What will a death from cancer be like?

[Nala]

My grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October. The surgery to remove the tumor was unsuccessful, and they gave him 6 months to live (which will end in April). A recent CT scan shows the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and lungs.

He is the first person in our family to have cancer, and he is the first person I have been close to who is going to die from it, so I have no idea what to expect.

What is a death from cancer like? Is it serene and peaceful, or is it violent? What is the ultimate cause of death-- stopping breathing? So far what I have read indicated that fluid will build up in his lungs and he will slowly (but peacfully) stop breathing.

If anyone has had a close friend or relative die of cancer, I would like to hear your stories of what the death was like, and what I might expect in the last few days and final hours of his life.

[charlie]

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. I lost my Mum last Sept to kidney cancer it was very aggressive she was sick only four months from diagnosing to passing away. I was very close to my mother she was my best friend. Me and my sister became her full time carers, i am only 29 so it was hard to deal with seeing Mum so ill on a daily basis. From my experience Mums passing was NOT serene and peaceful. I witnessed it first hand and honestly it was terrible to watch someone you love fade away. Mum of course was on all the appropriate pain management but Mum went into what is called terminal restlessness. a few days before she pasted she was basically in a coma. The night before she pasted every time she breathed she let out a scream when she exhaled. It was horrendous to watch but Mum was not in pain. She waited to the morning and then stopped breathing. But you need not worry about such things i doubt you will be there when your grandfather passes. It is not a nice thing to witness. All the best, xx Cancer is a terrible terrible disease.