terminal cancer question?

Someone with terminal cancer who has no treatments and can no longer have feedings probably has plus or minus three to four weeks left. Shorter or longer if he's able and willing to take water and doesn't have an IV to hydrate him.

I worked as a home care nurse for a number of years. When our patients reached the point where they could no longer take nutrition we generally referred them to a hospice service. Your loved one should qualify for hospice services. They will send nurses, social workers and clergy to your home and all those people can advise you on how to best lead your loved one to the end of his journey.

Best of luck to you.

I'm afraid we really can't answer that without knowing any more details because there are so many factors that affect different patients and their outcomes.

You say 'feeding drip line'- what does that mean? Do you mean intravenous fluids? Or was it something called TPN (total parenteral nutrition)? Not having IV access and fluids has little baring on anything, unless of course they are not drinking any liquids at all. As long as someone is taking in fluids then they will have little or no need for IV fluids, provided they are taking in enough and regularly.

In fact, being allowed home from the hospital could be considered a good sign. It could be a sign that they are not so imminent that they can go home, eat and drink, socialise, and be in their own environment and they do not need round the clock medical care. However, it could also be at the request of the patient if they feel they are near the end. Its impossible to say without knowing the case.

Different cancers have different life expectancies from diagnosis. Within each type of cancer there is also huge variation due to age, general health, other conditions, spread of the disease, extent of the disease, and many other things.

I would suggest that you talk to his doctor as they may be able to give you more of a guide in terms of timeframe

Usually from six months to two years.