Hello,
I find myself in a situation where I feel very helpless but in need of information.
One and a half years ago, my grandmother died of colon cancer. At that time, my aunt started losing weight and was diagnosed with Stomach or Intestinal Cancer. She lives in another state and is surrounded by family but the information they are providing about her current health status doesn't seem to match her symptoms.
No one is saying that she is terminal.
She has continued to drop weight since last year and is now down to 97 pounds. A few months after her diagnosis, doctors tried to remove the tumor but during surgery decided not to proceed. (I was never really given the reason why they couldn't remove the turmor.)
She has been undergoing chemotherapy for about 1 year and is now so weak that doctors have suspended the chemotherapy. They have reported that the tumor isn't growing, but it isn't shrinking. Further, she can't eat so hospice has been called in to assist with liquid nutrition.
She is 63 years old and will be moving in with her eldest duaghter. Hospice will visit several times per week.
I am familiar with hospice. Should I conclude that bringing in hospice means that she will die soon?
How long does chemotherapy last? Is one year of chemotherapy normal?
After one year of chemotherapy, do doctors simply give up?
Perhaps I should know the answer to these questions, but I am so in the dark concerning this disease that I am reaching for any information that I can find.
Thanks in advance to all.
D.