Mom is in stage IV colon cancer whats happening?
She was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer July 30. She has had surgery to give her a colostomy which was necessary to save her life temporary for a few more months. Mom is 79 yrs old and is so tiny weighing in at 79 lbs. She is now at home under hospice care where she is very happy instead of being at the hospital. The hospice nurse shows once/twice a week for the moment until she worsens then the visits will get more frequent. Mom was getting so strong lately and eating well and visiting with guests.. now she has a new symptom. Her tiny little feet and ankles are swelling up like little baloons. You can leave an finger indentation in them when you push on them.
What is causing the swelling I know its more than likely Edema or acities but is there really a difference between the two of them?
Does this means her kidneys are failing? Yesterday she is drinking better than the day before but urinates only once to maybe twice a day.
Is there anyone out there that has or had a loved one or friend with stage 4 and did they begin to have swelling at the feet and ankles as a beginning symptom of declining in health towards the end? I have heard that many patients begin to feel better before they begin to decline. She has felt really great the past week and a half now her feet are swelling and its completely new to us and her. What shoul we as her children expect next swellling anywhere else, loss of appetite, onger sleeping patterns, ore naps what anything will help. We are all so scared that this may be the beginning of the end for mom. If there is anything we can do to make her feel more comfortable please let us know. Thank for your responses and God Bless you all.
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I’m not certain but I don’t think the stages mean the level of how serious the cancer is, I think it pertains more to the specific location of the cancer and possible zones for metastasis. Needless to say, I really think you need to contact her doctor and speak to them about your concerns. Print this out infact. I really hope your mother makes a full recovery.
Call her doctor. He will answer the question, even though she is in hospice. Just remember that she is in stage 4, and you must understand that when hospice is called in, the end is getting close. I know it is hard, because I had to see it with my younger brother when he had cancer. It is best that you at least prepare yourself emotionally.
God bless your mother, and may she be happy and not suffer until her days are done.
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You’ve described the exact same symptoms that affected my Mother when she was dying of cancer. And yes, they do appear to get better just before they pass into a coma and then pass away. My Mother’s feet also swelled up as did her stomach. My mom’s cancer was in her lower regions, just below the stomach. She will start of sleep a lot more, and she may start to do a lot of “sleep talking”. It also depends on what medications she is on currently. My Mom was put on a “morphine pump” to ensure any pain was dealt with. Morphine is a good friend to cancer patients… it can slide them into a coma near the end which is a blessing for cancer patients. Depending on the dosage, it can also cause hallucinations, and constant mumbling and reliving past experiences. If you have any other questions, you can email me if you’d like.
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Great answers so far—-so—call her doctor’s office and ask for a way to fax or e-mail this question to them—spell-check it first. Spend a lot of time with her, be cheerful, and encourage her to contact any old friends she might want to see. Try to record her a bit, learn some old family stories…encourage her to talk about the past, her childhood, and try to be upbeat—it’s ok if you show her how worried you are, but try to set a positive tone, tell her some of the good memories she has given you, and be upbeat. Now is a good time to use a tape recorder, not a camera. If she likes the news, bring a newspaper and read to her. The more time you and your family spend with her the better you will feel, the better she will feel, and it will be a good example for your children for when, inevitably, you get old and frail. God’s blessings be with you and your loved ones.
The swelling could be a result of kidney damage, or it is a sign of heart failure. You can try to keep her feet elevated, and see if she has any diuretic medications to help resolve the swelling. I’m assuming since she is a hospice patient, that your mothers wishes are to be kept comfortable and at home with loved ones during the last stage of life, and that she is not seeking recovery.
It’s very possible that she will lose her appetite eventually, in fact, she could do any of the things that you mention in your question. I think the important thing is for you all to spend time with her, and help ensure that she is pain free and receives the support that she needs from the hospice team.