Morphine Pump for cancer patients

[Skreecheeboy]

Hey, a relative of mine has just been released from hospital after being put on a morphine pump for cancer. He's too weak to get chemo at the moment and they were trying to build him up with steroids. As far as i can remember they put you on a morphine pump when you're down to your last days don't they? Now, I'd really like to go back home to visit him but he's insisting there's nothign wrong with him and he doesnt want the fuss. I saw him on sunday and I thought he looked like he only had weeks left, possibly months. Anybody know if he might improve from this treatment or is it just to make him comfortable while he dies?

[Sqad]

//he might improve from this treatment//.............NO

////or is it just to make him comfortable while he dies?////.......YES

[Bbbananas]

I would suggest skreech, you go home and visit him soon xx

[Skreecheeboy]

Sugar that's what i feared. the stubborn old git is insisting there's nothign wrong with him! i'm laughing but the tears aren't far away....

[ummmm]

Sorry Skreech xxx

I'd go and say your goodbyes.

[Skreecheeboy]

lol, answerbank has changed the way it censors swear words...

[ummmm]

My Dad use to say that....he was even looking for work 4 weeks before he died.

[Bbbananas]

Too Fluffing right....!!

Seriously, go and visit your relative - he's being stubborn & either doesn't want a fuss or doesn't want to admit things.

[Skreecheeboy]

yeah they came up to give me my xmas presents on sunday coz he was in hospital up to xmas eve and i just stayed in edinburgh and got overtime at work. he did say he'd see me again soon tho so perhaps he knew then that it was only a matter of weeks. i think my mum's not wanting us all to come down and stay at her's while he's still there tho as we'll probably all be in the way... (it's my step dad that's not well)

[ummmm]

Skreech...it was pride that made my Dad keep saying he was fine. He also didn't want to be a burden.

[China Doll]

Yo fella!! Sorry to hear your news... Go visit him and just 'be' I guess, doesn't sound like he's up for long drawn out goodbyes and frankly I don't blame him. Have a chat, make sure you tell him you love him or whatever and be strong. Good luck mate.

[divegirl]

This may sound strange, but having lost my Dad to cancer last year there was only one good thing I could say about this disease...... It does atleast give you the chance to say goodbye.
I absolutley cherish the last few weeks I had with my Dad.....he bought me up on his own and I was able to say thank you and to tell him how much I loved him.....he had a chance to tell me what a pain in the elbow I'd been.....lol....maybe that was the morphine!
Use what time you have left with your step dad....not everyone gets the chance to say goodbye.
Lisa x

[dothawkes31]

It will be a syringe driver intarveniously giving him doses or morphine as he needs it. I expect you are thinking that because morphine weakens the heart it may be he is terminal, but it all about making him comfortable and pain free, even if it is a worse case scenario at least he is not being left to suffer. Sometimes people in his situation might be unnerved by too many 'last chance to see' visits and so i would write to him and not join the queue to see how he's doing. Just my take on it having been there.