Delirium is common in the last days of life. Most people have a lower level of consciousness. They may become withdrawn, less alert, and have less energy. Some people may be confused or restless and have hallucinations. End-of-life psychosis can have many causes. Delusions unrelated to delusions often occur late in life. It is common for people near death to have hallucinations involving loved ones who have already died. It is normal for family members to feel uncomfortable when these hallucinations occur.

Delirium can be caused by the direct effects of cancer, such as a tumor growing in the brain, but there are other causes, including:

Higher or lower than normal amounts of certain chemicals in the blood that affect the heart, kidneys, nerves, and muscles

Side effects of drugs or drug interactions

Dehydration or loss of water needed by the body

Treatment of delusions

Delirium caused by symptoms of death in cancer patients may be controlled by finding the cause and treating it. Depending on the cause of the delirium, doctors may do the following:

Medicines to stabilize the level of certain chemicals in the blood

Stopping or reducing the dose of drugs that cause delirium or are no longer useful at the end of life, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs

Putting fluids in the blood to reduce dehydration

tiredness

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of the last days of life. During this period, the person's fatigue may become more intense every day, and the patient may also experience drowsiness, weakness, and sleep problems. Medications that increase brain activity, alertness, and energy may be helpful.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is a common symptom and may worsen in the lung cancer final weeks. Shortness of breath or the inability to breathe is often caused by advanced cancer. Other causes include the following:

Fluid accumulation in the abdomen

Loss of muscle strength

Hypoxemia (a condition in which there is not enough oxygen in the blood)

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Pneumonia

infection

Read more: the cause of shortness of breath and heart palpitations + how to diagnose and treat it

Shortness of breath treatment

Ways to help cancer patients who feel short of breath in the last days of life include:

Supplemental oxygen, if dyspnea is due to hypoxemia

rest

Antibiotics for shortness of breath due to infection

the pain

Pain in the last hours of life is usually manageable. Opioid pain relievers work very well for pain relief and are commonly used at the end of life. In the last days of life, the patient cannot swallow pain medication. When medications cannot be taken orally, pain medication may be given by injection or intravenous infusion. These methods can be used at home with a doctor's order.

Cough

A cough at the end of life may add to a person's discomfort. Frequent coughing can cause pain and insomnia, increase fatigue and worsen shortness of breath.