My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2013 at the age of 90. Because of her age she opted out of all treatment. She was very healthy, never smoked, drank and was very obedient to a healthy diet. She came from a family of 7 and was the only one not to have diabetes. She did have a stent put in to help drain the bile. The only medication she was taking was a thyroid replacement. It wasn't until December of 2014, she started not feeling well and the doctors discovered the stent was clogged, they did their best to clear it out as much as possible. The last 6 weeks of her life she started getting tired, little to no appetite but was always as spunky as she could be. The day she passed she was vomiting black stuff, which was a sign her liver shut down. She could not get comfortable so the hopice nurse advised a small dose of morphine and a lorazepan. My mom being so healthy at first refused the morphine becuase she was not in pain, but once she knew it would make her comfortable she agreed to take. Within the hour after taking these meds she said "I'm dieing, she rolled over and was gone" 2 1/2 months short of her 92nd birthday. I live in a different state and traveled back to see her at least 3 times a year. She lived with just the stent for almost 18 months and enjoyed that time in her life, there were times when I thougth the doctors misdiagnosed her, she was so active. I believe we will be together again some day, but its so hard with her gone. She seemed so invinsible. I had to share this story becuase of the quality of live she was able to enjoy for the almost 18 months after being diagnosed. She was the only person in her family to have cancer. So it was so surreal to us all, she was so healthy. I am just thankful she didn't suffer long.
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My mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2013 at the age of 90. Because of her age she opted out of all treatment. She was very healthy, never smoked, drank and was very obedient to a healthy diet. She came from a family of 7 and was the only one not to have diabetes. She did have a stent put in to help drain the bile. The only medication she was taking was a thyroid replacement. It wasn't until December of 2014, she started not feeling well and the doctors discovered the stent was clogged, they did their best to clear it out as much as possible. The last 6 weeks of her life she started getting tired, little to no appetite but was always as spunky as she could be. The day she passed she was vomiting black stuff, which was a sign her liver shut down. She could not get comfortable so the hopice nurse advised a small dose of morphine and a lorazepan. My mom being so healthy at first refused the morphine becuase she was not in pain, but once she knew it would make her comfortable she agreed to take. Within the hour after taking these meds she said "I'm dieing, she rolled over and was gone" 2 1/2 months short of her 92nd birthday. I live in a different state and traveled back to see her at least 3 times a year. She lived with just the stent for almost 18 months and enjoyed that time in her life, there were times when I thougth the doctors misdiagnosed her, she was so active. I believe we will be together again some day, but its so hard with her gone. She seemed so invinsible. I had to share this story becuase of the quality of live she was able to enjoy for the almost 18 months after being diagnosed. She was the only person in her family to have cancer. So it was so surreal to us all, she was so healthy. I am just thankful she didn't suffer long.
April 18, 2015 - 12:29amThis Comment
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