My dad has colorectal cancer in stage four. The doctor wont operate becuase it's already spread to his liver and lungs. He wanted to start chemo right away. The doctor has told him to be careful in the cold weather, watch his diet, be careful with hot and cold food/drinks, and to rinse his mouth out with listerine througout the day. He has done everything by the book but....HE'S STILL SMOKING! This isnt the cause of his cancer...we dont think...but he just wont quit! Will the chemo even work if he is still smoking???
2006-10-23 05:26:36 · 15 answers · asked by justwondering 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I forgot...he went in today for his chemo and they are going to admit him to the hospital for a week becuase he's dehydrated from vomiting and he has an infection in his mouth. Is this infection likely caused from teh smoking??? And he wont tell the doctor that he's smoking either.
2006-10-23 05:33:43 · update #1
The chemo will still work if he is smoking. Encouraging someone with Stage 4 cancer to quit is probably not a top priority. His life expectancy is limited. If he enjoys smoking, why stop him now?
2006-10-23 09:37:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am so sorry you and your family are going through this. The only thing you can do is let him make his own decision about the smoking. It won't make any difference. It won't interfere with the chemo. Please don't even mention the smoking any more to him. He has enough to deal with in his own mind right now, and his cigarettes are a comfort to him. They have been his best friend through thick and thin, and there is no reason for him to stop now. I am a smoker, and if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't quit either. Stopping smoking will not prolong his life. I know this is hard for non-smokers to understand. They think it is all a matter of will-power, but that's not all. It is a physical and mental dependency that doesn't go away over night by stopping smoking. So please let him alone and let him try to enjoy his last days as he wishes.
Many times chemo affects the appetite, and he may not even feel like eating. Nausea is usually an issue, too. Be sure he gets somthing for the nausea if he has it---there are drugs to help. It is so important for him to eat a well balanced diet, so if the nausea can be controlled, he may feel more like eating.
I was the caregiver for a person who went through 3 sessions of chemo and then lung surgery. There were times when he got so tired of being in the house, as he was used to going someplace every day. If your dad gets "cabin fever" and the weather is not too cold, maybe taking him for a short ride in the car would lift his spirits a little. Sometimes a change of scenery helps. But don't let him get too tired.
The sores in his mouth may be thrush---this is usually common in people whose immune system is low, and has nothing to do with smoking.
Please just be supportive of your dad's decisions. Try to encourage him to eat and follow the doctor's instructions. But don't be surprised if he won't do it. He may feel that it's no use, and why should he bother. Talk to him about his illness if he wants to. He may be angry and depressed. This is normal, too. Just let him know you love him and always will. Your dad may change a lot, but deep inside, he's still your daddy, and don't let his behavior change your feellings for him.
My sympathies to you as you go through this difficult time in your life.
2006-10-23 06:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by Cat Lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can still smoke through chemo. It doesn't make it less effective. Let him be happy through what time the chemo allows him to have longer. Cancer is stressful enough without having the added stress of giving up an addiction that is comparable to crack. Is he on any meds to help with getting sick while on chemo? I was on Emend and although it is expensive, I had no problems with nausea. Kytril is also pretty good and Nuelasta (along with others)can help with low blood counts that can cause an illness, although for some people the side effects are worse than being sick. Let him be happy and make many wonderful memories in the time that he has left.
2006-10-23 12:41:54 · answer #3 · answered by Jenna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smoking doesn't have an effect on the chemo working or not, so I hope you can put that part of your worries to rest. It's a difficult enough situation as it is. I'm very sorry that you and your family have to go through this.
As people have pointed out earlier, your dad's stage 4 cancer unfortunately means that he won't get better. Hopefully the chemo will prolongue his life and help him to have less pain. My personal opinion is that you shouldn't bug him about quitting smoking in this stage of his life. I'd say: please let him be. Try to talk to him as much as possible about his life and the things he believes in. You have valuable time at your disposal now, please use it before it's too late.
I wish you strength and I will be thinking of you and your family.
2006-10-24 04:14:35 · answer #4 · answered by Judith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dad was stage 3b lung cancer. Once he found out he had cancer, he said why quit now. because he already had the cancer, and they gave him no hope. He smoked all through his chemo and radaiton. They gave him 6 months to a year and said that by takeing the treatments it may prolong it, but he died 3 months after being told he had the cancer. God bless You and Your father, and Know what the Lord above has a plan for us all, even if we don't like it.
2006-10-23 05:37:06 · answer #5 · answered by mag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smoking isn't going to make any differance at this stage .. My boyfriend has a stage 4 brain tumor and smokes about 2 packs a day .. Some days even more and the doctors don't say a thing.. I am the one going nuts, but I know he doesn't have alot longer with us so I just stick my head out the window if I need some fresh air. Just love your dad and do what you can to make him comfortable.
2006-10-23 09:55:39 · answer #6 · answered by Missy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My best friend was first diagnosed at stage 4 colon cancer, and lived about 11 months after the first diagnosis. She started chemo right away, and went through 6 months of REALLY hard therapy. After she finished her chemo, they did another look at the cancer and found that it had then spread to her bones, after the bones was the heart and lungs.. . .What I'm really trying to say is this may be it for him, as HORRIBLE as this is to say to you. If you dad wants to smoke 2 packs a day, get drunk, get high, WHATEVER he can to make himself comfortable, he should. Spend as much time with him as you can. Your Dad knows what is happening. He wants to go knowing that you are happy and have good memories of him. I will pray for you and your father. Always know that God has his ways. R.I.P Shannon, Sept. 2005. 33 years young. We are always together forever!
2006-10-23 08:42:57 · answer #7 · answered by One Race The Human Race 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dad may think that he is dying anyway and the two questions he is most likely asking himself about the cancer is ? Why me? and why should i stop smoking if i am going to die anyway..
He will eventually get sick enough to quit smoking..But this is his choice.. Maybe he is tired of being sick..
My dad when through all kinds of cancer that spread through out his whole body. and said when he quit is when he got it. don't know if that is true but that is when he noticed it first. Remember this could carry on for years. If you have any say so in his treatments try not to let them use him as a guinea pig. it is very hard for them to handle and they are in pain so talk alot and do what you think best..Just make sure that you are there for them. Just remember that alot of people do survive this so never give up hope.. something new may come out that can take care of all of this.. Make doctors appointments with him so that the both of you know what is going on and you both can make decisions on what to do together..
My husband also has prostate cancer and he don't understand anything they say so i have to make all appointments with him to be able to explain it to him.. it is hard but keep up the good work with your dad and just love him and be there for him always.
2006-10-23 05:43:27 · answer #8 · answered by Sandy F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the chemo will still work,no smoking did not cause this type of cancer ! as long as he is doing every else the doctor has told him,it will be ok. Stage four plus lungs and liver...things look bleak. let him enjoy his cig's don't nag at him,be cool...enjoy the time you have with him,don't spend it harpin' on him about smoking.
2006-10-23 05:31:29 · answer #9 · answered by vanislandwitch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a throat cancer survivor and I just had 2 uncles die from colon cancer.
Stage 4 as you must know, means he is terminal. The chemo is kind of a last ditch effort. If he wants to smoke now it isn't going to make any difference except cut a few days off from what he has left.
I'm sorry.
2006-10-23 05:31:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋