I lost my grandmother to Lung Cancer.

My Grandmother was diagnosed with Stage III Lung Cancer, She then received Chemo and radiation((Sadly an accident happened and she could not complete the radiation sessions)) Things developed so fast during the 2 years she had secondaries in the lymph nodes then the brain, She suffered for the last 2 to 3 month severly from this brain ones, She could not move and lost sense of time and place, Problems in hearing etc..
5 days ago she was rushed to the hospital cause she could not breath properly, She was put on the mask for oxygen 
Then was given Heavy drugs so she can sleep, the day after she had slurred speach and we could not understand what was she saying, Then she could talk normally for couple of hours and she went in some kind of a coma (( EyeLids half open, her eyes looked as if she was dead, Terrible Heavy breathing with the Death Rattle sounds, she stayed like this untill she died 2 days ago, She took a breath every 20 to 30 seconds, Untill her breath stopped and she opened her mouth twice after that
Doctors came in and declared her dead
(( What specifically lead to her sudden death?what was the reason,
before she died by one hour i put the oxygen mask on without asking the doctors then my family took it off and said it wont help her anymore, Did i help in her death?!!! should the mask been never put on?
Could she feel anything or hear what i was saying to her before she died ?))
Please answer my questions i cant stop thinking about what happened..

  • Hello tamtam2; sorry to hear about your grandmother.

    There is no set pattern for the last days or hours for a death.  I have known people who were conscious up to the last moments before death, another who died in his sleep.  I honestly don't believe that the actions taken would have made any great difference at the stage you are describing in your grandmother's end of life.  I am not a doctor or nurse or anything remotely medical by the way; just somebody who has helped with caring for neighbours and friends who had terminal cancer.  If you are concerned about your grandmother's death then you could ring the nurses here on Freefone 0808 808 4040.  They work Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.  I don't really know how much your grandmother might have felt or heard in her last moments; some people think that hearing is still functioning until the very end.    Please remember that these are only my own personal experiences; others may have different ones.   The death of a loved one is always upsetting but I think your grandmother would have been aware of her family's presence and that would have been the most important thing.  Annie

  • [@Annieliz]‍ thanks for your reply

    i forgot to mention the dates, she was diagnosed on july 2015, sadly she did not finish her radiation sessions because of a fall that led to a fractured joint in her hip in april 2016 then it spread after 

    before she died one of her half open eyes had a tear on it, i gently rubbed it with a tissue, i hope she heard us before she left us behind