Cancer Treatment Options Forum - April 25th, 2011 - 3 Comments
Helping a loved 1 w/stage 4 esophagus cancer & chemo side effects.?
My father was diagnosed with stage 4 esophagus cancer last August so almost 9 months. It’s close to a whole year of his diagnoses and his pain, strength and appetite has got a little worse. He can’t eat certain foods but craves things his body just can’t handle anymore. He’s in a lot of pain off and on which of course chemo is making it a lot tougher. Anyone who has beat, suffering or taking care of someone with this stage and type of cancer or there for any cancer, do you know what I can do to make him feel comfortable? A majority of the time his nausea and pain medications do help but there’s of course those days (you know what day’s I’m talking about) they don’t even take the edge off. Also, is there any foods you would recommend him eating? Maybe even some activity’s he can do that can help him stay busy and take his mind off things (as much as possible that is)? He has always been a busy body since I can remember and it drives him insane sitting around. Thanks in advance, it’s awful seeing someone you love so much go threw such a painful disease. Any suggestions what so ever PLEASE comment.
It is extremely hard to concentrate to read when on strong pain meds. So I recommend audio books either from a book store or the library. Talk radio is also a good way to pass time as well as surfing the web.and of course there is the TV get him all of the movie channels. I don’t know his hobbies but maybe take him shooting at a gun range or fishing. When I was sick with cancer I enjoyed going to cancer cooking– healthy eating classes and talking with other people in my shoes. Maybe there is a support group or meeting in your area–ask the local hospital.Going for a drive with spring comming would be nice maybe for Sunday afternons.
As far as pain goes he deserves ALL of the strongest hard core pain meds he can tollerate. Talk with his oncologist or regular doctor and MAKE SURE he is getting adequate pain control.
PAIN FREE LIVING IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVELEDGE. Right now he sounds grossly under medicated. There are many excellent opiate based meds that won’t leave him drooling and spaced out. I had a chance to try most of them and found huge differences between them.
He may want to try ALL of the different ones available until he finds the right mix. Dilaudud(hydromorphone) was by far one of the best ones. It comes in 2,4,and 8mg pills and has a 2-4 hr effective window. Oxycontin(10,20,40,80,160mg) is also ok but is expensive and gets under prescribed, As well as Pure hydrocodone (2,5,10,20mg.-without the apap)
I really hope you take the time to talk with his doctor about getting his pain under control. Nothing makes me madder than when I hear about people with cancer in needless pain just becuase their physician is being selfish and only watching out for him/herself . Your father absolutely should be free to be totally addicted and hooked up on these pain meds until he dies and not be stigmatized or questioned or accused of being/becomming an"addict" a few tiny pills can make a huge difference in the life of a person in un-retractable pain and for them not to have pleanty of them available is unconscionable. I sincerely wish your dad a happy and pain free journey. Best wishes.
I wish I had some knowledgeable advice for you, but sadly I don’t. Just know that you are both in my prayers
I learned about this recently and here is the link , it is a video of a guy who had Esophageal cancer ,\
and he explains what he did to beat it and is cancer free , even after the doctors said he had about 3 months to live , the video link explains in much more detail