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Secondary bowel cancer progression

smileyduck123
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Hi,

my mum has stage 4 secondary bowel cancer that has spread to her ovaries and lungs, we are unaware if it's spread since (she refused anymore scans 2 years ago) and is not having any treatment at all. 
lately she has been increasingly out of breath and recently had pneumonia and covid at the same time. 
since recovering from this, she is now having to use oxygen 24/7, due to oxygen levels of 88 constantly even with the oxygen, she is complaining of what she calls 'lung pain' and is on 180mg zomorph and 30ml oramorph a day, she is also losing weight and my question is, do we think this is a sign of a the disease progression? She isn't able to take off her oxygen anymore, and as a family we need to know if we need to prepare for the worst?

 

we are worried sick 

 

thank you in advance 

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    Oh sweetheart I'm so sorry to hear this about your mum and you and your family.you need to talk with McMillan nurses they will know what to do and know what is what and hopefully answer your questions and support you, they aren't just thete for your mum they there for the whole family so you shluid beable to speak to them from your point of view in private, I'm sure they will help guide you a d help you. 

    Try to stay strong sending lots of love and healing xx

  • Hello smileyduck123 and thanks for posting,

    I am sorry to learn about your mum and can appreciate this is a difficult time for everyone.

    I can understand you asking, but I'm afraid I don't know if this increasing breathlessness is a sign of the cancer progressing or if there is another reason for it.

    In case it is something that could be helped with some treatment, I think it would be a good idea to let the GP or the palliative care team (if they are already involved) know so they can make an assessment and decide what is going on. (Palliative care teams include nurses who are sometimes called Macmillan nurses and give advice about controlling symptoms caused by advanced cancers. They work in hospitals and the community).

    I hope you can easily get in touch with someone involved in your mum's care to get a better understanding of how things are for her at the moment.

    Give us a ring if you want to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays, from 9-5. 

    Best wishes,

    Julia

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