Can taking a 70-y/o terminal cancer patient out help?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandfather is 70 years old and has terminal lung cancer, specifically the squamous cell type, which was diagnosed 8 months ago. He is currently receiving the best supportive care since chemotherapy was stopped after his creatinine levels rose to 2.4 mg/dL and his performance status declined. He is mostly bedbound and is on oral morphine for pain management.

Last weekend, we took him out for breakfast. He had half a dosa and some tea, and he laughed more that morning than he had in weeks. His palliative nurse said it was a good idea, but his chest physician seemed uncertain about the outing due to his oxygen needs.

Does taking a 70-year-old terminal cancer patient out for breakfast or similar outings pose any real medical risks?
Additionally, from a quality-of-life perspective, do these kinds of memories truly matter clinically, or are we just doing this for ourselves?

I want to do it again, but I do not want to cause him any harm.

Please guide me.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and understand your concern.

I wish your grandfather a speedy recovery. Initially, what you did was very good, and the emotional support you gave is excellent and very important in cancer treatment.

A cancer patient should not be treated as someone who is only lying in bed, but he should move and feel that life is normal, and continue going out in fresh air and going to places he loves like gardens and parks, because this improves oxygen levels in the body and also improves hope and mood.

I also want to tell you that stage 4 lung cancer is not necessarily terminal or end of life; on the contrary, many cases respond very well in stage 4, and lung cancer cells are very sensitive to treatment, especially for his age.

I would not recommend chemotherapy because it may worsen his overall condition. In his case, it would be better to conduct genomic testing and initiate targeted therapy or immunotherapy as the first-line treatment. These options can significantly improve his condition and help him feel better and more active, allowing him to walk around the house, go outside, and resume daily activities.

With the emotional support you are providing, this approach can yield very positive results. I also recommend implementing proper pain management for any painful areas. If possible, localized radiotherapy can be used for pain control, or palliative radiotherapy if needed, along with regularly scheduled pain medications to prevent painful episodes. This way, he can continue his daily activities without discomfort.

Additionally, you should continue offering him emotional support and engage him in the activities he loves. This will greatly benefit him in the coming period. I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions at any time, please do not hesitate to ask.

Hope I have addressed all of your queries and concerns.

Do follow up whenever needed.

Thank you.