WBR or Pallative Care?

I'm sorry for this situation for you and your family.  I cannot predict what will happen to your father, as no one can.  I will just share that my husband, Pete, had brain mets (with some bleeding) and mets in liver, spine, lungs, etc.  He had a craniotomy followed by gamma knife radiation.  Many more brain mets were soon disovered so he had whole brain radiation too.  He was also on Yervoy and had 2 infusions before his liver function became severely compromised and he had to stop.  At that point he went home on hospice care and passed away three weeks later, in May/15.  We did all of the interventions that were available to us, but his cancer was too fast moving and didn't respond to the immunotherapy in time, even with the WBR. As I said, each case is different and your father and the rest of your family will have to decide which course of action will bring you the most peace.  You will need to feel confident in your decision regardless, so that you don't look back with regret.  I wish you all the peace that is possible in your circumstances, and hope for the best possible outcome for your Dad. 

I'm sorry for this situation for you and your family.  I cannot predict what will happen to your father, as no one can.  I will just share that my husband, Pete, had brain mets (with some bleeding) and mets in liver, spine, lungs, etc.  He had a craniotomy followed by gamma knife radiation.  Many more brain mets were soon disovered so he had whole brain radiation too.  He was also on Yervoy and had 2 infusions before his liver function became severely compromised and he had to stop.  At that point he went home on hospice care and passed away three weeks later, in May/15.  We did all of the interventions that were available to us, but his cancer was too fast moving and didn't respond to the immunotherapy in time, even with the WBR. As I said, each case is different and your father and the rest of your family will have to decide which course of action will bring you the most peace.  You will need to feel confident in your decision regardless, so that you don't look back with regret.  I wish you all the peace that is possible in your circumstances, and hope for the best possible outcome for your Dad. 

I'm sorry for this situation for you and your family.  I cannot predict what will happen to your father, as no one can.  I will just share that my husband, Pete, had brain mets (with some bleeding) and mets in liver, spine, lungs, etc.  He had a craniotomy followed by gamma knife radiation.  Many more brain mets were soon disovered so he had whole brain radiation too.  He was also on Yervoy and had 2 infusions before his liver function became severely compromised and he had to stop.  At that point he went home on hospice care and passed away three weeks later, in May/15.  We did all of the interventions that were available to us, but his cancer was too fast moving and didn't respond to the immunotherapy in time, even with the WBR. As I said, each case is different and your father and the rest of your family will have to decide which course of action will bring you the most peace.  You will need to feel confident in your decision regardless, so that you don't look back with regret.  I wish you all the peace that is possible in your circumstances, and hope for the best possible outcome for your Dad. 

I am so sorry to hear about your father.  My mother also had tumors in her liver, lungs, bone, and mets to the brain.  She went through targeted brain radiation, and 3 doses of Keytruda before her scans showed no improvement and the tumor load was increasing.  She then swithched to the ipi/nivo combo (2 doses) and had 10 days of WBR.  She passed away 4 weeks later, Oct. 2, 2015.

I'm not sure my feeling on the WBR.  I don't know if it did any good at all.  She became more foggy, but was that the tumor load or the side effects of the radiation?  The steroids did help with her appetite and sort of gave her one last boost of energy.  I think the doc's just wanted to take one last stab at a treatment, and that was the only option left.  In hindsight, I'm not sure if it was worth it.  There was no added time with her or change in the outcome.    

Tough decision.  My thoughts are with you.

I am so sorry to hear about your father.  My mother also had tumors in her liver, lungs, bone, and mets to the brain.  She went through targeted brain radiation, and 3 doses of Keytruda before her scans showed no improvement and the tumor load was increasing.  She then swithched to the ipi/nivo combo (2 doses) and had 10 days of WBR.  She passed away 4 weeks later, Oct. 2, 2015.

I'm not sure my feeling on the WBR.  I don't know if it did any good at all.  She became more foggy, but was that the tumor load or the side effects of the radiation?  The steroids did help with her appetite and sort of gave her one last boost of energy.  I think the doc's just wanted to take one last stab at a treatment, and that was the only option left.  In hindsight, I'm not sure if it was worth it.  There was no added time with her or change in the outcome.    

Tough decision.  My thoughts are with you.

I am so sorry to hear about your father.  My mother also had tumors in her liver, lungs, bone, and mets to the brain.  She went through targeted brain radiation, and 3 doses of Keytruda before her scans showed no improvement and the tumor load was increasing.  She then swithched to the ipi/nivo combo (2 doses) and had 10 days of WBR.  She passed away 4 weeks later, Oct. 2, 2015.

I'm not sure my feeling on the WBR.  I don't know if it did any good at all.  She became more foggy, but was that the tumor load or the side effects of the radiation?  The steroids did help with her appetite and sort of gave her one last boost of energy.  I think the doc's just wanted to take one last stab at a treatment, and that was the only option left.  In hindsight, I'm not sure if it was worth it.  There was no added time with her or change in the outcome.    

Tough decision.  My thoughts are with you.

I am so very sorry for you and your family for the difficult place you are in with your father.  As a stage IV patient, it is human to question the "what if's, would have, could have, should have" scenarios.  I have learned to not linger long there, gently reminding myself that the decision I made was the best for me, with the information I had at that moment, it's always agonizing and there are never two situations alike. I have read many articles from an oncologist's point of view and often the treatments they prescribe for their patients, they would decline for themselves.  Many times I have bluntly asked my oncologist, if she would choose this(proposed treatment) for herself or a loved one.  Sometimes an honest answer is different than seeking advice or reccomendations. Often, hindsight is very clear and families have regrets for what they thought would help but didn't and have to live with that pain as well.  Letting go is never easy, especially when you have the added stress of making a decision that could affect the outcome.  I wish you clarity and seperation from the emotional anguish you are in.  May  peace and comfort be with you,  your father and his loved ones as you remain steadfast in your love and care.

Wishing  you peace, strength and courage as you negotiate the days ahead with your loved one.

Swanee

I am so very sorry for you and your family for the difficult place you are in with your father.  As a stage IV patient, it is human to question the "what if's, would have, could have, should have" scenarios.  I have learned to not linger long there, gently reminding myself that the decision I made was the best for me, with the information I had at that moment, it's always agonizing and there are never two situations alike. I have read many articles from an oncologist's point of view and often the treatments they prescribe for their patients, they would decline for themselves.  Many times I have bluntly asked my oncologist, if she would choose this(proposed treatment) for herself or a loved one.  Sometimes an honest answer is different than seeking advice or reccomendations. Often, hindsight is very clear and families have regrets for what they thought would help but didn't and have to live with that pain as well.  Letting go is never easy, especially when you have the added stress of making a decision that could affect the outcome.  I wish you clarity and seperation from the emotional anguish you are in.  May  peace and comfort be with you,  your father and his loved ones as you remain steadfast in your love and care.

Wishing  you peace, strength and courage as you negotiate the days ahead with your loved one.

Swanee

I am so very sorry for you and your family for the difficult place you are in with your father.  As a stage IV patient, it is human to question the "what if's, would have, could have, should have" scenarios.  I have learned to not linger long there, gently reminding myself that the decision I made was the best for me, with the information I had at that moment, it's always agonizing and there are never two situations alike. I have read many articles from an oncologist's point of view and often the treatments they prescribe for their patients, they would decline for themselves.  Many times I have bluntly asked my oncologist, if she would choose this(proposed treatment) for herself or a loved one.  Sometimes an honest answer is different than seeking advice or reccomendations. Often, hindsight is very clear and families have regrets for what they thought would help but didn't and have to live with that pain as well.  Letting go is never easy, especially when you have the added stress of making a decision that could affect the outcome.  I wish you clarity and seperation from the emotional anguish you are in.  May  peace and comfort be with you,  your father and his loved ones as you remain steadfast in your love and care.

Wishing  you peace, strength and courage as you negotiate the days ahead with your loved one.

Swanee