Hi,
My dad has terminal prostate cancer and has been doing so well for nearly 4 years. He is 85 is really positive and he has great mental capacity. 3 weeks ago today, after complaining of chest pains he collapsed and was admitted to A&E. to cut a long story short he had spinal compression, not diagnosed until the next day in a care home they discharged him to for assessment. Back to A&E. sister and husband given the bad news that the cancer is taking over now and he had days to live. The MRI scan showed liver, bone spine, lung secondaries. He has three tumours on his spine- neck, near sternum and the base of his spine.
This was such a shock. Dad was driving his car and doing his shopping the day before. Now he is bedridden and can't even sit in a chair, be taken out in a wheel chair. His quality of life just went down over night.
Dad is on 18mg of steroids a day 2x9 and we are told they need reducing as they are high. He has MacMillan nurses who have sorted his pain thank goodness. AND my dad is still with us 3 weeks later. Eating like a horse (probably due to the steroids) and has told us he is not ready to go yet!
Doctors should not tell us someone has days to live. We knew he was looking at months not years but expected a slow decline, sleeping more and pottering around his bungalow. I was going to care for him.
He is now stuck in a nursing home. In a room on his own. No physiotherapist has been to see about movement. It is hard to accept anything people tell us now. When he comes off the steroids will the swelling increase again?
He looks so well leaning up in his bed. I can't eat, sleep is restless. We lived through the saying goodbye 2 weeks ago and grandchildren came from all over. Dad is chirpy and enjoying the food, and treats we take him. Surely he isn't dying? Everyday is a bonus, with my beautiful dad. I am beginning to believe he will recover. The rest of my family think I've gone mad!
Lost and very disappointed in the system!
Has anyone else been in this position. Please let me know how you coped/ are coping with this.
love and peace to you all.
Dawn
x
