To "soldotna"
I don't know where you live nor how much you know of biopsy results of what kind of cancer she has. I would recommend you & she find out if her dr. deals regularly with her type of cancer and whether or not he consults with other specialists. My son opted to go to Oklahoma University Med Center surgeon, and his oncologist consulted with M.D. Anderson in Houston. At age 38, he learned he had stomach cancer that had grown up into the base of his esophagus in Aug. 2004. He was sent directly to a surgeon, who removed the top of his stomach and his entire esophagus--this because the biopsy showed it was adenocarcinoma, which is "one of the top 10 cancers you don't want to have," his doctor said.. (A friend of ours had the esophagus removed and the stomach attached to his throat) He had 4 to 5 months of chemo, no radiation was decided by the doctors. The pathology of removed tissue showed his cancer had grown through the stomach wall and shed cells before he had pain that took him to find out what was wrong, and a year later it showed up in his intestines--no treatment there that would be successful more than a few months so he decidedagainst it. The adenocarcinoma can show up in any organ of the body--some parts are more accepting of radiation and chemo from what I understand.
This may not be what you want to hear, but I felt you need to know that the best thing you can do is be informed and be with her, encourage her and support her fight all you can. We believed our son had beat it! He faced it with great faith in God and a fighting attitude--and was shocked when he learned it had spread. Miracles still happen. Our son, his wife and sons, and all our family decided to pray for a miracle healing. He felt closer to the Lord than ever, and in times of bad pain during testing, etc. he was convinced that Jesus carried part of his pain as he focused on Him. If you are Christian, that may be helpful for you to pass along to your Mom.
Okiemom