Hi my mum (age 76) has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and secondary lung cancer. She had symptoms for 2 yrs but didn’t seek medical help (and hid it from her family) and now it seems has left things too late. Her breast skin is ulcerated and the cancer is also in the lymph nodes near her clavical, and there are “spots” in her stomach.
She has already had a pleural effusion, which was aspirated 2 weeks ago but already seems to be returning. Her appetite is very poor and she struggles to eat a simple sandwich, her weight is simply falling away.
I am really concerned and I don’t know how to help her.
She has not been offered radio or chemotherapy, and surgery is not an option. She is on an anti Oestrogen drug, but as this has only been for 2 weeks we do not have any resultsto say whether this is effective or not.
I am trying to stay positive for her, but I need an honest and realistic expectation of her life expectancy so I can deal with it myself.
Any comments gratefully received.