Is This Defination Of Lung Cancer Death Correct ?

[yorkshirelass]

In the Daily Mail today, there was an article written by an an American vegan Doctor about the benefits of a plant based diet .

He wrote "The worst death I ever witnessed was that of a man dying of lung disease. He was wide-eyed, gasping for air, his hands clawing at the bed. His lungs were filling with fluid and he was drowning.
Very sadly, there was nothing I could do. Our gaze remained locked as he suffocated in front of me. It felt like watching someone being tortured to death."


As a 73 year old women with terminal lung cancer, COPD and heart disease, I am trying to eat well and live well for as long as I can. I have had 6 cycles of Chemotherapy but my tumours have not got any smaller so I don't know how much longer I have got left.
Statements like this Doctor gives, do not fill me with good thoughts. Is he correct in his observations about death from lung disease ?

[Bathsheba]

No no no. Definitely not....do not be afraid...nobody is left to die in pain in this country.
~Baths~
xx x

[anneasquith]

Hi, I wonder when that incident occurred ,

[Bathsheba]

"an American vegan".......that says it all!
~Baths~
x x x

[Bathsheba]

and in the Daily Mail!!

[vetuste_ennemi]

It may be right about that particular lung disease at the time he witnessed it, Yorkshire Lass. But modern methods of pain control in advanced stages diseases like cancer can be very effective. (I speak only as someone who has witnessed a cancer death, not from any professional competence).

I wish you all the best.

[Patsy33]

My Mum had COPD and pneumonia. After having stroke, it made rings worse. She had a morphine type drug and strong muscle relaxents at the end. She went very peaceably. I and my sister was there to witness this. You won't suffer. X

[anneasquith]

You will never be in that position, just a pity you read that today, and for the person who wrote it and the paper who unpublished it , shame on them. Good luck , and the take care.

[murraymints]

Best not to read such stuff...take care xx

[anneasquith]

Sorry. Published .

[Bathsheba]

Not just don't read it Minty, don't believe it!!

Baths
x x x

[Mamyalynne]

Michael Greger has a book to promote and is happy to shock people into buying it with tales such as that (true or not) - you will get the best palliative care when the time comes Yorkshirelass.

[Peter Pedant]

No he is not ( right )

People write this sort of stuff to sell papers
You are clearly under some doctors who are treating you and they will also consult with others, because as you know your disease is progressing.

and yes people also know that when they write like this - they frighten the crip out of people like you, me and Baths

Hi Baths !

[Sqad]

All sorts of doctors say all sorts of things about all sorts of diseases.
People read these in newspapers and produce like magic links to webs sites that support their thoughts.
By and large, main stream doctors do not support these hypothesis and bear little or no evidence of truth.

I have never seen that description of the end result of CPOD or indeed any lung disease in a lifetime of medical involvement.

Yorkshire lass, please be assured that the medical profession is alert to such problems and death, when it comes, as it will to us all, will be managed by decorum and respect, with particular emphasis on the relief of symptoms.

[yorkshirelass]

Thank you to all 17 who replied. All the answers were good and gave me such encouragement but I had to mark one as the best answer. Thanks again.

[jakep]

UK end of life care is very different to that now.
I have witnessed and am witnesssing it at the moment.
Please do not dwell on this awful 'story '

[choux]

In my experience, absolutely not. My dear mother passed away at home. I was her only carer and administered her numerous prescribed medications to the letter. On the day she died she had complained of feeling unwell so I called out the GP. He diagnosed pneumonia on top of her terminal state of spreading lung cancer. He gave me a prescription for her and said he would return the following day. My mother passed away just 3 hours after his visit. It was calm and peaceful and, upon reflection, it was like a setting sun. On the following day the GP said he could not have forseen her dying that quickly

I think a large part of the problem is that the more extreme reports get far more coverage.

I wish you strength, yorkshirelass and hope that my experience offers you some peace.