Oral Cancer - Help Needed

Hi my mum was diagnosed with oral cancer 6 weeks ago, she had been experiencing pain in her mouth for 4 montyhs prior to this, but was told by a Consultant at her hospital she needed new dentures, so we went private and paid £500 for new teeth! The pain didnt go away and eventually a biopsy was taken and she was told she had squamas cell carcinoma. After a full head and neck scan it has been revealed the cancer had spread to the jaw within 2 weeks. She is 78 and has heart problems, had a triple by pass 20 years ago, due to this they will not consider surgery and we agree. Radiotherapy will only giver her more time and they have said that her cancer cannot be cured now. We have decided that the side effects of radiotherapy again will be too much for her to cope with. What I want to try and find out is what will happen from here, where will it spread to next, how long before this happens. Will she get to a point where she cant eat and drink (shes struggling now and can only have sloppy things as she cant wear dentures due to pain and position of cancer.) She is type 1 diabetic, insulin dependant and I want to know how she will cope. What is the long term prognosis, has anyone been through this with a relative. My Mum is a very stong person, and can cope with pain, but she has her dignity and cant bear to think that she is going to suffer and have to lie there waiting to die. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks

Hi,

My mother has Head & neck cancer.  It has also spread to her lungs.  We found this out last year.  After a PET SCAN they also found cervical cancer.  They treated her with Cisplatin and Erbitux.  Mouth cancer and cervical cancer was gone and lung cancer was at bay.  Then it came back.  Squamous Cell Carcinoma is very aggressive.  It is also very painful in the mouth.  It is not curable in my mother either.  She is only 69.  The doctors can prescribe medication to help with the pain.  They also have magic mouthwash. 

I am sort of like you, I don't know what will happen next.  But I did want you to know that you are not alone.  They are others out there dealing with this dreaded cancer.

Pray and ask the Lord to give the doctors guidance in helping your mum.  And pray God will give you wisdom in how to give you mum the best care possible.

Donna

my husband cancer went from his tonsil/tongue to his lung. Now it keeps recurring in different lymphnodes in his chest and since he has had radiation in that area, it's no longer an option.  I've had one Dr tell me there is still a 70% cure rate but all of the others tell me all they can do at this point is slow the cancer down, not much hope of a cure.  This is a horrible disease and I pray that your loved ones and your families have the support you need to make it down this long trecherous road...We've been fighting it for 4 years and it is only getting more aggressive and taking it toll on my husband.

My prayers are with anyone who has to watch a loved one go through this.  I would rather go through it myself as I'm sure you would.  It's horrible from both sides and I feel for all on both sides of this disease, treatment and outcome.