Very sorry to hear this, OP. My stepdad passed away in July from colon cancer and it still hurts. The end is incredibly difficult to watch. I saw the signs, but felt guilty for acknowledging it because it felt like I was rushing/rooting for death for him.

Still miss him so very much. He was only 55 and my Mom (who is 56) has so much life left to live without him.

My prayers are with you and your sister. I wish her peace and comfort as she runs this final leg of her race.

I am so sorry - keeping you, your sister and family in my thoughts and prayers.

OP, I'm so sorry.

FWIW, I have on occasion thought that one of the infinitesimally small benefits of a death like this is that it does actually help the family see death as a release. When a person gets to where your sister is, and there is no hope of recovery, there comes a point when you no longer want to see your loved one suffer. I have been through this w/ a best friend and I remember well when the conversations turned from fighting to buy time and quality of life to wanting to just ensure peace and comfort. And in the end, I felt selfish for wanting him to stay with us any longer - it was only serving me, not him.

I know there is no real consolation, of course, and I certainly don't mean to diminish your pain. I just have thought about why it is necessary to go through the kind of prolonged suffering that your sister (and you and your family) are experiencing, and it does seem to me that it can serve a small purpose in easing the grief.

Mostly though these are just words meant to convey some level of support for you. It sounds like your sister probably is not in pain, which is a very good thing indeed.

OP, I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this. My grandfather died of cancer, lived 7 weeks after being told he had 3-5 (a month after it was discovered), and the end was very similar to what your sister is going through now. Some days I am still so angry, and it was over a decade ago and he was 30 years older than your sister. You are definitely not alone, although it is small consolation; if you are able to get to a place where you can share this with people in your life, you will find so many others who have faced it and who will be there for you.

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone's kindness and support. It seems there are few of us whose lives haven't been touched by cancer in one way or another. Sometimes I think that after medical advances have eradicated all other causes of death cancer will still be going strong, causing suffering and tragedy.

After my father died of a rare and fast-moving cancer, I got a copy of "The Emperor of All Maladies," which is a "biography" of cancer, to understand it better. Almost four years later I still haven't cracked it. It's so hard.

Again, I am so sorry, OP. There are many here who know what you must be going through.

OP again. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone's kindness and support. It seems there are few of us whose lives haven't been touched by cancer in one way or another. Sometimes I think that after medical advances have eradicated all other causes of death cancer will still be going strong, causing suffering and tragedy.

So, so sorry OP! This made me so sad.

OP. I am thinking of you and your sister. I lost two family members to cancer within a six week period. The whole process was so painful. The diagnosis, the deterioration of who they were, and the end. I am so sorry you and your sister are going through this. It has been a few years since my loved ones died, but I came out a changed person. I always thought I had pretty good perspective , but now I see everyday what matters and have let so many other things go. I am so glad you have been there for your sister. You have a big heart and have been there for her when she needs you most.

Anonymous wrote: Thinking of you OP!

Thank you. This is slow torture. My sister is hanging on after a week of no water and heavy sedation and two weeks with no food. If there were any quality of life there for her I'd be rejoicing, but it is just a cruel waiting game and I worry that she is in pain (although the meds that hospice has her on are pretty high-level). Ugh! This really sucks!

Thinking of you OP!

Anonymous wrote:Lost my dad and younger sister to cancer and now my mom is battling it. I live in fear that I am next. You have all my sympathies.

Please don't live in fear; it skips people.

Lost my dad and younger sister to cancer and now my mom is battling it. I live in fear that I am next. You have all my sympathies.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm so sorry for you and especially your sister for having to go through this. Both my parents had cancer and it was the worst experience ever. Nothing is worse than watching a loved one waste away like that and going through months of chemo and radiation and just that everyday fear of if and when they will die. I never understood how devastating cancer really is until I saw it up close.

+1. I have posted before and about my dad's cancer. All you have said is so true. Hugs to you and to OP both.

May God grant you peace in this most difficult time. You will see your sister again when you enter eternal life. For now, give thanks that you both had a special, caring, and wonder sister in your life. So sorry for your pain.

OP, I'm so sorry for you and especially your sister for having to go through this. Both my parents had cancer and it was the worst experience ever. Nothing is worse than watching a loved one waste away like that and going through months of chemo and radiation and just that everyday fear of if and when they will die. I never understood how devastating cancer really is until I saw it up close.