Helen
I if good thoughts could fix this you have them for sure...I don't know how hard it is to be in the driver seat making treatment decisions but I do know how hard it is to be a passenger,re your Mom...THe only way to is to have a frank disscusion with her regarding treatment and of course encourage her to be aggressive but be prepared to accept her choices..my granddad is 92 and also bright as a button dealing with several TIA's and possible carotid aterey surgery which they are not sure he can survive and his attitude is GO FOR IT..He is not saying that lightly he knows without the surgery he has a possible greater chance of survivng with a lesser quality of life but ultimately it will be his choice