Did Rush Limbaugh Just Tacitly Tell Us He Was In Palliative Care?

Rush Limbaugh ^ | 05/26/2020 | sff

[SoFloFreeper]

I was listening to him at the top of the hour.

I think he said his current treatment's goal is to make the patient comfortable for as long as possible.

Maybe I am reading too much into it, but perhaps he is telling us he isn't being treated for a cure.

He also said we would be amazed, if we knew exactly what he had, that he is still alive.

Did anyone else hear him?

[Biggirl]

He may have kindly told us to be ready.

[BlueHorseShoe]

I took the tweet as written. Not that he only had 4 weeks to live, I’m assuming though and shouldn’t as I am not sure what you are saying. But that initially he would not have been expected to live more than 4 weeks, as the tweet says, due to the nature of his cancer.

I know this is not a good situation for Rush with stage 4 cancer.

I lost my brother a year ago to lung cancer he did not begin treating until stage 4. I know what went on. I know the treatments he endured. I know the pain he finally could not bear. He just wanted to make it to his 70th birthday and he did. He died four months after his 71, as he stopped treatment just after his last chemo he did not want to go through but felt pressured to do so.

He suffered so greatly. I can’t stand to think about it. He said you go through all that pain and it doesn’t work and it doesn’t help. His description was they take you right up to death and bring you back in those treatments. It’s unbearable.

[Captainpaintball]

You tell ‘em, fellow cigar smokin’ brother! Im having an Alec Bradley as i type...

[MayflowerMadam]

I’m sorry I missed his show today. Was at a medical appointment. Don’t have 24/7.

[ifinnegan]

“I think he said his current treatment’s goal is to make the patient comfortable for as long as possible.”.

That’s palliative care.

[Biggirl]

He may also be looking at getting either Mark Steyn or Chris Plante to succeed him.

[4Liberty]

Turned on Rush as usual at noon, and he seemed OK.

Then, as he spoke of his wife and thanked her for her support during his illness, I grew increasingly alarmed.

But later in the show, Rush regained steam and his voice strengthened as he discussed politics.

I haven't been following his health status, so I'm not sure what to make of his opening monologue. He could just be emotional with his thanks to his wife -- or he could have received a difficult medical update -- I just couldn't tell.

I lost my younger sister when she was age 30 to stage 4 Melanoma. So I know how serious Rush's situation is. Still, it was jarring and shocked me, to hear him drift into his discussion of his wife's dedication. That told me he is going through a lot. What that means for his prognosis I couldn't discern.

Millions of us are galvanized by his weekly optimism and messages. Who can replace him?

[lilypad]

Has his brother ever done one of his shows? I know he writes but I was wondering if he can fill in for Rush while he fights this cancer. I don’t know much about him.

[fhayek]

No, he did not sound very strong at all. Might be a good time to reach down into your prayer basket and use your best stuff...

[Vermont Lt]

Stage IV lung cancer is never a good sign. It means that it’s spread outside the original organ. For Lung cancer that frequently means the brain.

Cancer sucks. A lot.

[fhayek]

One thing I have noticed, he very rarely talks about David anymore. He used to promote him quite a bit. No speculations, just an observation.

[Vermont Lt]

I think you are generous—he probably had that when he announced. But, everyone is different. Godspeed to him.

[pgkdan]

I think he said his current treatment's goal is to make the patient comfortable for as long as possible.

My wife died of cancer. This was the message from the docs at the end. It's the exact definition of palliative care.

[tom paine 2]

He said that at certain times he could only walk a few feet before becoming winded, that he could no longer golf and carrying any object that was hefty was not possible without becoming winded.

[lilypad]

Does anyone remember last week the one day he was on he told us he would bring us up to date re his health and treatments when he feels the time was right or something like that. He must have had a hell of a weekend to want to talk about it today. I can’t believe how rotten 2020 is.

[ConjunctionJunction]

I thought he previously said it was stage 4 lung cancer.

[franksolich]

I had esophageal cancer and survived.

Same here, stage 4, diagnosed in April 2017, in hospice since December 2017 when it was determined surgery would have to be too radical, and hence ineffective.

It's not the end of the world, because none of us is destined to live forever in this time and place. God takes care of all, if one allows God to.

As for being indispensable, while Rush Limbaugh is certainly unique, no one is indispensable. Someone else will evolve to take his place.

[Midwesterner53]

I thought his voice sounded raspy, did anyone else notice that too?

[Vermont Lt]

The terms are tossed around a lot.

Hospice is usually the withdrawal of curative treatment. Clearly, this is where the white flag is unfurled and the end is obvious.

Palliative care is a step up—where additional pain or home aid treatment is required. Treatment for the disease continues.

Chemo is literally the introduction of targeted poison into the body. The goal is to kill every cell of that “type” in your body. It permeates every nook and cranny in your tissue. If cancer recurs after the end of chemo, the generator of the cells is working pretty damned hard. That is not a good sign,.

Basing your treatment on “clinical trials” is not good news either.

But , what I found is that every person reacts to treatment differently. Prayers are what WE can give him.

[Midwesterner53]

Cigar smoke killed US Grant and many others.