How can we keep Mom comfortable and relieve bone pain?
You ask a lot of good questions. Let's take them one at a time.
We use our bones with nearly every movement (including breathing and eating). With osteosarcoma, pain can be highly magnified and, unfortunately, usually increases with time as the cancer advances. Because this pain usually comes from inside the bone, there is little besides pain medicines that are given to help it subside. However, depending on her age and agility, you may want to encourage her to exercise slowly and gently (as with yoga or walking) and to soak in a warm bath afterwards. Some patients also find relief with meditation or hynotherapy.
But back to pain medicine -- One of the downsides of pain medicine is the cause of constipation, or inability to have a bowel movement. Be sure to keep her hydrated with plenty of liquids, such as water, broth, sports drinks and juice. My father's oncologist recommended prune juice as a natural way to work the waste through the system.
In terms of survival, the median rate with Stage IV is 20% at 5 years from diagnosis, but you need to directly ask her oncologist for the prognosis, especially without chemotherapy.
In terms of a diet, understand that she will probably want less and less food as time goes on, and she will likely lose weight. One of the terrible characteristics of cancer is that it robs the rest of the body of nutrients to help the tumor grow. You'll want to encourage her to eat small meals when she can. Try nutritional supplements or drinks (like Ensure and fruit smoothies), and flavorful, light meals without a lot of red meat or dairy, and if she's still having trouble with constipation, go light on the fiber.
Good luck.
My mother is in the same boat. Her RCC spread to her lungs, intestine, bones, and now, her liver. When you said she was still taking bone treatment, does that mean radiation? That is what my mother was doing. It did help her pain temporarily, but since the latest treatments had to go through her chest she developed swallowing problems as a side effect. She is on hospice now and I had the same question as you - how long does she have with her liver metastisized? No one can give us an answer, but I suppose if her coloring gets yellow, it will be a sign that her liver is failing. Pain relief is the biggest problem right now as bone mets are usually extremely painful. She is on a combo of long term pain meds and codiene for the break through pain. She, too, has had problems with constipation. Right now she eats like a bird, mainly Boost and water, so she isn't as having as much trouble was when she was eating. Frankly, when she was eating, we encouraged her to eat anything she wanted because there were so few things that sounded good to her. The previous response had many good suggestions for you and I can't really add anything new. I just feel like a kindered spirit going through similar experiences with my mom. Sending positive thoughts to you and your mother.
My wife has Stage IV colon cancer. She is able to maintain bowel activity by eating many small meals, often flavored with ginger. Flat Ginger Ale settles her stomach.
Also, you might talk to your doctor about Reglan. It is working well for us.
First, fire her doctor. There is no reason a person should be in pain. Well, actually, there is. Most doctors are afraid that the patient will become addicted (how stupid is that?). They are also afraid of being called on the carpet for prescribing too much pain medicine. Then, have here seen by a "pain doctor" who will keep her comfortable.That's all they do and they are not afraid of government/medical interference.
