Anyone with experience of end stage Pancreatic Cancer about?

[PussinJimmyWhoooos]

Have posted on here about MIL lots before...terminal cancer. Primary in the bile duct, secondary to liver and now they think pancreas.

Liver is ok, bile duct seems ok as stent been fitted, sepsis has diminished.

However, the latest thing is pain all up and down the spinal cord and her glucose levels are becoming increasingly hard to manage. They keep increasing the insulin and this makes her fine for a few days and then they have to increase it again

It seems that its taking more and more insulin for less effect. Is this normal with pancreatic cancer? She was diabetic to start with anyway btw

What to expect? Coma or??

Any help appreciated. Will post in general health too

have no advice but have a big hug for you all. good look and love to you all

So sorry for what you are going through.
Sorry I can't help although I have a friend who's mother died of P cancer and I don't think she went into a coma.
Hope you get advice soon x

Sorry to hear things have got so bad, Puss, my FIL died of pancreatic cancer, but he wasn't diabetic. He was on a syringe driver with morphine and basically unconscious for the last few days. My DH was diabetic and as I understand things your MIL is likely to slip into a coma if her sugar levels keep rising. I know your DH is with her, I wish you all strength for the days to come. Take care x

i know a bit about Cancer but not the pancreatic type, it is very common for people with cancer to go into a coma for a while before they die.
Steve was in a coma for over a week before he died, he had to be sedated thou cos he was very aggitated.
i was wondering how things were with your MIL, is your DH still with her?

DH was ill, but aware up to the last 3 days.

It does get harder and harder to control the diabetes, but in the last 3 days dh didn't really eat.

Do you really want to know what it was like at the end (serious question?) if you do, I can tell you. It wasn't easy

So sorry that you're all going through this.

My Dad died of pancreatic and liver cancer earlier this year. It is such an aggressive and quick cancer in many cases.

It was all very sudden in that he died a week after he was diagnosed.

Even within such a short space of time the deterioration was so sudden though. One day he was still able to speak to us, the next he was asleep for 90% of the time but just about able to talk for the short spells he was awake and then for the last few days he basically was in a coma.

He was sedated though due to getting agitated and restless but, surprisingly, didn't seem to be in much pain at all.

I guess it affects people in different ways though.

Thinking of you all

All - thank you for your replies. DH is back with me now...has been for two weeks. MIL was given 6 weeks to live 8 weeks ago so I guess she's doing well considering. They haven't done any more MRIs so they can't confirm it has gone to the pancreas but the continuously rising blood sugars and the pain in her spine is indicative it has.

I've been doing some research and am at reading just how painful pancreatic cancer can be - not saying that others are not of course, but apparently, its very aggressive I've heard that people can have a Coeliac Plexus nerve block to stop the pain or a group of drugs called sclerosants to block the pain...have passed all this onto DH to pass onto them should her pain increase

So far though, it seems as if a diabetic coma is more likely....I'm kind of hoping that happens to her first because from what I've read, the end stage pain is horrendous

MB - Thanks for offering to put me in the picture as to what its like, but I'd rather not know but really brave of you to offer.

DH thinks he will see her in Jan but the more I research about pancreatic cancer, the less I'm optimistic about this. Although of course, all will be as God wills it. I haven't told him just how quick it can be though...he can't get out there until Jan due to National Service issues so why make him feel worse???

I'll not go into details Puss, but you are right not be be optimistic.

The 5 year surviail rate for mancreatic cancer is essentially zero.

Dh was a very fit, healthy man of 44 when he was diagnosed. He never smoked, he didn't drink, he cycled to work every day, and went to the gym every week. He had everything to live for. He was fit enough to cope with a massive amount of chemotherapy....he had 3x the usual amount of the first treatment, and two other treatments. Most epople wouldn't have been physically strong enough to cope with that.

and he still died.

one thing I can tell you is that Dh wasn't in pain, they made damn sure of that. He didn't need the nerve block, but that was discussed at one time.

I hope that god grants your MIL a peaceful end and I send you and your family all my love and respect

MB - thank you so much and I'm in awe of how well you cope and to be able to post on here and offer me advice is just...wow...I really do appreciate it. I find that the more I know about things, the better able I am to support DH iyswim? I guess the inevitable is a diabetic coma then?

It depends if she carries on eating/ is given a drip

If she doesn't eat (dh didn't really in the last 3 days) she will not need the insulin.

Ahh I see...she is eating - not great amounts but eating and she has a protein shake that they buy from the hospital that is giving her some energy, although not as much as it used to so I guess that is positive.

I was kind of thinking ok, she maybe spared the pain and not realise as will be in a diabetic coma but I'm sensing now that this may not be the case....of course, no-one can predict but...bloody hell though, sounds as if it could be in the next couple of weeks as it seems so aggressive and fast....

positive that it still works that is....not positive it isn't working as much!!!

The end was very fast for dh, and your dh would be wise to be 'braced' for it.

DH had a hot air balloon trip on the sunday.

Was admitted to the Hospice on the Wednesday. Was begining to be 'out of it' for longer periods on the Friday, gradually became iller and iller, and died in the morning of the Monday.

But on the Friday he was well enough to recieve his MBE and joke about it with us.

The end was swift, which was a blessing.

Oh arse..... so weird though as she seems quite up and at it atm but I guess that's the nature of cancer...what a fecker..

So sorry for the losses of everyone that has been kind enough to reply and help me help DH through this

I would not count on DH seeing your MIL in January, FIL was diagnosed in the March and was gone in just over 3 months. So sorry for what you are going through . Take care x

Oh dear...we are entering into the third month since diagnosis now...mind you, its secondary in the pancreas not primary, but I guess its aggressive either way...

MartianBishop - just popping back in to ask a question if you don't mind (and anyone else that may know the answer). Dh called his mum tonight and thank God, she has been stable for this week - mobile, eating (although a little), same pain dosage and back pain allieviated with massage....glucose levels very high but being managed with insulin...

DH is so pleased but I'm worried as have heard of people plateauing out before....is this being stable normal? What to expect next?

Sending strength to you all, Puss

Hiya Boys - how are you?

We are good

DS2 fell down the srtairs today -top to bottom.

That was scary.

No injuries just jangled nerves.

Phew.

Ohh gawd... Boys are hard work....going off topic a bit, but were your two bad sleepers? DS (nearly 2 and half) screeches out in his sleep loads...I can only assume some form of night terrors?

Hey puss - I'm going to FB you, I have some news.

WMMC -oh no....