Esophageal Cancer - nearing the end?

My normally strong, lovely dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in September and was given 6 months to live at that time. He was operated on to have a stent fitted, and then another inside that stent a month later. This was an awful time as the stents never took and he struggled to swallow so he had to have them taken out. He was then able to eat small amounts for a month or so and then was back in having another stent fitted as the tumor was pressing making it difficult to swallow. He has barely eaten anything since (that as February). He is declining rapidly and has lost around 6 stones, is unable to sit for any length of time as he gets too sore. He has a hospital bed in the house now and needs a wheelchair to take him from the livingroom to his bedroom as he has no strength to stand. His heart is strong although all other organs and muscles aren't. He sleeps more than he is awake. He coughs alot and struggles to clear his throat. I don't know what to do other than listen to him when he is able to speak (which isn't often). Spending my time at the moment just keeping him company but watching him is heartbreaking. I don't know what to say to him now as it hurts too much. I cannot imagine life without him. Does this sound as though his time with us is nearing an end?

Parents
  • SB76, I am so sorry you’re going through this with your dad, I am going through very similar situation with my mum. She was diagnosed with  esophageal cancer in September also, and  that has spread into her stomach and now lung, operating was not really an option for her due to her size and the amount of joins they would have to complete, chemo has been stopped after just two cycles due to constant infections, she has a stent in also but is fed through a JEJ tube into her bowel,  and has been in hospital this time for 6 weeks trying to get her chest clear and breathing sorted, my family are all in Northern Ireland and I live in England, I fly over every other week but I suppose I’ need to find out how ok g my mum has left so I can be here more, I’m currently on my way to the hospital to try and catch the consultant to ask the question, I don’t know if this is the right thing to do, I don’t t know if she will even tell me without my mums knowledge, but I know my mum definitely would not want to know this. Has anyone any thoughts on asking this? 

  • Oh  I am so sorry to hear that you’re going through the same with your lovely mum. It’s heartbreaking. Operation was not an option for dad either. He did try one round of chemo but ended up with pneumonia which scared him and after that he refused further treatment. We weren’t given the option of feeding tube as they said he wasn’t strong enough. 

    dad asked the consultant at the beginning to be straight with him and tell him how long he had. They were reluctant to put a time on this but eventually told him 6 months. I do think as a next of kin you should be able to ask and be told this information. I have seen a massive decline in dad and he can barely do anything now. Bless him. I just don’t know how long he will carry on like this. 

    I hope you are able to get the information you need. Keep me posted and please look after yourself x

  • It’s just a horrible horrible thing to go through, I am sending love and prayer to you and your family through this journey. The only thing we can do is spend the little time we have left with our parents, make sure they know we are there to support them and love them, and that they don’t suffer when it comes closer to the time of passing. 

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  • It’s just a horrible horrible thing to go through, I am sending love and prayer to you and your family through this journey. The only thing we can do is spend the little time we have left with our parents, make sure they know we are there to support them and love them, and that they don’t suffer when it comes closer to the time of passing. 

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