My mum has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, with brain and renal mets. She’s 73 and lives at home alone. I live 100 miles away. She was expecting to have radiotherapy on the two brain tumours last week in Liverpool but unfortunately as further tumours have been found on MRI, this was cancelled. She now needs to consider full brain radiotherapy. Her local hospital in wales can do this. Chemo is also available to treat the other cancers elsewhere renal, lung and possibly pelvis). Her first oncology appointment at her local hospital is tomorrow and I’d really like to get myself prepared with what questions I need to ask. My main concern is - knowing that this is terminal, is quality of life going to be compromised? The treatment may extend her life a short time but are the side effects going to be unbearable for her.
she’s been struggling to swallow for the last 2weeks due to oral thrush. It’s been horrendous for her. She’s lost weight. Whilst this is now improving, she’s starting to feel pain around her back/shoulders. She has tramadol which she’s doubled the dose and is trying to hold off taking oromorph, but it’s only a matter of time before she’ll need it.
in terms of local support for her, I’ve been off work this week to help get things in place. She’s now under the care of the palliative care team and has been referred to the hospice for day therapy.
even though I’ve worked for the NHS for 30 years, it’s really difficult being on this side. It feels like there’s an orchestra without a conductor. Everyone playing their instrument, but no one pulling it together to make it good.
