What would my mom's quality of life be like with colon cancer if we did nothing?

Oh Annie, I am so sorry you and your mother are in this situation. I hope (and expect) someone with experience will answer. What have the doctors said about the prognosis with and without treatment?

Is your mother of sound mind? What does she want to do? I suppose you are gather information for her. I wish you all the best.

She is of sound mind and does not want surgery. We just want to be sure NOT having surgery would not be a worse choice.

She has the right to choose and so does the surgeon have the duty to present all the risks to her. She could die in surgery. She could end up with a serious dementia. If she is blocked up now, her time left will very brief and will need morphine.

If it was my mom, I'd try to talk to an objective physician who is NOT a surgeon to see if it was his mom, what he or she would recommend. Surgeons exist to operate, so they have a vested interest in getting your mom to agree to surgery. If she has a primary care physician or even her cardiologist might be able to give you an objective opinion as to her best option. Also do your own research online - you can find a wealth of information about almost anything. Also, talk to several hospice organizations to see how they could help your mom if she decides to just let nature take its course.

I am sorry to hear about your mother. How is your mum doing? Did she receive any treatment?

At her age, treatment for colon cancer will be rough. She could opt for the surgery alone. This could add some time to her life if that is what she wants. The choice is hers, particularly at her age. I doubt seriously that she would want to go through the chemo. It can be mighty rough.

The doctor has probably already told you that without the surgery the intestine can become blocked. The cancer will also spread to the other organs of the body. This last isn't a problem that concerns your mother, but the blocking of the intestine would be. If she elects not to have the surgery, do you plan to call hospice in? They should be able to help some with the pain.

Oh, I see this is a month-old thread. I'm sure all decisions are made already. :)

I'm in a hospital right now with my 88 years old mother. They think she has colon cancer and a blockage. She's in a lot of pain but they're giving her morphine. I am so sad and scared on what to do and what's ahead. And even if she's old and so am I, the only thing I can do is cry. She's my mom....

Oh my Blackcloudone, I'm so sorry to hear this news about your mom. I hope the meds will help with her pain. Do you have someone to be with you? Maybe, once you get all the information, you'll be better able to sort things through. Let us know how things are going.

Hi Annie, how are things going? It's been about a Month with your mothers situation.... it's only been a week with my mom same as yours only she has no heart problem. We came home yesterday from the hospital. We decided not to do surgery. The hospital doctor told me that her stomach would blow up etc etc. but he didn't tell me all the risks of the operation.The surgeon told me that she would go in robotically but if she can't reattached the colon or finds more she would have to open her up. My mom is all there mentally but what about the anesthesia??? We are with hospice, the only thing I want for her is to be pain free. im trusting hospice to keep my mom comfortable with how much longer she has.

Thank you sunny girl for your compassion