This was not at Mayo. I wanted him to go there.

My brother had stage 4 esophageal cancer. He had Barrett’s esophagus too yet his primary care failed to follow up and later cancer metastasized to skull,ribs and liver. They pushed FOLFOX which did not help, actually made him weaker to fight.He was hospitalized with a PE and a very kind doctor took me aside and said he needed hospice as chemo treatment is a cost center they will keep trying and he is suffering too much.

I wish I had listened to her. Later he told me he was going crazy with strange visions and dreams. Then I called him and he was not coherent. I called emergency and they gave me a choice of brain surgery ( the brain was now involved and not just the skull) or end of life hospice.

I remember the chemo oncologist getting mad that hospice was suggested for their patient.

Had I done hospice earlier he may have had better care through his treatment and comfort could have given him more time. We couldn’t sort out how to relieve his pain.

He was not able to have pain meds delivered and lived alone so would drag himself to the pharmacy to get his meds and refused to come to my home for care.

By the time I got to hospital after the emergency pickup he was out as they had tried to calm him and though we talked to him he never communicated again.

I feel hospice needs to change to allowing treatments when the patient is comfortable if possible.