My dad is 68 and has incurable lung cancer. Last friday we were told to prepare for his death as his body is shutting down. Yesterday and today he is talking awake and baffling pallative nurses... he still isn't eating and drinking very little. Is he on the improve or is it rallying?
If continues to show strength, research the ketogenic diet. The human body can have its miracles, though small, so don't rely too much on what the medical staff thinks and look at how your father presents himself.
Four years ago, my mother presented with sepsis. She was immediately given a broadspectrum IV antibiotic while the ER doctor was waiting for the lab results. The doctor said Mom has to be admitted for aggressive ICU care to save her life. A few months prior to this emergency, she was showing very, very early signs of mobility decline, such as using a walker to get around. I told him no to the ICU admission and that I want Mom going home on Hospice with an oral antibiotic - no refills. He gently told me the oral antibiotic won't be of any benefit because her death is imminent. I wouldn't back down. I told him I won't leave the hospital without the prescription for the antibiotic, which was a two week supply at three times a day. Right after Mom was settled in our home on hospice and the urinary catheter was put in, I gave her - a lot of fluids (both water and Glucerna for the nutrition) - to flush the bug out of her system. She had a few downs but a few more ups. Two weeks later - she fully recovered from sepsis - in our home. I'm very thankful I have the extra time with her - but I won't agree, won't pursue anymore treatment because in the last year, she's really started to decline. It's simply not fair to her. She's ready to be with my deceased father.
Brings to my mind 'terminal lucidity'. My mother-in-law had severe Dementia, but the day before she died from an abdominal cavity tumor she became quite lucid; so much so that my sister-in-law was very surprised. If you're not familiar with 'terminal lucidity' you can do an Internet search and see how it affected other terminally ill patients.
In regards to the possibility of 'terminal lucidity', your Dad may have been blessed with the last opportunity to express his love to you. Embrace his love and prepare your heart!
The other possibility is that he has improved due to not feeding the cancer with sugar, as one of the other members posted.
And finally, the other possibility is that he may be experiencing a miraculous healing and is on the way to recovery. Never discount the possibility of miraculous healing, but at the same time prepare your heart if it's his time to pass.
God bless!
Within 10 hours, he passed away.
This "rally" is very common. It's hard on the loved ones, who watch and wait and are so exhausted from the watching and waiting, but it is what it is.
Take care of yourself during this stressful time.
The family rallied and dad out lived Mom by 7.5 years and we were told he was dying about 10 years earlier.
So. It could be either. My friend's mother was in a similar position and lived several more months. My husband's oldest sister - we were called in several times as she was dying, each time was followed by another year of his sister living.
And there are those misc times when someone is put on Hospice that they graduate from Hospice because they are doing much better. For those times I think it has to do with Hospice stopping all regular medication which might had been the underlining factor for the original condition.
Once she stopped taking any fluids, she was also on serious amounts of morphine for pain. That was about 4 days more. She was not conscious during those last days.
Hospice nurses were amazed at how she hung on so long.
I am sorry for what you are going through..and what is to come for you. Be strong. Make sure you do not do this alone! *hugs*