Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/30/2008

Question
My father went into the hospital about three months ago for what we thought was a stroke, but after testing we found out that he has lung cancer which has also spread to his brain. My father is 70 years old and the doctor has told us that he has about 4 to 6 months to live because the cancer is in its final stage, this was three months ago. During the past three months he has been taking steroids to reduce swelling and has also undergone a full treatment of radiation and chemotherapy. The doctors say that there is nothing else that they can do. But my father has been acting strange he sleeps a lot, becomes very confused at times, cant remember things, has bladder control problems, yells at everyone especially my mom who does nothing but help, he refuses to take his herbs but he will take the steroids, he also refuses to eats and has no appetite at all, he doesn't even want to shower. And recently he was just in a car accident but does not remember what happened he just says that the car ran into the wall but does not know why. So we have taken his keys to keep him from driving. We also had hospice come in to help administer his medicine and they have also provided us with a free oxygen machine because we had been renting one before so that helps alot. But he does not like the nurses and curses at them when they try to check his vitals, so we have asked them just to send one person once a week instead of three different people 3 times a week.  But I am really concerned about him because he is very delusional and is starting to become very hostile as well and has been sleeping a lot lately. Is this the beginning of the end? How much longer do you think he can go on like this?

Answer
Unfortunately this is the beginning of the end. He will become more and more confused, may show stroke like symptoms even epileptic fits. He will sleep more and more. When he sleeps all the time the end is near. He will then drift into a coma and then pass away. There will be little pain if any. Probably he can only survive a few more months at most. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!