

I am so sorry.

We’ve lost a number of loved ones over the last few years and this was a particularly helpful site for us. It talks about the Signs of Active Dying. Once a person stops eating and drinking, it’s usually pretty quick after that.

www.vitas.com/for-healthcare-professionals/making-the-rounds/2020/march/signs-of-active-dying?gbraid=0AAAAAD9RTQxFeZSbWWYoJFWz9aj0RApTK&gclid=CjwKCAiA44OtBhAOEiwAj4gpOQsf2g1Xg8JVbWFPQUi9foJudtHaci2W9cpKFPjWXqGpWvnjAygNVxoC540QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#weeks

[lilypad1126]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I don’t have any experience with pancreatic cancer, but for my MIL who was in hospice for lung cancer, the end was fairly quick after she stopped eating and drinking.

[thebreakfastclub]

My nephew died of cancer in 1st grade. In his final days, he went to school but his appetite was mostly gone and his breathing was shallow. He died in his sleep within days, but the timing was uncertain even at the end.

[dexteroni]

I’m so sorry. I’ve had an aunt and an uncle reach this stage (albeit with different causes) and it was a few days for one and nearly two weeks for the other. So it’s hard to say, but I don’t think it’ll be super long. I wish her a peaceful passing and wish your family comfort.

[jackie011]

I’m so sorry your family is going through this. My father passed of pancreatic cancer and his doctor had the timeline down so accurately, I’m still amazed nearly 17 years later.

The doctor had told my mom when “these things” happen, do not wait, do not contact our office, just go straight to the ER. When “those things” happened (mainly coughing up dark emesis) my dad refused to go to the ER. He said “I know what’s happening and I know if I leave this house, I’m not coming back, so please let me do this my way.” We did, and we all agreed to go the following day.

He went to the hospital on a Monday and his doctor said they would admit him to the palliative care unit. He basically slipped into a coma and passed midday on Saturday. It was very peaceful and well managed by the team at the hospital.

My MIL passed (though not of cancer) last month, and again, the hospice team was amazing. While she wasn’t eating or communicating for days, they would tell us things like her body temperature is still high and there was something about her knees that they were monitoring. Then, once they saw those particular signs, they said it would be approximately 48 hours, and again, pretty darn accurate.

Do you have access to hospice care? The nurses and staff that we worked with were so wonderful and really helped us come to terms with what was happening before our eyes.

[jennistarr1]

I'm so sorry, I would say about 3 weeks, and I'm afraid many won't be good days. I remember the falls...they were the worst, she was combative with people helping her up, emts came a few time and were very helpful, told us to call anytime (I'm down my own memories here so I'll stop) but I will hope for good days

[sent]

Three weeks was the timeline for someone I know who went through the same diagnosis with a family member. The family member wanted to pass away in their home country. It was just under 3 weeks from “the end is coming, we’re all flying back home” and then we got the news they had passed.

I’m so sorry. I cry inside anytime I read or hear about this cancer. The daycare my kids attended used to raise money for the organization with the purple stuff every year. I hope they improve the prognosis for it in my lifetime.

[sadlebred]

Earlier this year I had an aunt diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer on Tuesday. She passed less than a week later under hospice care at home. I was told she was peaceful and not in pain when it happened.

[skidunks]

Update: my aunt passed away yesterday morning, at home with my uncle there. He said she went peacefully, which was how she was 99% of her life, a quiet strong peaceful presence. We will all miss her but are so thankful she’s out of pain and in a better place.

[sadlebred]

skidunks I am sorry for your loss.

[jennistarr1]

I'm so sorry, and regretful that my estimate was more optimistic than reality

[dexteroni]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Later isn’t always better than sooner in cases like this, but I know the loss is hard whenever it happens. I’m glad it was peaceful.

[minzy]

I’m so sorry skidunks. 😢 I am glad it was a peaceful passing. Hugs to you all.

[erbear]

I’m really sorry. How tragic

[heygrey]

skidunks, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm glad her final moments were peaceful.

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[jinkies]

I'm sorry skidunks. All cancer is awful, but pancreatic cancer is especially cruel. Sending you lots of love.

[momin2013]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[kellady]

So sorry for your loss.  

[beerlover]

So sorry for your loss.

[caddywompus]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[jackie011]

I’m so sorry for your loss and hope that it was as peaceful as possible for all.

[bex1973]

((( skidunks ))) So sorry

[shauni27]

skidunks, sending love and comfort.

[Wallflower]

(((skidunks))), I'm very sorry for your loss. I lost a dear friend earlier this year to pancreatic cancer and it is heartbreaking.

[mcsangel2]

It can be difficult to be sure. When my mom stopped drinking (she was on high doses of morphine at the end and not really conscious, but we did wet her lips and gums with a sponge), hospice told us the end was a few days away. She hung on for ten days.