My mom is in the hospital fighting cancer. She is on morphine and there has been talk about hospice.?

We hear different things about what is going on with my mom. We cannot get a straight answer as to where the cancer has spread to and what the prognosis is at this time. The doc. only wants one contact, who is my sis. but we never speak with her doc. the ones who speak to my sis regarding her condition is a doc. in the group (not my moms oncologist). We are getting pissed off, bec. we feel that she could be receiving chemo at this time. Now not even the nurses or aide are comining into her room. it is like they have washed their hands of taking care of her. What can i do? HELP.

Contact your mother's insurance company and ask to speak to your mother's case worker. They are much better equipped to deal with the politics of the hospital, and you might then actually get a straight answer.

I am sorry to hear your mother is so ill. Hospice is a scary prospect, but if she is at a point where she needs it both your mum and your family will benefit from their support.

It's likely that your mother is dying and there isn't much more that they can do. My mother volunteers for hospice programs and that's usually the last step in a cancer treatment program, to kill the pain and help the patient be as comfortable as possible.

I'm sorry you are experiencing some communication problems.

Best wishes for you and your family.

well u need to talk to all the pple at the hospital!!!!

talk to ur sis

i wish ur mom luck!!!!

I sense your frustration. My husband has pancreatic cancer so I can relate. We spent 18 days in the hospital after his initial diagnosis.
If your situation is hospital and care related you can go to the hospital representative for patient care and share your concerns. You may also wish to share your concerns with the nursing team leader or supervisor. Write down who you talked with and when. Keep a journal of any contacts made.
Regarding the cancer itself, -many physicians wish to only go through one family member designated as the contact person. I would ask your contact person to share your concerns with the physician. Write down your questions or concerns before such a physician contact-in this way they will be better addressed. You have the right to have medical information shared with you if your mother has designated you as a person to which medical information on her condition can be shared. Make sure you are listed on such a consent on the sharing of medical information.
My husband is also on hospice and has been for several months. Generally someone receiving chemotherapy cannot be on hospice at the same time as receiving chemotherapy. Hospice is about living life to the fullest. The hospice team has greatly helped my husband and I.

Check to see if the hospital has a patient advocate. Explain the problems you're having with communication. She should be able to help. A lot of the time, the doctors will want one family member to speak for/represent the group, theoretically, so that you are all on the same page.

I wish your family the best, and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

You have the right to know what is going on with your mother.Try going straight to her oncologist if that fails contact ACLU the number for them would be online or in the front of your phone book.You could also contact a lawyer if money is a issue contact a pro bono lawyer.Good luck and I will keep you and your family in my prayers

Call anyone who is somebody, take it to the top if you have to, you need answers, that is your mother. You need to be strong and demand your rights in that hospital. I myself went thru it too, and it was hard, but got thru it. Best of luck!

Sounds very unprofessional to me!!! I was in a similiar situation. in may last year Mum was diagnosed with kidney cancer which spread to her ;iver and lung. It was extremely aggtressive , stage 4 incurable. I went to all her appoinments with her.. treatment wasnt given there was no point. We cared for Mum at home right up until 2 weeks before she pasted then she went into palliative care cos we thought it was the best thing for her and it may have given her more time but it didnt so we took her home and she pasted away two days later. She was sick only 4 months it was extremely hard and traumatic. In the hospice we would have family meetings and they would be up front about mums prognosis. You need to find out what is happening. is she sleeping all the time, still eating, talking much?????? i can help you if you need any info. x

First of all, let me say I am so sorry about your mom. I lost my mom to leukemia in July of 2006 and I know this is one ofthe hardest things you will ever go through. But about your question - Try speaking with a patient advocate or social worker if there is someone like that in the hospital. If it is possible, you need to speak to your mom about what's going on. As hard as it will be to hear this, she may have decided she doesn't want to continue with treatment, which could be why they aren't doing chemo anymore. Once my mom decided that and went to hospice, they discontinued everything but the pain meds, no fluids or anything. Also, if you are not listed on the paperwork as being able to find out about her medical information, they will not and cannot tell you anything because of HIPPA. Again, if she can, please talk to your mom. It may be something you don't want to hear, but at least it would be from her.