Hello - my name is Meg and my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 squamos cell in her gums one month ago. My mom is 75, weighs 100 pounds, many teeth problems (infections, root canals, etc.) highly anxious emotional state (takes 5-15 milligrams valium per day), smoker for 50 years and not quitting - overall a very compromised immune system.

Anyways, after one month of meeting doctors - oncologist, radiologist, etc. the prescribed treatment plan was radiation plus chemotherapy for 7 weeks, 5 days a week. Doctors said my mom was too old for any surgical treatment - prognosis was 60% probability treatment would cure cancer. Additionally, automatic feeding tube and morphine would be needed. And before this begins she would need to have all teeth work completed.

after much thought my mom decided not to pursue radiation/chemo at this time. she recognizes the challenges of the treatment course and does not believe she can live through the treatment. her children (me plus 4 others) agree with this course of action right now - we believe every one of these appointments has taken one month off her remaining life. the drs were appalled that we would not go through with the treatment - every one of them - while at the same time recognzing the severity of the treatment on such a compromised physical health situation.

however, - none of these doctors gave us any specifics as what to expect next since we are not going through with treatment - is there anyone out there who can provide some details on what to expect and what we should be looking for. she is going to be monitored once a month to check the growth and to see if it has metastasized. what should we expect and what should we be looking for?? thank you very much