how long do we have?

My mom is back in the hospital for the 3rd time since sept.  1st time was 1 month, home 2 wks, 2nd time 3 1/2 mnts, home 11 days, now back. While home, she lost 15 pounds (now 94 lbs), her G-tube output went from 1200 to 4000, her urine output went to almost 0, her pain level has steadily increased and is more and more uncontrollable.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer that had metastisized to the bones, intestines, and kidney. It has since spread to the ovaries (removed) shadow on liver, stomach (partly now removed), and who knows where else since the last scan. I have talked to her DR about stopping chemo, there is no hope I know, because there is no quality to life like this.  The DR does not want to give us a time, I know everyone is different but this is tearing me up. When she is home, it is up to me alone to take care of her and she is basically an invalid.  Mom cannot eat at all, only gets TPN and saline.  She also has a stint in her rt uriter of the kidney.  Dr said it would only last 3 - 6 months. We are almost at the 3 month mark now. She is not strong enough to go thru surgery again I know. I just need a basic idea of how long this can go on. Will it be the stint or the cancer that takes her first. She already has pain from the stint now and severe pain around the G-tube. The G-tube is for the vomiting and stomach being unable to work at all. The pain is unmanagable due to allergy to morphine. Already on 100mg Durogesic patch, lortab 10/500 per 4 hrs, doloted 6mg/3hrs, phenergan 25mg/3hrs & benedryl for itch/6hrs.  Is the pain due to time being close?

Tig

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Tig, I'm sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time.  It is impossible to predict more precisely how long your mother has.  The stent to her kidney's usually need to be changed about every 6 months because they can become blocked or infected.  I would strongly advise getting Hospice involved in the care of your mother, they can help with adjustments that need to be made to control pain, and other symptoms.  Also to help you as to what to expect as it is happening.