How do I know if it's the right time for my father with lung cancer to enter hospice?
It's tough to know what the right course of action is when you have limited information, but let's talk about what you do know. If he was diagnosed in November, that means that they have a baseline of what his illness was then. For example, they will have scans and other images that will show where and what size the cancer is. Also, if he's getting chemo every three weeks, he may have already had five or six rounds. It's customary for healthcare professionals to do periodic checkups to see the effects of the chemotherapy. They often repeat tests used in diagnosis to see what has changed -- usually size and spread. Some cancers do not respond to chemotherapy. It sounds like your father's case was not only aggressive but also later stage. If he has an aggressive cancer, they will be able to see right away if the chemo is imparing the cancer's growth.
If they're prescribing hospice now, it's likely because the cancer has continued to grow and could be spreading or impairing other organs. As you know, they suggest this program of care to comfort when the prognosis is 6 months or less to live. He may still be able to walk around and do things for himself for a while, but it's hard to say how long he will be able to do that. With labored breathing, the rest of him will have less energy and ability, as oxygen is needed through the system.
I would suggest that you ask to be involved in his hospice care. If he lets you, ask specifically about what they can help him with and what his path is likely to be as the cancer progresses. If he doesn't want you to be involved or continues to give you limited information, continue to listen and visit as much as you can, but understand you cannot help him more than that. Good luck to you.
