Hello Lisa1924 and thanks for posting

I am sorry to hear about your mum, this must be a worrying time for you and all the family.

Unfortunately, it will only be once the doctors have run all the tests and gathered all the information about the cancer that they then can give a full overview of the type and stage of cancer this is and what treatment may be best for your mum moving forward.

As you can see here if this cancer is at an advanced stage, which it seems it may be, surgery may not be the best treatment for your mum. Whilst surgery can sometimes be carried out in advanced disease, when cancer is in other places in the body surgery will not be able to remove every cancer cell. Sometimes surgery will still be an option if they think it will be beneficial or relieve symptoms but it could cause more complications and delay other systemic treatments such as chemo or targeted treatments can will aim to seek out and destroy all cancer cells wherever they are in the body.

Hopefully, the specialist will speak to you and your mum and you will know more soon.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9 am till 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Best wishes,

Naomi