Wednesday, June 24, 2009

What signs do you look for when someone is dying of lung cancer and their time is almost up

What signs do you look for when someone is dying of lung cancer and their time is almost up?
I have a friend who is in the final stages of lung cancer. Her nursed say it is now up to God. She is not responding much to any of us. I am staying with her night and day now and I want to know what is happening as it happens. I also want to know what more I can do to make her last days easier for her, or if there is anything that can be done. It is so hard watching someone that use weigh over 230lbs, lose down to under 8olbs and she use to be so full of energy and life and now she just lays there. So if anybody knows what signs to look for and of anything that might make her more comfortable, I would really appreciate your help.. Thanks
Other - Business & Finance - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Smoker's cough that persists or becomes intense. Persistent chest, shoulder, or back pain unrelated to pain from coughing. Increase in volume of sputum. Wheezing. Nonsmoker's cough that persists for more than 2 weeks. Change in color of sputum. Blood in sputum. Repeated episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis. Other symptoms that can be related to late-stage lung cancer can include: Fatigue. Loss of appetite. Headache, bone pain, aching joints. Bone fractures not related to accidental injury. Neurologic symptoms, such as unsteady gait and/or episodic memory loss. Neck and facial swelling. Unexplained weight loss.
2 :
Is a morphine patch being applied? If so, see that it's changed periodically as recommended by the doctor. If you're asking what signs to look for to know that the end is near, look for a significantly slowed heart rate and very slow and shallow breathing. At the end, listen for a long and noticably louder exhale. That'll be her final breath when she gives up her spirit.

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