According to the Mayo Clinic, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer is recognized as a disease that causes abnormal cells to multiply and threaten healthy cells in the body. The invasive tumors that kill healthy human tissue are being caught at earlier stages and targeted through advanced drugs and surgeries. Cancer becomes terminal, however, when all therapies have been exhausted and no further remedy is available.
Survival Rates
Different kinds of cancer have different survival rates. Since everyone reacts differently to cancer treatments, survival rates are guidelines and best guesses. Statistics to determine survival rates for cancer victims typically cover five-year spans. For example, nearly 50 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer in the early stages live for five years or more. When the cancer has spread from the lungs, the survival rate drops to 3 percent over five years.
Metastasized
When cancer cells become metastasized, it means that they have spread to other areas of the body. Doctors often determine that the disease can no longer be controlled and the treatment is stopped. At this point, the cancer is considered terminal and the patient prepares to die. While doctors can provide patients and their families with estimates of time left, much depends on the strength of the patient and the aggressiveness of the disease.
Pain
The role of health care providers changes once a patient has been determined to be terminal. The main objective of medical treatment is to keep patients as comfortable as possible during their final days and weeks. Pain medication such as morphine is prescribed and other medicines can be given to ease symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation. Patients often choose to go home to die, while others remain in the hospital.
Hospice
Hospice care is a level of health care for people in the final stages of life. The goal of hospice is to help patients and their families make the transition from life to death with dignity and as little pain as possible. Hospice is typically prescribed for those who have six months or less to live. Patients can go to a hospice center or hospice workers might go to the patient in the home.
The End
While symptoms vary, there are physical signs that patients exhibit when they are close to death. Changes in the metabolism cause them to be more fatigued than usual and withdrawn from those around them. They become confused and restless and lose all appetite for food or drink. Most people lose bladder and bowel control near the end and their skin becomes cool to the touch. Involuntary reflexes of the arms and legs as well as a rattling or gurgling sound from the chest indicate the patient is about to die.
