Hello Michael

You and your mother must be devastated about this diagnosis. Yes do get a second opinion which your mum is entitled to. Doctors are reluctant to perform invasive surgery, including biopsies, on patients who are frail or of advanced age due to the high risk of complications. The care team will have discussed all the options and often the best way forward is to take no action and focus on quality of life. Having been through surgery, radiotherapy etc myself, if offered it now in my seventies, let alone my eighties, I would decline, it is just too brutal for anyone that is not younger and reasonably fit. I recently turned down surgery which would have necessitated the removal of my ear, side of my face and part of my shoulder as my life  would have been made quite miserable. I opted for immunotherapy as palliative care and get on with living with the cancer and help from the oncology team managing my symptoms. Hopefully something similar can be arranged to give your mum the best life possible.

Rd