Final Stages of Cancer

"But when I first got cancer, after the initial shock and the fear and paranoia and crying and all that goes with cancer-that word means to most people ultimate death-I decided to see what I could do to take that negative and use it in a positive way." ~ Herbie Mann

Dealing with cancer, be it in person, or knowing that a loved one is dealing with the final stages of cancer, can be the hardest thing to do. When a person is said to be in the last stage of cancer, in other words, it means that almost all the options of treatment have exhausted! Most people associate the last phases of cancer with death, and the process to face this fact is something that nobody would want to go through. This article will help you understand the symptoms that occur in this condition during the last stage, and what can one expect.

Final Stages of Cancer: Symptoms

We all are aware of the fatal consequences of cancer, and it becomes more difficult when someone known is going through this condition. The symptoms also depends upon the type of cancer one is dealing with. Mentioned below are the final stages of some types of cancer.

Final Stages of Lung Cancer

During the final stages of lung cancer, the cancerous tumor in the lungs enables the cancer to spread in the other body parts as well. The options for the cure is minimal, almost nil! However, there are treatments which can help the patient fight with the condition in a comparatively easier way. So, what happens in the last stage of lung cancer? Have a look.

• Fluid is deposited around the lungs of the patient.
• Shortness of breath is likely to occur due to the fluid build up!
• With the spread of lung cancer, specially into the airways, the patient might encounter obstructions or even bleeding!
• It is common for lung cancer to spread to the chest and spine bone. A constant pain in these bones is noticed in the last stage of lung cancer.
• Constant weight loss is also one of the common symptoms in the last stage of lung cancer.
• If the lung cancer has spread to the brain, then symptoms like headaches, speech problems, weakness, and seizures are common.

Final Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

The last stage of pancreatic cancer is also known as Metastatic Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and is considered to be extremely fatal. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in the initial stages and is mostly detected in the end stage when the cancer has spread to other areas like the lungs, liver, and other parts of the abdomen. When a person is in the end stage of pancreatic cancer, he/she may suffer from the following.

• Severe and stabbing pain in all parts of the abdomen due to the presence of tumors.
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Severe itchiness in the skin due to accumulation of bile duct.

Final Stages of Liver Cancer

Stage IV liver cancer is said to be the last stage of liver cancer. The last resort for this condition would be a liver transplant, if possible. Mentioned below are the consequences that stage 4 liver cancer may bring along.

• Many patients may develop cirrhosis which is one of the final stages of liver cancer, making the liver completely unable to perform its functions.
• Loss of appetite is another symptom which appears in the final stages of liver cancer.
• Another symptom of the last stage liver cancer is high fever.
• Jaundice too, is one of the symptom.
• It is during the last stages that the liver stops working and that the cancer spreads to other areas of the body. This may lead to breathing problems and also cause pain in the bones as well the right side of the body! The severity of pain varies from person to person.
• During the last stage of liver cancer, the patient usually experiences loss of appetite and a change in sleeping patterns. The patient is fatigued and sleepy most of the time.

Final Stages of Brain Cancer

When the brain cancer has spread to the nearby areas to such an extent that it cannot be controlled and cured any longer, it is known as the final stage of brain cancer or stage 4 brain cancer. The pressure on the tumors in the brain may make the patient behave in unexpected ways during the final stage. Mentioned below are the symptoms of final stage of brain cancer.

• Confusion and hallucination
• Irritable and violent behavior
• Significant weight loss
• Impairment in memory
• Limited range of motion
• Sleeping for longer hours and experiencing fatigue
• Pain and weakness in the body
• Difficulty in communicating with others

Physical Changes in the Last stages of Cancer

Apart from the aforementioned consequences of the last stages of different types of cancer, mentioned below are some noticeable changes in the body that takes place. These are:

• Restlessness in movements
• Changes in breathing patterns
• Difficulty in swallowing food
• Making noises while breathing
• Cold legs, arms, feet, and hands
• Loss of bladder control
• Difficulty in waking up from sleep and spending most of the time in sleeping.
• Loss of consciousness

Emotional Changes in the Last Stages of Cancer

A person coping with a fatal illness and living it each minute, will also go through some emotional changes in the final stage of cancer. These changes are listed as follows.

• Some people may just stop fighting with their condition and let go. They may accept the condition as their fate and make peace with the situation, waiting for their life to come to an end. These people cease to communicate much with others and spend their time in praying.
• On the other hand there are people who tend to get angry, fearful, and even violent during the final days of cancer.
• Most of the people claim to see people that have already passed away and claim that they see a white light.
• The final stage also makes the patient very quiet, most of them stop communicating completely but can hear each and everything around. Therefore, it is advisable to always keep them happy and create a light environment around them.
• Due to chemical changes in the body or brain, the patient may shout, scream, or violently push you away.

Seeing a person go through this stage and feeling totally helpless, thinking that there is nothing you can do to make the person feel better can be devastating! But you are wrong. You can help them by constantly being there for them. By telling them that you love them and that there is nothing in this world which is more important than them. The feeling that your loved ones are there with you and fighting the final stages of cancer along with you can be very helpful and supportive in itself. After all, love and support is all that a person wants from the first till the last day of his/her life.