My 79 year old mom has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.  The two
reasonable options that she has been given are doing nothing, which would
give her maybe up to a year, and radiation treatments, which could add
another year, and possibly a little more.  The problem is, she's an insulin
dependent diabetic, above knee wheelchair bound amputee, with history of
conjestive heart failure and chronic renal failure.  She is no longer able
to do much more than sit in her chair all day, due to cognitive impairment
due to a stroke.  She does have a a stoic attitude, though, and never
complains much. She's very child-like, really, and very sweet. She is
leaving this decision up to my husband and me.  Oh, what a dilemma.  I feel
guilty not giving her the chance for more time, but I don't want to risk
any possible complications that radiation might present.  She's been
through so much in the past four years of life.  Before that she was
relatively healthy, sharp as a tack, and  as active as a twenty year old.

Can anyone give me some idea of some of the things that COULD happen to her
if she undergoes this radiation treatment.  The doc says she'd need 25
treatments, over a five to six week period.  He said there is a small risk
of damage to the esophogus, and skin burn, as well as making her fatigued.
It doesn't sound all that bad, but I want the real picture, if anyone can
give it to me!  This will really make me feel better if I decided to do
nothing, which is the direction in which we're now leaning.  Please help if
you can.

Thanks

Linda