My 77 year old grandmother was diagnosed with cancer a few months back. It started when she was experiencing pain in her gallbladder and had it removed. Upon removing the gallbladder they found cancer and believed that the cancer may have spread to the liver. About three weeks ago she had MAJOR surgery and more cancer was found (they removed a tumor the size of a golfball and with it as much of the liver as they could without killing her, but there is still more in there). I have not gotten a definite as to what stage they believe the cancer to be at but the doctors did not say it was absolutely terminal nor have they said that she has an excellent chance of survival. The most we have gotten is that it is "survivable."
My question, though, revolves around the fact that, since her surgery, she has been in very rough shape. She was released about four days after the surgery and came home, where she got very, very sick. She was readmitted into the hospital where it was determined she had a variety of infections (urinary, bile duct I guess, CDiff) and she was in renal failure. Over the last few days she has gotten a little better even though she is still in the hospital and still in rough shape, her kidneys have begun to work again and it seems like she has turned a corner (in that this is not going to kill her). The doctors have not given a recovery time, if she continues to improve, but the concensus seems to be months. Her cancer is not being treated and I don't know/believe they would be able to start her on chemo until she is much, much better, which probably won't be for a while. I guess my question is simple, considering her age and how aggressive( from what I have read) liver cancer can be, was this a set back she could not really afford? Is the chemo itself something that could so devastate the body it might not even be worth it to put her through this? Sorry if this post is ill informed but it is all very new to myself and my family so I am just looking for some informed opinions about the reality of what my family will be facing. Thank you for any responses.