I am the primary care giver for my 75 year old aunt who has had surgery four times in the past ten years for meningiomas. She underwent proton radiation for six weeks about a year ago. She found a small growth above her clavicle starting last fall (2007) which has now grown to about 8x4 inches and 5 inches high. It is pushing up under her chin and now fills her neck area on one side. It is thought to be a metastisis of her meningioma. Her speech is almost unintelligible, I imagine from damage to the speech area of the brain. She does talk but most of the words are not what she intends.
She is under hospice care, (a weekly assessment from a visiting nurse). Her vital signs are good and she has a good appetite. She does seem weak and complains of dizziness, but is able to dress herself and walk to her kitchen.
She asserts that last September 2007, her neurologist told her she had 3 months to live, and she has been waiting to die since then. The whole family is wondering what to expect. We are happy to have her with us still, but, it is hard not knowing what is going on.
Since she went on hospice care, no brain scans or other diagnostic tests have been available (medicare won't cover), so we don't really know what is going on in her brain, liver or lungs.
Do you have knowledge of patients with similar situations? Can you share any knowledge you have helping us know what to expect?
Thanks