Hi all,
For background, my dad (65) was diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC (mets to bones and lymph nodes) back in April (7 months ago). He started the standard cocktail of chemo and then switched to immunotherapy (Keytruda) once his biomarkers came back and his PDLs qualified him. His scans showed in late July that the immunotherapy seemed to be working—the primary tumor in his right lung had shrunk and there was no growth elsewhere. But then his next scans a couple of cycles later showed growth in the primary tumor but his oncologist was unsure whether it was the cancer growing or an infection. Fast forward to his last scans in November and it was confirmed more growth in the primary tumor and in the lymph nodes in his neck, armpits, etc. His oncologist took him off immunotherapy and suggested he enroll in the “one and only available clinical trial” available to him but he was sorted into the control group (odds were 50/50) and received the standard of care (docatexal) three weeks ago. He has gone down hill so quickly and is now on hospice as of Sunday.
I feel completely helpless, hopeless, and alone and I guess am looking for any sort of suggestions of how I can best help and support my dad. On the one hand, I cannot stand to watch him suffer. He eats no more than 200 calories a day due to 24/7 nausea that has consumed his life for the past few months, has lost a scary amount of weight, is now on oxygen, etc. His oncologist has tried absolutely everything for his nausea and nothing seems to work. On the other hand, I cannot stand the thought of losing him, and while I am losing hope, I just cannot wrap my head around this being the end. Any guidance, suggestions of what I can do to help, etc. would be so useful at this juncture.
Best,
A loving daughter
