Hello and thanks for posting

I'm sorry to read about your mother in law's situation. This must be a difficult time for you all.

Unfortunately it isn't possible to predict absolutely how long someone has left to live.  Sometimes the doctors estimate in weeks or months. But they are often reluctant to commit any more than this as there is always a lot of uncertainty about how any advanced cancer will behave. And cancer can behave differently in each person so you cannot predict with any accuracy what will happen. 

The GP has overall responsibility for a person's healthcare at home. They can assess your mother in law and prescribe medications to help manage her symptoms. They can also refer her to a  palliative care team. In some areas palliative care nurses are called Macmillan nurses. Their area of expertise is in the management of cancer symptoms, such as pain and they provide emotional support to the patient and family. You can read more about their role by clicking here.  You can also read more about palliative care on the Marie Curie website here.  As the palliative care team get to know your mother in law and assess her condition they may be able to offer some advice on her prognosis but please bear in mind this will only be an estimated time frame .

We do have information about the support that can be available to people with cancer at home at this link.  

I hope this is of some use. Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene