Amy, I can tell you that four weeks out I was feeling pretty miserable physically, and probably even worse mentally because at that point I had been feelings really miserable for so long (a couple of months) that it seemed like it would never get better. I think saying that your mother "would be in the same state a year from now" shows a pretty strong lack of understanding in terms of just how bad this treatment can make you feel and how long after it's over you feel bad. Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving and it is only around now that she should start to notice any improvements--many people get *worse* for several weks after radiation is over--and the improvements that do start to happen will probably be very gradual.

On top of that, the ant-anxiety meds and the zoloft, while they may be keeping her from serious depression or panic, could also be making her kind of indifferent to things she might normally care about.

I agree with you in pushing the "tiny walk outside" every day, and in pushing for her to feed herself and learn how to do her own meds, but please try to lower your expectations about how she should be feeling right now. And try to put yourself in her shoes--you are frustrated with how long it is taking her to show any improvement but you aren't the one in pain,vomiting phlegm and comptely fatigued by the radiation--just think how frustrating it must be for HER that it takes so long to feel better.

Nelie