My mother is in the final stages of liver cancer and is not expected to
live much more than 6 weeks. She has fluid buildup in the abdomen and
has had it drained twice, 5 quarts the first time and 2.5 the second only
two weeks later. Not all was drained the second time. What myself and
my family want to know is what to expect in the end. Medically, what
will finally cause her to pass away? We know the liver will finally fail
completely but what will the the signs and process we will have to deal
with as it happens? Any assistance will be helpful in dealing with this
as it happens and will be much appreciated. Email replies will be
appreciated. Thanks,
Wayne
In article <3ndhoq$…@ukelele.qnet.com>,
Wayne Boline <jayh…@qnet.com> wrote:
>My mother is in the final stages of liver cancer and is not expected to
>live much more than 6 weeks. She has fluid buildup in the abdomen and
>has had it drained twice, 5 quarts the first time and 2.5 the second only
>two weeks later. Not all was drained the second time. What myself and
>my family want to know is what to expect in the end. Medically, what
>will finally cause her to pass away? We know the liver will finally fail
>completely but what will the the signs and process we will have to deal
>with as it happens? Any assistance will be helpful in dealing with this
>as it happens and will be much appreciated. Email replies will be
>appreciated. Thanks,
Based on my uncles death from hepatitus, I believe the actual
mechanism of death will be indirect, toxins will build up which
take out different organ systems. In my uncles case his kidneys
were failing so he had water retention, but also his platelet
production had been reduced to zero. He bled to death from his
mouth and rectum, so I guess it was his lack of platelets that
killed him. He was very yellow for many weeks from the billirubin
build up, he was in no pain and his mind was sharp and lucid to
the end. He had no appetite. We were warned to expect his mind
to dull from the toxins and that he might slip into a coma.
I don’t know if this is typical. Since my father’s liver is almost
totally consumed by colon cancer and he has only a couple of weeks
to live (supposedly), I am also very interested in this question.
Does every liver failure result in a period of jaundice?
Do some liver failures like those due to cancer from liver tissue
itself, result in cancer tissue that is able to continue some liver
functions?
—
Personal, not work info: Martin E. Lewitt My opinions are
Domain: lew…@swcp.com P.O. Box 729 my own, not my
Phone: (505) 845-7561 Sandia Park, NM 87047-0729 employer’s.
It is always difficult but usually painless.Love ones tend to suffer more
then the pt. Breathing tends to become shallow and require more
effort until the person stops.The mind by this time has too become tired and
no pain should occur or the will to live.What to do depends upon how you fell
at the time.Physical contact helps