what to expect please?

Hallo, my 87 yo mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year (June 2024) after collapsing and having emergency surgery to remove a large tumour. Prior to this she had surgery for skin cancer on her ear, she was told that the cancers were not linked and that the bowel tumour had been removed completely. I was surprised at the non-linkage as it can be common in people of our background but she appears White. We did try to follow up. She had more scans recently after we followed up because she was poorly. She has been told today that she has a liver cancer and needs a PET scan which will be booked, and the nurse who called today said that chemo will not give quality of life but she may have "zapping". What does this mean please? I have looked at the NHS site. Am I right to say to her that it is best to wait for the PET scan results and then she will be advised of treatment options/palliative? Thank you

  • Hi CleoM I am so sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis.  She really has been through it , hasnt she.  I think the nurse means radiotherapy when she said zapping it.  They cant confirm any treatment plan until they get the PET scan results.  I am having palliative treatment which gives you the best quality of life that you can have.  Good luck with your mothers journey.

  • Offline in reply to leelaloo

    Thank you Leelaloo, I am very grateful for your reply and it does make things clearer. I wish you all of the best wishes and hope that your own journey is a kind one. Thank you again for replying to me, my Mother is a bit confused and it is so helpful what you have written. Take care