skin cancer advice required.

[condor]

Hi
My Mum has had melanomas on her scalp for the last year...had radiotherapy and laser treatment to zap them etc.
In the last couple of weeks she's had a small pea like lump in her throat which (after a biopsy) has now turned into the size of a small potato ( this is mum's terminology) - as of today, she's also got another lump in her throat.
She has refused chemotherapy, my question is how long has she likely to have left?

[stackmonkey]

Sorry to hear about your mum, but I think this is one for the professional medics to answer...

[drivin_me_nuts]

Medical people straight away. But also deal with the stress side of the Cancer. How is your mum coping with the stress and anxiety of the diagnosis etc?

[condor]

At the moment she doesn't want to talk about it, but the medical people are aware of her new situation. The thinking by my Dad seems to be October, I was just wondering if that was a realistic time frame...or was it more likely to be sooner rather than later.

I live approx 250 miles away and am visiting in 3 weeks time.

[Driller]

condor said:

At the moment she doesn't want to talk about it, but the medical people are aware of her new situation. The thinking by my Dad seems to be October, I was just wondering if that was a realistic time frame...or was it more likely to be sooner rather than later.

I live approx 250 miles away and am visiting in 3 weeks time.

Get over as often as you can to see her. My mother had cancer for 2.5 years before passing away and I live in France. From what I know of what your mother has, it may well be before October.

Sorry for her bad news. Try to make the most of the time you have with her.

[Nubbin]

No-one can accurately answer the question "How long....?" The important thing is to get there and be part of the family. Be there so you have no regrets when the worst of things happens, and be there to give, and receive, support and love.

From a cold and clinical point of view, the neck area is an awful place to get secondary growth, because of all the vital structures, and the small space available for the tumour to grow.

My sympathies are with you and your mum. Just enjoy the time you have left with her.

[condor]

Thanks for your replies - It's better to know that it's likely to be sooner...rather than be overly optimistic that she has plenty of time left.
It gives time to prepare for change...I think it's likely I'll be needing to move down there as I'll need to look after my father when her time comes.