chemo advice

mom is 75 and was recently diagnosed with lung cancer that spread to her brain. she is frail and the steroids have helped her a little with cognition. oncologist said she may live another 3 or 4 months without treatment but could possible live another year with chemo.

he also said that with chemo she wont be any better off health-wise it could just prolong her life. am concerned that the risks outweigh the benefits. the chemo will probably reek havoc on her since she isn't too well now. it's basically a lose-lose situation. if she takes the treatment it could kill her and if she doesn't it will kill her.

any professionals or people with experience please offer advice

[dojomama]

How does your mom feel about it?  If she is at peace with no treatment, enjoy the time she has left with her.  Basically, she needs to decide how she wants to spend it and decide on what quality of life she wants.

My mom had a bad reaction to chemo, it almost killed her, she came back home 4 months later only to find out the following week that it had spread.  She didn't have any more chemo, but she did have radiation in December to make sure that she didn't die at Christmas, she didn't want to leave that legacy to her kids.  I had chemo last summer for stage 1b, and now I have a new nodule.  I spent 3-5 days after each chemo treatment in bed, ill and sleeping.  Mine's still restricted to the lung, so I will have chemo again.  If I'm ever terminal, I'll spend my last days making happy memories with my son.

Good luck with this, it isn't an easy time.  I remember and I'm looking ahead.  Do what is best for your mom and your family.