I need referrals to a good Palliative Care full resource center. Share your experience if you’ve used them.
I care for my father in my home who is 74 and has stage 4 lung cancer . He is going to begin chemo and I’m freaking out. I live in Granada Hills, Ca. Please help!
I am wishing you both the best.
It's HIS cancer and he will have to deal with it--you being upset won't help. (This said as a cancer survivor).
Make sure that you are listed as his primary contact so you can talk to his drs.
And I agree that if he is choosing chemo for his cancer TX, he might not qualify for palliative care, per se, but may qualify for some kind of pain management. I know what I was 'offered'--I had to ask for most things, but chemo is done in the hospital and usually the patient goes home. Not always, it's different for each person. I never even had nausea bad enough to throw up, and they gave me anti-emetics to control the nausea and I never took one. Pain pills, yes, and anti anxiety meds. Sleeping pills too.
Just provide good meals and let him rest. I got malnourished b/c I didn't accept any outside care--I shouldn't have been so 'brave'. My DH was unable to handle my bald head and endless fatigue and he kind of checked out, emotionally. DON'T DO THAT!
Just be there for him, provide a calm and peaceful environment. Have faith that the chemo will give him many more years of life.
But being that your father is wanting chemo for his cancer, he will not qualify for any palliative or hospice care as they don't allow any type of medical treatments while under their care and only provide "comfort care" until he would die.
I hope and pray that your father does well with his treatments. God bless.