Hi Silkie

Welcome to the forum but really sorry for the reason that brings you here.  As you can imagine everyones experience of the last period of a terminal illness are  often very different so what I will say here relates to my journey with my late husband. A different cancer (Mesothelioma) but eating and drinking became  difficult over the last three months and about a week before he died  he was only managing small sips of liquid.  His pain was well managed by his medication which he was able to take himself orally until 24hrs prior to his passing when it was given by syringe driver (fitted by our community nursing team who were very helpful in answering most of my questions). He slept on and off but was alert and chatty in between dozes. 24hrs beforehand a doctor had to be called as he had failed to pass urine (and I had already been told this would indicate the start of his body closing down) and though my husband did not want to know time scales I did ask for a rough idea (out of his earshott).  At that point I was told no more than 5/7 days. but it was just an estimate.  In actual fact my hubby died peacefully with me holding his hand just 24hrs later, having spent the day enjoying the company of our children, grandchildren and friends who popped in to see him. Much missed but comforted by the knowledge that there is no more suffering.

Hopefully others will be along to offer their thoughts. Take care  Jules54

Thanks so much Jules54, that's a really helpful response. It's encouraging that you are able to turn a very difficult experience for yourself into something that can help a stranger like me. I hope I'll be able to do the same. I appreciate everyone's experience is different but your experience gives me a ball park.

It's so overwhelming.

Take care and thanks again

Silkie

Hi Silkie,

As Jules has said, each case appears to differ from the next. 

Has your Dad been fitted with an Intravenous line and being drip-fed water and glucose? 
If not, the human body can only hold out for a very limited time before dehydration sets in. If he has, I'm afraid it could be anything from hours to weeks - not what you want to hear I know.

My Mum's final days dying of Cancer were spent at home with an IV drip keeping her hydrated and a syringe driver keeping her diamorphine pain relief topped up. She died peacefully with no discernable pain - though she was pretty high when she was awake.

My hope is that when my luck runs out (like your Dad I have Stage 4 Oesophageal Cancer) that my own final days are as well-managed as hers were.

Best wishes
Dave  

Thanks so much, Graham, I'll take your advice and talk to the PT team. I appreciate you doing such a tough thing in writing back to my response. It's comforting that people are so willing to help when you're in this situation. I hope your journey from here is as smooth as it can be.

Graham, that's truly heartbreaking. That's all I can say really.