When lung cancer is in its final stages, the cancer begins to attack the body along with vital organs that are essential for survival. As the cancer takes over, the body will begin to shut down. This will affect the patient both physically and mentally. A hospice care team along with caregivers, friends and family members will be able to provide the support needed in the final stages of life. Knowing what the signs are of eminent death pertaining to end-stage lung cancer will help family members prepare for the transition from life to death.
Decrease in Food and Fluid Intake
Someone suffering from the final stages of lung cancer may experience a decrease in their overall fluid and food intake. The patient may also experience difficulty in swallowing or coughing up foods or fluids lodged in the throat. This is a normal process of end-stage lung cancer due to the progression of the cancer. It can be difficult for family members to sit back and allow the patient to appear to be starving or dehydrating, but this is actually a normal part of the dying process.
Non-Responsive
As the lung cancer progresses, the patient may become more unresponsive as time goes by. They may end up sleeping more than usual and becoming harder to rouse. Their body is becoming more and more weak as the organs are working harder to remain functioning. As organs begin to slow down, the patient may slip into a comatose state. This will likely make them incoherent until the time of death. This does not mean they are unaware of their surroundings and those who are talking to them.
Respiratory Distress
Respiratory distress is common during the last stage of lung cancer. This means that the lungs are working harder to push air and oxygen in and out. Some patients may experience something called apnea. These are brief periods of shallow or labored breathing. It may appear as though the patient finds it difficult to take a breath, or they may be gasping for air. It is not uncommon for the patient to actually stop breathing and then start back up again. There may also be a rattle sound in the throat or the chest. This is from the accumulation of fluid and mucous that has built up in the lungs and the throat. It could also be from the presence of a cancerous tumor in the chest. Respiratory distress is a normal part of the end stage of lung cancer.
Mottling
Mottling or cyanosis occurs when there is a lack of oxygen and blood flow throughout the body. Mottling is visible on the extremities. This means the tips of the fingers, toes, hands and feet may turn a bluish or blackish hue. This can also be caused from the heart and lungs not functioning at a normal capacity. The skin may also feel cool to the touch due to circulation problems. Skin may lose its turgor due to the combination of dehydration and lack of oxygen.
Vital Sign Changes
Vital signs will often change significantly as death approaches. The heart rate may have been sporadic and fast up until this point. Now it may begin to slow down significantly until a heartbeat can no longer be detected. At the time of death, the apnea may change to only a few respirations per minute to none at all. This can be observed by the chest no longer rising and falling. The pupils in the eyes will be fixed and dilated. The patient's mouth may be slightly open. The patient may or may not have a loss of bowel and urine. A hospice nurse should be called in order to pronounce the patient deceased and record the date and time of death in her medical record.
