OK I am told I have used up my lifetime quota of Radiotherapy and Surgery and as I now have a (10 years on)recurrence of growths in my throat as well as Fistulas - we are trying a course of Carboplatin (arm drip) every 3 weeks (3x so far)- first we tried another with tablets via PEG but no result/changes. I have a PEG and now a Mi-key as I cannot swallow food or drink due to the tumor in my throat and of course I have a tracheotomy to breath. I am due for a scan latter this week to see if there is a visible change to the mass in my throat. I suspect there is not - although stopping any further growth would be success :-) Now my question is if the growths continue how do I die ? I have a good heart etc and breath through my neck and eat via PEG so I by pass the mass in my throat - so does it keep growing until it hemorrhages and I die in a sudden explosion of blood loss ? I have unlimited morphine etc available so pain is not an issue. I have already been coerced into signing a release absolving the medical team from failing to resuscitate me in the event of a hemorrhage and assumed that was because they cannot. Things came to a head this past June but here I am 5 months on slowly getting thinner day by day LOL

I have known 4 different OC patients who have undergone rads 3 times. All have had some after effect issues but have gone on to live decent lives well after their 3rd round of rads.

If you were here in the US I would advise you to go to a CCC or another CCC for another opinion. Is it possible to go to another top treatment facility for at the least a 2nd opinion?

If treatment is not an option is there such a thing as hospice where you live?

I apologize, Im unsure of what other countries offer. Wishing you all the very best with everything you are facing.

OK but I was responding to davidcpa's post inviting "awkward" questions concerning the terminal stages. I am quite satisfied with my CCC treatments here. I am under the eye of a Hospice here but dislike their "feel good" approach - the hospice, although located at the the local Public Hospital, is contract run and staffed by the Salvation Army. I was not inquiring about treatment options and do not see that you needrd to edit and move my response to him - but thank you for caring LOL

So to reiterate my specific question :

"Feel free to ask any end of life questions.
_________________________
David "


"Now my question is if the growths continue how do I die ? I have a good heart etc and breath through my neck and eat via PEG so I by pass the mass in my throat - so does it keep growing until it hemorrhages and I die in a sudden explosion of blood loss ? "

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, diagnosis. I guess to answer your question is no one really knows, at least I don't, or have much experience with this as we are not doctors, unfortionately, and it could be as you suggested, something else or tumors could stop growing, maybe by some miracle. It's best answered by your doctors I think. I wish you the best of luck, and a different outcome.

Mike, as Paul says, there is not a standard how one dies based on where you currently are. Your suggested scenario is one possibility. As you say, you are losing weight. This is certainly another possibility. The body can waste to the point of organs shutting down. In the very end it is usually bleeding to death or death from organs stopping their function.

Nobody really knows in advance what the final minutes will be like or the sequence of events. The toxic buildup before death usually affects the brain so we aren't lucid at the end.

I wish you the best and I'm sorry for what you are facing. Anything I can do, please feel free to send me a Private Message.

Ed

MIke... you asked this question in another forum - under AWW's post - I responded there.. hugs.