| | Joined: Mar 2017 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Mar 2017 Posts: 1 | New to this (or any other) forum. I have been a private professional caregiver for a 91 yr. old female for the last 4 1/2 yrs. She was diagnosed with SCC appx. 2 yrs ago.
As she is in her advanced years, she chose to not go through with surgery or radiation. She was put on hospice. After appx. 5 months she was taken off, because of her very slow decline. We are now in the process of going back on hospice (1 1/2 years later!) I'm looking for information on what to expect in these end stages, so we will be able to give her the best care possible.
Last edited by Blue Heron; 03-01-2017 02:01 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF. Im very sorry to read about your patient. We have a section devoted to those patients who are terminal or have passed away. A couple of our caregivers have written about end of life situations. Its going to take me a while to find it but I know its here somewhere.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | Blue Heron, welcome to the forum. I'm sorry your patient isn't doing well. I would look out for signs of pneumonia -- shaking (not from cold), vomiting, difficulty breathing, and a temperature (though not necessarily so). If she is mobile and walks, please be very, very careful that she doesn't fall. We were told that even when a patient seems to be unresponsive, he/she can hear what's being said' so be careful about what she hears . It is, of course, important for people that she loves to keep talking to her even though she does not look like she is responsive. If she is given painkillers like hydromorphone, look out for signs of delirium.
This is what I can recall for now. I will post again if anything more comes back to me.
Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
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