Hi, my uncle is currently in hospice care. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Last week he was told the cancer had spread to his liver . He is now completly incontinent. He is unable to eat and drinks very little, however is vomiting a lot of black liquid regularly. Can you tell me, is this the final stage of the cancer? When will the doctors start the morphine to put him out of his misery? Thanks.
Hi there, Vomiting black liquid seems most likely as altered blood though bile may be brownish sometimes as well. It looks like he is in final stage of cancer. Morphine is a painkiller and if he is not in pain he is unlikely to be started on it. The perception that morphine is given to put someone out of misery, is rather for pain really. Many patients' morphine is given short time and is stopped when pain is relieved. Do speak to your hospice nurse and get a clear picture, and usually they explain the situation on day-to-day basis. Regards