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End of life care - steroids

Karenkat
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Hi,

 

I haven't posted for about a year, but my dad has really started deteriorating now and I would be grateful for any advice or similar experience.

 

He has advanced prostate cancer which has spread to many bones and other areas and medication to treat has now all stopped. The oncologist said he has a maximum of 3 months left. He spent the last two weeks in a hospice to manage pain and is now back home (with me and my family). The hospice put him on steroids yesterday and he is already so much brighter and eating more. It's amazing. Am I right to think that this is very short term? Can steroids prolong life or does it just mask the symptoms?

 

thanks for your help xx

Parents
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    Sorry to hear you are going through this sad time. My dad passed away from advanced prostate cancer last Christmas. We only found out how advanced it was in mid october so he lived for 10 weeks after the diagnosis but was put on Dexamethosone straight away and for the first few weeks he was fantastic. We even took a family weekend away. It was incredible the lift they gave him but by the end of November he was losing energy and sleeping a lot. He also lost his appetite completely. We could see he was slipping each day. 

     

    The last week was hard but the hospice nurses called daily and their support was fantastic and he died peacefully at home with us by his side.

    I wish you, your family and of course your dad all the best at this time. 

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    Sorry to hear you are going through this sad time. My dad passed away from advanced prostate cancer last Christmas. We only found out how advanced it was in mid october so he lived for 10 weeks after the diagnosis but was put on Dexamethosone straight away and for the first few weeks he was fantastic. We even took a family weekend away. It was incredible the lift they gave him but by the end of November he was losing energy and sleeping a lot. He also lost his appetite completely. We could see he was slipping each day. 

     

    The last week was hard but the hospice nurses called daily and their support was fantastic and he died peacefully at home with us by his side.

    I wish you, your family and of course your dad all the best at this time. 

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