My mother with colon cancer advanced stage.

Now is not the time for a move, please. Ask the nurse about the swollen legs. If you are seeing little pinpoint bruises on the legs, called petechiae, then things are breaking down and time is pretty short. Sorry you are going through this. Once she stops eating and drinking, about ten days. Hugs.

After having just moved from AZ to CA, with metastatic colon cancer it will not take long to end her life. Do not move her. She is already in hospice and given what you have told me and being a nurse, I would recommend just having her kept as comfortable as possible because it will not be long before the cancer wins. My condolences...

Very glad to hear you have a plan Mark. Prayers for you because caregiving is something I don't think anyone can ever "prepare" for. Stay encouraged.

My mom was diagnosed with advanced stage colon cancer as well. She hasn't had surgeries but will be on some form of chemo the rest of her life (she's a pretty vibrant 82 year old). She has had an extremely positive outlook since being diagnosed. There was a concerning stretch of time when she didn't have much of an appetite but that has gratefully changed now that she's on a new course of chemo.
I moved back home to be closer and help with her needs, the move has helped both of us - me with peace of mind & her knowing she isn't alone.

What does the dr say about moving? I think it would help her spirits to be in a different place other than her apt. Has she been evaluated mentally? This diagnosis can certainly weigh heavily and being able to talk through it can be helpful.

Mark, those last weeks of total dependence may be more than you can handle in her own home, I've seen too many on this forum totally traumatized by the enormity of those last months and weeks. It might not be practical to move her a great distance, but you may want to have a plan in place for 24 hour care just in case, I think almost any room can be made up to look like her own bedroom at that point.

Hugs and Warmth go out to you and your mother. My dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer 5 years ago...18months had he had a Seigmoidectomy under emergency surgery, he was offered a colostomy 5 years ago but refused to have the procedure done... The cancer had spread to lymph and liver. His appetite was minuscule but I made sure he had small amounts of home made chicken soup.. I nursed him for 6 months and as he became mobile and aggressive I moved out... My dad is still here and yesterday bought a new car!

I want to congratulate all who offered advice. Colon cancer requires monitoring to assure the patient is not in pain. On this Labor Day-we thank all caregivers for THEIR LABOR OF LOVE.

Your hospice nurse and/or social worker should be able to give you some idea of your mother's life expectancy. In addition to looking at nursing homes, you might want to learn more about residential hospice facilities in her present or potentially new area. My first husband died of cancer in 1959 before there were hospice residences where I lived. I would have preferred that setting if it had been available at the time.

Packing at home is always the best. I brought my husband home. If you can, it would be so much better for her. If not, someone should be with her at all times in the hospital. The last hours can be beautiful depending on the faith of the person. My husband died shouting, He is Beautiful....

I will not leave her alone in any case. But as for now, she is in her own environment, hospice people know her, etc. If she moves, she goes into a nursing home in a different state- all things - different. I am going there to look at the nursing homes myself first. The point is simple - if she stops walking- there will be a month or so to live and it would cruel to move her to a very different environment.
If not, if she stabilizes- we can move her. That;s the plan