Stomach cancer and bowel blockage

Hi, My MIL has stomach cancer which is inoperable. She is 86. Recently she had a bowel blockage which resulted in her consistently vomiting. She was admitted to hospital and was nil by mouth and had a tube down her nose into her stomach and on infusions.  After scans etc she was told ahe was at end of life- prob 4 - 6 weeks. She made the choice to come home, we have carers and district nurses and macmillen as well as family. Since she came home she is now on a normal diet, she is able to go to the toilet and is not in any pain. Her blockage seems to have righted itself. She is.bright, alert and chirpy. Is this.normal? Is her prognosis still correct? 

I feel like we are all on a rollercoaster of emotions and information. As anyone else had this experience? 

Many thanks.

Parents
  • Hi

    I'm sorry to hear of your MIL's diagnosis. My Mum had peritoneal cancer ovarian origin and her illness also caused bowel blockage and vomiting. When she was advised that her condition was terminal and that chemotherapy was no longer effective she survived just a further 8 weeks which was spent initially at home then at the local hospice where she passed away. The illness initially waxed and waned with regards to being able to pass stools and having better days, mainly because the medications, including steroids, controlled some of the inflammatory process and supressed the nausea and pain. 

    We were advised by the palliative care team that if you can see deterioration in terms of weeks then that usually is an indicator that the patient has weeks left, if in days then days left and similarly with hours. Take things a day at a time, if she has good fortune to have a day of energy and positivity then make use of it and be prepared that some days she may not have the same capabilities. 

    I wish you strength as a family to cope with the future and treasure the time you have with your MIL. 

Reply
  • Hi

    I'm sorry to hear of your MIL's diagnosis. My Mum had peritoneal cancer ovarian origin and her illness also caused bowel blockage and vomiting. When she was advised that her condition was terminal and that chemotherapy was no longer effective she survived just a further 8 weeks which was spent initially at home then at the local hospice where she passed away. The illness initially waxed and waned with regards to being able to pass stools and having better days, mainly because the medications, including steroids, controlled some of the inflammatory process and supressed the nausea and pain. 

    We were advised by the palliative care team that if you can see deterioration in terms of weeks then that usually is an indicator that the patient has weeks left, if in days then days left and similarly with hours. Take things a day at a time, if she has good fortune to have a day of energy and positivity then make use of it and be prepared that some days she may not have the same capabilities. 

    I wish you strength as a family to cope with the future and treasure the time you have with your MIL. 

Children
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