Some advice PLEASE. Hypercalcemia

Hello. Looking for some advice. My mum has had secondary breast cancer for 18 months  and recently had hypocalcemia

She's now back on chemo but my question is, is hypercalcemia always the sign that the end stages are here ?  Lost a lot of mobility and seems ok one day and a bit not quite so with it on others ? Eating very little and pain increasing.  I want to try And be prepared.... What has everyone else's experience been please ? 

  • Hello, and first of all I am so sorry that you and your Mother are going through this.  To answer your question, yes, Hypercalcemia is often (but not always) a sign that the end is near for a person with terminal cancer.  Other signs are physical weakness, no longer being able to do the things you used to do, and not wanting to eat much food.  Also, an increase in pain is a sign.  Please forgive me if I have been too honest with you, but I believe that you deserve to hear the truth, instead of sugar-coating.  I know that when I was caring for my own Mum, who died of cancer, I very much wanted to know the truth of her condition.......even if the truth was hard to take.  Once again, so sorry for your awful situation, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your Mother, xx

  • Please don't apologise.  Like you , I just feel I have a need to know what's coming down the track.  I know everyone isn't the same. Thank you for your honesty.  She's definitely sleeping more but seems okay when awake tho not quite her self at the same time. She eats so little. Do you think we're talking weeks maybe a couple of months or so ? 

    Thank you again x

  • Hello again.  It is almost impossible to predict how long your Mother has got........cancer is such an unpredictable disease........however, from what you have said, and from my own personal experience of having stage 4 cancer and also seeing loads of my family members die from this illness, I would say that MAYBE your Mother has a few months........perhaps just weeks.  Once again, so sorry for you and your Mother, xx

  • Thank you again for your reply and I'm sending you all the very best in your experience with this bloody awful illness xx

  • Thank you so much, and likewise, I send all the best to you and your Mother, xx