Dealing with Advanced Cancer

[Mary]

Living with Serious Illness

Coping with Advanced Cancer from the National Cancer Institute
* Learning more about ways you can help yourself may ease some of your concerns.
* Your treatment may change, but as always, you deserve to ask for and receive good medical attention from your health care team and support from your caregivers.
* It's important to talk about your worries, frustrations, and problems, and get support from others. In fact, it may be one of the best things you can do for yourself.
* As your medical care changes, you still have many choices. You can choose the way you wish to live each day.

American College of Physicians - Home Care Guide for Advanced Cancer
For family, friends, and hospice workers caring for persons with advanced cancer at home, when quality of life is the primary goal

Advanced Cancer Guide at CancerBacup
Coping with advanced cancer, dying with cancer, death & bereavement

For Patients and Families Facing Life-Threatening Illness
Extensive Resources from HospiteNet

Silvercross.com assists people in making decisions about the purchase of stairlfts and related equipment for the disabled. They can also assist in locating used equipment which is much cheaper than purchasing new. If your insurance will not pay for the equipment, a medical prescription may help you qualify for a medical tax deduction.

Growth House: Guide To Death, Dying, Grief, Bereavement, and End of Life Issues

Helping your child deal with a parent's terminal illness

Talking to your children about death

Pain Management for End of Life

[Mary]

Myths about Dying

Many pervasive cultural misconceptions about dying exist that can interfere with people receiving the best possible care at the end of life. Debunking these myths and understanding the realities can allow caregivers to better support dying persons and their loved ones.

"Death is too frightening to talk about" "It's not normal to talk bout death" - Death has been remote, hidden away in the back rooms of hospitals. There is a taboo about talking of death even through death is a normal part of life. Everything that lives dies. Death can be a positive experience not only for the dying person but also for family and friends. In order to be a positive experience we must recognize the needs of dying persons as well as the needs of their caregivers. The family must be aware that dying persons have special needs that can be met.

"People die as they have lived" - This is generally true, yet it is also possible for people to change. If people receive excellent care during their last illness there can be great opportunity reminiscence, for forgiveness of past difficulties, and for spiritual growth. This is only possible if there is good communication and openness among patient, caregivers, and family.

"Dying is always painful" - This is one of the most common misconceptions about dying. Pain can be relieved safely without any danger of death or addiction. Hospice caregivers and most doctors are familiar with the proper use of analgesic drugs. When given in the correct dose at the right time, pain can be relieved without sedating the patient. When pain is relieved, patients can experience a good quality of life until the time that death occurs. Good pain management does not shorten the course of life. On the contrary, patients who receive excellent pain management tend to live longer than expected.

"While dying, people see a white light, a tunnel, etc." - In general, this is not true. As people die there are physical and chemical changes in the brain that result in a gradual loss of consciousness. Some people experience what are known as delusions, illusions, or hallucinations, similar to dreaming while still awake. Some persons relate seeing relatives who have previously died. In almost all instances, these last visions are usually pleasant and offer comfort to the dying person, especially regarding the prospect of reuniting with deceased loved ones.