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Just starting out on this journey…
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Oct 31, 2022 | Replies (9)Comment receiving replies
Hi! Thank you for your empathy. My mom is not capable of fully understanding this new diagnosis. I believe she will know the word cancer and what it is, but not fully comprehend the implications and what it will mean for her. As for pain, she is in discomfort. She hasn’t expressed actual pain, but she is having trouble swallowing, slurping all the time, and swallowing pills is difficult.
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JMF, this helps me understand your mom's situation a bit better. I'd like to tag a few of our long-time and helpful members like @alpaca @loli @hrhwilliam and @calenbd to bring them into this discussion. They have had treatments for oral cancer and can share a bit more about their experiences or answer your questions as you and your siblings face decisions about your mom's care.
This article offers a comprehensive list of questions you may consider asking her care team.
– Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/oral-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/questions-ask-health-care-team
I can imagine that you're most concerned with your mom's comfort and helping her live her final days with as little pain and confusion as possible. Has your mom been offered a palliative care team that can offer comfort care? Are you familiar with palliative care?