| | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Dear Tamara,
I remember just last April when Eddie's father was dying I had some of the same concerns about zero nutrition, the hospice nurses said it doesn't cause pain and the feeding wasn't really necessary. it was a very long and difficult month. they did give morphine to help him along at the end, to slow his heart down I believe we were told. He appeard to die a peaceful death. His children were at peace too that he had finally passed on to be pain free. you are all in my prayers.
Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 96 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 96 | Dear Tamara,
I am so sorry you are going through this. You are now living what I fear the most, yet I know the day is coming. You are in my prayers.
Lori
Lori, cg to H Ron, age 56.
Stage IV Oral SCC-T1N2. Tongue resected and right ND 8/05. Teeth removed, PORT, PEG, IMRT x33, Cisplatin x3. Tx ended 10/05.
Recurrence 7/08 Stage IV. Surgery 8/30/08.
2nd recur. 11/08. 2nd surgery 2/2/09.
3rd recur. 4/9/09. Erbitux wkly. 5/09-?
Ron died 6/6/09.
Lori also passed away 8/20/11, colon cancer
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 49 | Dear Tamara,
I too am so very sorry you have to endure this - it is indeed the worst anguish one can experience. My beautiful 43-yr old daughter left us on Sept 29, 2008 after 2-1/2 yrs of suffering, the last 6 months being absolute hell. We too had Hospice the last month & the nurses kept telling us "today will probably be the last day..." She hung on for 2 agonizing weeks. I suffered the same questions about withholding feedings & water (she was on a feeding tube). We pushed the meds with just enough water to get it thru the tube. On the morning she passed the nurse came to get me at 2:30am & said that Teri had just opened her eyes and lifted both her arms in the air (she had been in a coma for a week & hadn't moved a muscle in that time). I was able to hold her until 5:02 when she breathed her last breath. I will treasure the fact that I was able to be holding her - I consider it a gift. You will relive each of these last days of this horrible journey over and over but be assured that it does eventually get better. Know that we are all here to help you through this. You and your family are in our prayers. Come let us help you.
Bonnie
----------------
CG to daughter Teri, age 43, tongue cancer (non-smoker, non-drinker, aerobics instructor); dx 4/06, partial glossectomy, 35 IMRT, 3 chemos, reoccurrance 5/09 (lung/kidney/bone), entered Heaven 9/29/08 | | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 Member | | OP Member
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 | Kyle passed away Wednesday night at 7:20. His blood pressure and body temp was low for most of the day. He had that rattling sound for a few hours and it stopped about 30 minutes before he passed. I was putting my kids to bed when the nurse came to tell me he had only taken 1 breath in the past minute. My sister and I went in and he let out 2 more small breaths and he was gone. It was a relief to know he's no longer suffering. I still have not really reacted. I can not thank you all enough for sharing your stories and heartaches with me. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Kyle - 43 years old. Non smoker, casual drinker.
03/07-Tumor removed in tongue, chemo/rad
06/08-Tumor removed in base of mouth, left jaw removed, part of skin on neck - followed w/chemo/rad.
10/08-New tumor already growing.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | So sorry to hear that. I know it's good he is not suffering anymore but it is so hard for the family. I am thinking of you and your family.
Suzanne
***********
T1 SCC on right side of tongue
Age 31...27 when diagnosed
4 partial glossectomies
No chemo or radiation
Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear
Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011
Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10
It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 | Tamara, I am so sorry for your loss. I know you are probably feeling a range of emotions and also quite numb at the same time. At least the suffering is over. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Take care of you.
Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 | So sorry for all of this Tamera. I am glad he and you are no longer suffering through this illness. I know this is a difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
KATE
Tongue Cancer T2 N0 M0 /
Total Glossectomy Due to Location of Tumor
Finished all treatments May 25 2007
Surviving!!!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 216 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 216 | My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
CG to H with SCC BOT T4N2cM0 dx 12/19/08, teeth removed pre-tx; Erbitux & RT-done 3/12/09, PEG 2/9/09-7/14/09; ND 6/16. Pet 6/12-no mets except lymph node in neck removed on 6/16. Chyle leak,2nd surg to repair. Dilate esophagus 4/15/10. Clear PET 12/17/10
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have you in my prayers and understand that no matter what happens you are never quite ready for it to be over. You have my sympathy . The best to you and your family.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 54 | My condolences to you and your family.
Sweetpea
********
2/09 MEC Rt Submandibular Gland,Tumor Exc,age 68; 4/09 Rt Neck Resect, Excise Rt Lingual Nerve, 10 nodes; 1 month later- Lge Abscess Drained 5/09; 4 more cancers, final path report; 6/09 IMRTx33
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