My Father has advanced pancreatic cancer, what should I expect?

Question

I live out of town and am visiting this weekend. The last time I saw him he was totally healthy and now, six months later, has advanced pancreatic cancer. What should I expect when I see him, how will he look, any other advice?

Answer 1

I am so sorry for your news.I wish you all peace. Do you know if it has spread, how large is the tumor and if he will elect to operate or receive Palliative care?

our pancreas produces a number of enzymes that break down food so your body can absorb the nutrients it contains. But pancreatic tumors often interfere with the production or flow of these enzymes. As a result, your body can't easily absorb nutrients, which can lead to diarrhea and severe weight loss.

Other complications of pancreatic cancer include:

* Problems with glucose metabolism. Tumors that affect the ability of your pancreas to produce insulin can lead to problems with glucose metabolism, including diabetes.
* Jaundice, sometimes with severe itching. Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes can develop when a pancreatic tumor blocks your bile duct, the thin tube that carries bile from your liver to your duodenum. The yellow color comes from excess bilirubin. Bile acids may cause intense itching when they build up in your skin.
* Pain. Large pancreatic tumors may press on surrounding nerves, leading to back or abdominal pain that may sometimes be severe. Often, your doctor can prescribe medications that help relieve pain. When medications aren't enough, cutting or injecting alcohol into some of the affected nerves may be an option.
* Metastasis. This is the most serious complication of pancreatic cancer. Your pancreas is surrounded by a number of vital organs, including your stomach, spleen, liver, lungs and intestine. Because pancreatic tumors are rarely discovered in the early stages, they often have time to spread to these organs or to nearby lymph nodes.

Answer 2

Probably much thinner and weaker. Little or no appetite. Possibly jaundiced. Possibly in severe pain.

Just listen to him and try and decide whether his needs are being met. Most people that are dying want some resolution with family members so often you just need to listen carefully to what they have to say rather than talking a lot about their illness.

Pancreatic cancer is often very painful and sometimes people of an older generation want to tough out pain rather than take pain medicine. Find out whether hospice is involved yet and if not then try to get the ball rolling.

Good luck with your visit. This visit can turn out to be very meaningful for both of you.

http://www.hospicenet.org/html/preparing_for.html

Answer 3

I'm sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but pancreatic cancer is one of the worst and most fatal of all cancers. All that you can do for him now is to be there with him, comfort him, and let him know that you'll be alright when he's gone.

If he's gone through chemotherapy, he might be bald, very thin, and extremely weak.
It will be a shock, no doubt. Just know that his pain will be over soon...
Remember him for the man who he was, not the man who is he right now.

Answer 4

You can see a variety of things. I would not be surprised if he was a little thin. May have some swelling in his legs and arms. May be jaundiced (yellow). May be very tired and weak.
He may not have any of the above. If I were you, I would ask someone close to him how he looks to prepare yourself.
Whatever you do, prepare yourself. Pray and tell your dad you love him and just hold him.
My dad died last January and I sat for hours holding his warm hand because I knew I would never be able to feel his warmth again after he was gone. He died holding my hand. I miss him terribly. There is no one in the world that loves you like your dad.

Answer 5

The prognosis is not good.
You can try some alternative things. Like Essiac, Ge-132 and Comitris . I know some cases of partial recovery

Answer 6

I am sorry, my aunt had this and it wasn't a pretty sight. But, the best thing to do is for you to spend as much as time with him! talk to him tell him all the things you didn't say before! assure him that everything will be ok and for him to be strong. He might not look the way you remember him but he is always going to look that way in your mind. Good luck!

Answer 7

He will look thin and gaunt, hopefully he is on a morphine drip. This is not a pleasand way to go. My X father in law died of this.