'What is reaction to radiation therapy? What is the disease? What now?' posted by Phia @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Phia — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:33:01 -0000

Well, I found out what was going on. He was having an extremely bad reaction to dexamethasone. His cancer was doing really well but unfortunately after a very distressing time for him, he died of the reactions to the drug. ON his death certificate is 'pneumonia' as a cause of death though the doctor told me it wasn't pneumonia an hour or so before my father died.

I find this dreadful and I don't trust drugs or the people who prescribe them. It was a dangerous drug, esp for the young and the elderly but no special care was taken to make sure my father was OK. Even when I was reporting that he was in trouble, it seems no one put two and two together. Either that or they didn't care - neither option is good.

It makes me wonder how many people die of their treatment rather than their disease? How many drugs are there that are that dangerous but given out without care?

Now I am in grief and I am having trouble getting through the prossess - a life long journey - because it just wasn't right and everyone is pretending that it wasn't them.

'What is reaction to radiation therapy? What is the disease? What now?' posted by Phia @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

Phia — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:42:07 -0000

I am really confused. I am caring for my elderly father who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August. I moved him thousands of miles to live with me so I could help him through the treatments etc.
He has had a fortnight of radiotherapy to his skull, six weeks ago. When he finished the radiotherapy, he could walk, though he used a stick it was mostly for reassurance. Now he can hardly stand and just manages to walk with a frame on wheels. I am told this could be the dexamethasone he is on but no one is sure. He is now totally incontinent, where this hadn't been a problem before.
The district nurses come once a week and are full of good cheer and their case plan for him includes removing him from their books because he will be stable and effectively well - though not cured - in a couple of months time. I have asked for his Oncologist to give a home visit - he won't less a GP says to do so. I have asked my father's GP to do a home visit but she is reluctant. I don't know why, and keeps saying that it is probably time for him to go to hospital because I am getting tired. I want him here and feel I am coping - just ;) She hasn't seen him, she is relying on my assessment of him and I have no idea how he is. Is it still the radiotherapy? Is it the dexamethasone? Is it the disease? Is it because his life has fallen apart because of the disease? I am not qualified to make this assessment - I have never dealt with anything like this before. If he is dying that is sad but it is OK and if this is his death from multiple myeloma then he is doing well with it. If it is a hiatus in his 'recovery' then how do I do the best for my father - do I let him just lie in bed, which is what he wants, do I get him up and doing? How can I know the difference. Anyone got any suggestions about what might be going on?

Recent Posts in 'What is reaction to radiation therapy? What is the disease? What now?' | Caring.com

'What is reaction to radiation therapy? What is the disease? What now?' posted by Phia @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}

'What is reaction to radiation therapy? What is the disease? What now?' posted by Phia @ {post.created_at.to_s(:post_time)}