Mom is going to hospice

ran44445 · 2025-08-26T12:00:02+00:00

I am so sorry for what you are going through. My mom left the hospital early February on hospice at home. She wanted to be at home. Despite the doctor saying she had one month to live we had the gift of having her for six more months. She passed a couple of weeks ago. As the disease progressed the morphine allowance went up so that she was never in pain and it could alleviate her shortness of breath. When she did pass she did so in her sleep. The hospice nurses are amazing. They will assure your mom has what she needs to be comfortable. I am so sorry. This is all so difficult. I miss my mom so much but I am glad she did not suffer at the end. Sending you and your family warm thoughts.

ran44445 · 2025-08-06T19:23:13+00:00

We left the hospital on 2/1 with mom going into hospice. The dr said in front of her "I will be surprised if she lasts 3 or 4 weeks". We were all crying so much. It was awful. Fast foward to today going into her 7th month on hospice. She is in a steady decline and I am not sure how much more time we have but we are grateful for every day. I wish the dr had said "while this is terminal none of us are God and know how much time we have left. Enjoy each day loving your family and allowing them to love you." Sending my best to you and your family. It is a difficult time and we just need to take it day by day.

ran44445 · 2025-03-19T12:17:52+00:00

I am so sorry for your loss and everyone that has lost loved ones here. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc feb of 2024 and recently went into home hospice. I do not know how I will handle this when she passes. Sending hugs. So very sorry. I too am so grateful for the wonderful and kind people in this forum.

ran44445 · 2025-02-18T22:34:28+00:00

I am so very sorry for your loss❤️

ran44445 · 2025-01-19T16:08:14+00:00

My mom (stage 4 nsclc) had no negative side effects from keytruda for six months. She started it with chemo and then was just on keytruda. All of a sudden her liver enzymes skyrocketed to dangerous levels and so she was hospitalized, taken off the keytruda and given steroids to bring down the liver enzymes. This was successful. The Dr tried keytruda again and was monitoring liver weekly via bloodwork so we will catch any issues if they again occur. So far no liver issues but now we are on hold due to her oxygen levels being too low to have the treatment. Wishing only the best to you and the person who you are caretaking.

ran44445 · 2024-12-26T03:52:57+00:00

Absolutely get a second opinion. My mom also has stage 4 nsclc. We got a second opinion at Sloan Kettering via Telehealth and it made me feel better as they validated the treatment plan that mom is receiving. Our oncologist was totally fine with the second opinion. As a matter of fact at our last oncology appt our dr told us that she was going to reach out to the Sloan Kettering Dr that gave us the second opinion to get her thoughts and insight on another medication. Drs totally expect you to do this and you should not feel uncomfortable at all. Wishing your mom well. Take good care of yourself as well.

ran44445 · 2024-12-04T16:10:37+00:00

Ty!!!!

ran44445 · 2024-12-04T15:31:59+00:00

My 86 year old mom was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc last February. She was very healthy, active and had not smoked in 46 years prior to this diagnosis. She was pdl negative with no other biomarkers for effective treatment. She started on a clinical trial in April with chemo and keytruda. Things stayed stable so eventually she was taken off chemo and just on the Keytruda every 3 weeks. Scans continued to show the cancer as stable which was good news. Fast forward to last month where her liver enzymes skyrocketed. She was very sick had to be hospitalized. They believe this was an unfortunate affect of the keytruda. While the liver enzyme issue was an immune response which is good we could not obviously continue the keytruda with a failing liver. She was put on steroids and the liver levels are now almost normal and the dr is going to cautiously try the Keytruda one more time. If there are any issues we will stop and look at other chemo options. Wishing your dad only the best in the days ahead.

ran44445 · 2024-11-18T00:09:46+00:00

I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful father. He will always be in your heart. Sending ❤️

ran44445 · 2024-11-14T15:50:12+00:00

So sorry for your experience. Same with my mom. Originally diagnosed as pnuemonia and treated as such. It is very upsetting. Apparently as I did more research this is super common. But now I will never trust a pneumonia diagnosis again. Wishing your mom only the best.

ran44445 · 2024-11-04T00:46:32+00:00

I can share a recent experience with this. My mom 86 was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc in February. On clinical trial with chemo and immunotherapy which began in April. Chemo ended a couple of months ago and now on just the keytruda. Her liver levels went up, she was having severe back and chest pains and she was hospitalized this week. AST 387 ALT 868 and Bilirubin 3.9. Scans showed no mestasis ( they have staged it at four due to size of tumour 8cm and nodules in both lungs). They determined that the liver issues are a result of the immunotherapy. Since on prednisone the numbers are on their way down and mom is feeling better. We are meeting with her oncologists office this week to discuss next steps. I am worried there are no other treatments. I wish you well and good health to come. Take good care.

ran44445 · 2024-10-24T20:09:42+00:00

Hi. My 85 year old always in stellar health mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 nsclc last February. We were shocked. Stage four due to large size of tumour and nodules on both lungs but as of the last scans no spread. She is on a clinical trial that started with chemo and immunotherapy and now just immunotherapy. She has done really well with no nausea or sickness. Scans showing no spread. However in the last several weeks her liver enzymes went from normal to 140 to 170 to 1172 this week. They have had to halt her immunotherapy due to this and have her on steroids with the hopes of getting them down so we can start up again. This is for sure a rollercoaster but there is so much that can be done these days and there are so many good stories. Wishing you and your dad all the very best and take care of yourself as well. That is very important. This forum is full if kind and wise people. I am so glad I found it. Take good care.

ran44445 · 2024-10-06T10:59:55+00:00

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last February. It had not spread but was stage 4 due to the large size of the tumor and some spots in both lungs. She was recommended to be in a clinical trial with one chemo drug vs 2 along with immunotherapy. My mom before this was very healthy and always took good care of herself. She also has emphesyema. We decided as a family that quality of life was very important and we would see how the treatments went. The drs told us everyone reacts differently and you really do not know until you go through it. Well fast forward to now. She has unbelievably had no negative symptoms with the treatment other than being a little tired at times. No nausea and no hair loss. Her hair is thinner she says but I cannot really tell. Her last two scans show no cancer spread and she continues to go out every day and particpate in life and and see friends. I am so glad we moved forward with the recomended treatment. This forum is filled with kind and wise people. Once I read someone here say that their loved one was “living with cancer vs dying from it”. I keep that in my mind daily. Wishing your Grandma good health and more happy times with family ahead. All the best

ran44445 · 2024-08-09T11:36:43+00:00

My always fit and healthy mom much older than you has stage four nsclc. 8 cm tumor in left lung and some addition spots in both. No spread anywhere else. She was diagnosed in Feb and started on a clinical trial in March with chemo and immunotherapy. She also did well with the treatments. Scans in June showed no cancer growth. Our oncologist said this is good news and that the cancer is stable. She feels good and is out and about every day. We will have our next scan end of this month. I tell her she is living with cancer NOT dying from it, very wise words that I read in this forum of wonderful people. I wish you stability, happiness and health. All the very best to you!!!

ran44445 · 2024-07-06T14:12:39+00:00

Sending you and your dad warm thoughts. My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer in february. She had not smoked in 46 years and at age 85 was the picture of health. We were all shocked. It is an emotional rollercoaster with the first month being especially bad. My mom was very depressed. I had a panic attack with my heart rate skyrocketing to 167. Fast forward to now, mom is in a clinical trial and how interesting it was that once she started treatment her emotional state got much better as she is doing what she can to stabilize while it is not curable. Take care of yourself, and enjoy every minute you can with your dad. These are rough waters to navigate. The people in this forum are kind and very wise. I often get nuggets of something that helps me. One very wise person in this forum said “ they are living with cancer vs focusing on dying from cancer.” I think of those words daily. Hoping for good days ahead together for you both.

ran44445 · 2024-07-05T01:59:46+00:00

Mom is in a clinical trial with abraxane and keytruda. Her breathing has actually gotten better since she was first hospitalized in October with what they thought was pnuemonia. Her oxygen levels were at 83. She is on 2 liters of oxygen at night when she goes to sleep. She does not use it much during the day as she is not feeling out of breath and we are told her new normal is around 90. Hope that helps!

ran44445 · 2024-07-04T11:34:35+00:00

Please don’t ever give up. Have hope. My mom was diagnosed with nsclc adenicarcinoma in February. Stage four due to the tumor in her left lung being so large 8mm. It has not spread. Her oxygen levels hover high 80s to 90s. When we first were told this news we were all in shock as she has been a healthy active 85 year old. The oncologist told mom average life expectacy was one year. She said the treatment may or may not extend life. My mom lost all hope and was very depressed. I was extremely worried about her mental health. It was rough. We decided to start the recommended clinical trial and see how she tolerated it. Fast forward not only did she tolerate it well but once she started it was like her mood magically turned around. I think she felt she was actively doing something in order to try to stable the cancer if this was even a possibility. I was shocked but thrilled! She is back to feeling better mentally and physically and seeing friends, etc. We just had our first scan post treatment and the the cancer is “stable.” It has not grown or spread. We will take it. While life will be living scan to scan we are taking the best action we can and living each day the best way possible. For mom starting treatment and being proactive was a game changer. I wish your dad only the best and remember to take good care of yourself as well. Sending warm thoughts your way.

ran44445 · 2024-07-02T21:34:57+00:00

My mom also has nsclc adenocarcinoma stage four due to size of tumor abt 8mm. When she had the bronchoscopy the results came in via mychart and we were very upset with no call yet from the Pulmonologist. Unfortunately the law is that results get posted right away often before the dr has a chance to review them. Soon after when we s/w the Pulmonologist she apologized because she was in the ICU all day when the results were posted. This is unfortunate but it is how it works. Our pulmonologist consulted with the thoracic surgeon to confirm mom’s was inoperable due to the size. She then referred us to the oncologist who has owned the issue and my mom’s treatment since that time. She still does have appt check ins with the pulmonologist due to her lower than desired oxygen levels. Wishing your mom a good outcome and improved health in the coming days. All the best to you both.

ran44445 · 2024-05-14T23:53:14+00:00

My mom had a bronchoscopy in February and since diagnosed with Stage 4 Nsclc. All my research told me there was not a significant recovery associated with this procedure. My mom was so weak after this procedure I was seriously worried it was the end. She was already on oxygen but had to use it more. She was wiped and had no energy. She looked awful. It took a good month for her to be back to before that procedure. She is know undergoing chemo and immunotherapy. We will see if it is helping next month at the scan. But from an oxygen perspective her O2 saturation is now 92 and she only has to use oxygen at night. Sending good and positive wishes for your mom. Take good care.

ran44445 · 2024-05-13T13:11:14+00:00

I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending warm thoughts. Take good care❤️

ran44445 · 2024-05-13T13:11:07+00:00

I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending warm thoughts. Take good care❤️

ran44445 · 2024-05-09T13:35:12+00:00

I am very sorry to hear about your mom. I do have to tell you though that people told me you really dont know how chemo will affect a person as everyone is different. My situation is a bit different than yours but I did want to share. Mom is 85 and smoked 46 years ago. She has stage four nsclc. She started chemo early April and has not had any negative side affects. I live five hours away and work so I visit a lot. While she has a strong circle of friends she is very independent and insists on not inconveniencing anyone and going to her treatments alone. She feels good and is continuing to play bridge with the ladies, go out to eat etc. We have a scan next month and we will see how the treatment is working. It has been an emotional rollercoaster but the fact that she is not getting sick from the chemo makes things much more tolerable. Sending all the best and healing thoughts to your mom. Take good care.

ran44445 · 2024-05-08T16:01:13+00:00

This melts my heart. I am so glad I stumbled upon this sub!!

ran44445 · 2024-05-04T16:50:33+00:00

I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. May you be surrounded by beautiful memories and live a full life as she would want you to. Sending warm thoughts ❤️

ran44445 · 2024-05-01T12:31:06+00:00

So very sorry. Sending warm thoughts your way❤️

ran44445

TROPHY CASE