Terminal Breast Cancer open wound

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Hello, my Mum has breast cancer, she has an open wound on her chest where it has come through, a large cavity and a tumour over her sternum and into her lower neck, visible tumour which is dressed on her neck under her chin which is getting bigger by the day, I only found out the tumour part yesterday, she has had cancer for some years now with the tumour coming back around her artery in her shoulder, it’s has now got to this stage, treatment has stopped, she is on Morphine patches and oral Morphine as and when, the patches have been increased twice over the last few weeks, she is up and in her chair, but won’t leave the house now, she is tiring easily and eating little bits, sometimes irritable and a little forgetful, shirt of breath on slight exertion.

I would just like to have some idea on time frame, she keeps a lot from us, I found out about the tumour on her sternum and I to her neck by accident, she has the nurses everyday for her wound and to dress it, I feel things have progressed in the last few weeks, from your experience, and I know you can’t be specific, are we in the final weeks rather than months? 

As I say I know you can’t be specific but just an idea? 
we have also been told she could have a catastrophic bleed and she has emergency drugs and DNR in place incase this happens.

Thanks for reading.

Cathy

  • Dear Cathy Angel3ac534,

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community, I hope you find it supportive.

    My name is Carla and I’m one of the Cancer information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I am really very sorry to read about your mum’s breast cancer. It must be such a difficult time for your family. I am glad you have found our online community and reached out. 

    You may wish to have a look at our Friends and Family Forum, as it is a good way to connect and share with others who may be able to offer some support. 

    Here at the support line, as we are a charity separate from the NHS, we don’t have access to anyone’s clinical records. This means that we are unable to answer individualised questions about someone’s cancer.

    We can answer general questions about cancer, share information and try to signpost you to professionals that may be involved in mum’s care who are best placed to answer your questions.

    When active cancer treatment is stopped because the cancer has continued to progress, mum’s hospital team may have referred her to be seen by the local palliative care team for support with managing her symptoms at home.

    Sometimes, as cancer progresses people will require more care and support from professionals to help manage complex symptoms such as you have mentioned including pain, wound care and breathlessness.

    They will also start to think about advance care planning and anticipatory prescribing, such as you mentioned with the emergency drugs and the DNR form.

    It can be difficult when you as a family member, are seeing things change day by day, such as mum being more tired and eating less and you haven’t been able to ask the questions that are on your mind.


    It may be that mum is hoping that by keeping things from you, she is protecting you from extra worry or concern.
     

    You asked about a time frame, and that is something that I can’t answer Cathy, and it may even be difficult for mum’s care team to answer.

    It still may be helpful for you to ask to speak to either one of the nurses that visits mum regularly or to one of the palliative care team, or mum’s GP.

    They will be the people who will be best placed to recognise some of the signs that mum’s phase of illness may be changing.

    It may be that they wish to explore this with mum as she may need to offer permission for the relevant professionals to speak with you about her situation.

    If you would like to understand more about what to expect as someone approaches end of life, there is some information provided by Marie Curie which you might find helpful to read if it does not feel too overwhelming.

    On this platform it can be difficult to have a two-way conversation and to fully explore what you are going through.


    I would invite you to think about giving us a call or chatting with us on webchat so that we may be able to take some time with you, talk through your concerns and see if we can offer any more guidance or support to you at this time.
     

    Please stay in touch as often as you need, remember that we are here for you as well, to help you support mum.

    The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm. 

    If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat, or phone. We would be glad to support you in any way we can. 

     

    Take Care, 

     

    Carla

     

    Ref: CC/SA