Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 4/7/2008

Question
my mother in law has been diagnosed with lung and brain cancer
she has recently been readmitted to hospital she has lost the use of her legs shakes and twitches she is incontinent doesnt know who we are anymore really confused talking about events that happend ove 30 yrs ago as if its happend yesterday
she has slowly forgot how to swallow properly and is now recieving fluids thru a drip
she suffers with a lot of pain and complains of doule vision she is on oxygen now bwcause her sat levels keep falling
she is 68 we hate to see her suffer like this how much longer do u think she has it seems so cruel she is not living she is just existing
she is also slleping a lot
any advice wud be appreciated
thanks

Answer
It is probably her lung cancer that has spread to her brain - a rather common development. Her symptoms can be reduced with radiation therapy to her brain but it can not cure her unfortunately. Even with such therapy her survival time can probably be measured in months - at most - or even weeks if no radiation is used. She will get more and more confused, sleep more and more, then drift into a coma and then pass away. There may also be stroke like symptoms and even epileptic fits. there will be very little pain - if any. Unfortunately her prognosis is very bad. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!