Hi Angela, welcome to the forum, but so sorry for why you're here. This certainly is not a good year for you and your family. Losing your Dad just months ago and now dealing with a cancer diagnosis for your Mom is more than any family should have to go through. I can only speak to experiences I have had with family and loved ones going through cancer and what the oncologists will tell you. I guess I'm a very direct person and when I ask a question, I want an honest answer to the best of their ability. I've found some of them do their best to answer as honestly as they can. It is not always possible to be completely accurate in giving expected times that death might occur and I know they are cautious about that. I think though, before you or another family member asks the question of one of your Mom's doctors, you really need to find out whether or not your Mom wants to know. Not knowing you or your Mom, its' difficult for me or anyone else to tell you whether or not you should ask her that question. Has she been open about her diagnosis and has she expressed any interest in knowing what to expect? What about when your Dad was dying? Did you get a sense from her then as to whether or not she would want to know? As far as asking the doctor out of her presence, I doubt whether he/she would answer that question.

I don't know if this has been any help to you, but I thought perhaps having something to think about might give you some direction in deciding how to go about this issue. Good luck to your Mom as she goes through this experience with cancer and I wish all of you peace at this difficult time.

Take care.

Lorraine