Is there anything else than can be done?

[donna80]

Hi all, i am posting this on behalf of my father inlaw.

He is 69 and had a heart attack just over 2 years ago, think he had stem cell surgery, anyway last year he was diagnosed with terminally ill lung cancer, there is nothing they can do for this as it is attached to the heart and the lung :(.  He had radiotherapy,  and 2 weeks ago started chemotherapy, he had his injection on the Friday felt good till about Wednesday eve then came over all tired, and was in bed from 6pm wed until i told mum in-law Thursday 7pm to get him to hospital as his temp was 38.4, he is usually very active, they do alot of walking, he was even supposed to start the gym this week.  He was due to have a chemo tablet on friday just gone (week after injections) But they have not given it to him as they can not get his temp stable, and find the cause of infection.  During this time his heart rate is up to 160bpm, when they checked it last-night it was 60 then shot up to 160.

He started injections for his heart (before he was on warfin, perhaps still same but injected into his tummy?), His blood pressure is very low, they waited till Monday to consult the cardio from a different hospital (nhs for you grr) and they are trying him on a different type of medication, and been told to stop the chemo for now.  

Is there anything they can do? We are not sure if he will ever come out of hospital, and this is it. :-(

I am going to visit tomorrow and would like to mention any advice you can give about medications, and perhaps any experience with this..

Thanks in advance..

[donna80]

Hey, his cancer has not spread yet, it is still just on his lung.  But the reason they can not operate is because it is touching/to close to his valves etc.  

His left lung collapsed lastnight (the one with the tumor on) . There is no change, his heart rate is still up and he is still in hospital, I just want to scream because we are only allowed to see him 12-1pm and 7-8pm due to the swine flu epidemic.  And when we are there is never any doctors, and the nurses wont get them for us to speak to to find out whats going on.

All we know is they may be trying radiotherapy again to see if that will help with his heart rate.  

This is so scary, we want him home so badly.  

[itdood]

Sorry to hear :-(

You mentioned the lung cancer has spread to his heart.  This is called Cardiac mets.  This will often cause fluid buildup in the pericardium.   The fluid will in turn irritate the heart and make it tough to pump blood.  Quite often the pain is bad and arrhythmias will present.

Depending on his lung cancer stage, someone should make a decision whether he treats issues or moves to palliative care.  Palliative care means heading into hospice and starting a morphine drip or other care meant to comfort him.

I personally feel that cardiac mets are very painful and a not a good way to die. If the patient is strong enough, there is a procedure called a pericardial window that will drain this fluid into his abdomen and relieve the pressure on the heart.   I feel this is palliative care but it depends on the condition of the patient.