Jaundice and stomach cancer

[mummynumnum]

My mil was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in the stomach with the stomach cancer grown outside of stomach wall and into other Areas like the bone. She has been amazing and it is so sad as she got all cleAr from breastcancer first time round. She is on hormone therapy and not on chemo yet and they have ruled out surgery. She has been doing ok but has developed jaundice over weekend and we are really worried. She had blood tests fri and results due mon but won't let us take her to hosp tonight. Should we insist? How bad a sign is this jaundice?

My dad developed jaundice when a tumour he had in his pancreas blocked a bile duct. The doctors sent him to hospital straight away after seeing him jaundiced. They told us it isn't good to stay that way for weeks but a few days would be ok. So maybe you could hang on until monday. Obviously i can understand you wanting to take her tonight! But if she won't go, she should be ok to wait until tomorrow.

So sorry about your MIL. :(

Jaundice means her liver drainage is being obstructed - most likely by the tumour I'm afraid. They can sort of replumb things to minimise the blockage but as the cancer progresses the jaundice will return. It's not very good news tbh but then with cancer that has spread there isn't really good news as such. It can be treated. A friend of mine had an obstruction like this, caused by a umour addressed two or three times before it became impossible. Has you mil got a nurse contact/hospital ward she can ring for advice? She probably needs to be seen in hospital tbh.

I think she is determined to wait till tomorrow. She does my childcare and she is stubbornly refusing to give in. Hence the refusing to go tonight. I strongly believe in letting her decide but was so shocked by how she looked today. So late now I suppose it cant wait till tomorrow. Think she has white stools as well. Dont like doing internet searches but she asked me to look and was worried as q few said jaundice=weeks to live. She really wants the tumour in her stomach taken out but wont as it has spread already. They wanted to do bypass but she said no.

Thanks for thoughtsx

Mil got appt for hosp thurs but she saw gp today and he is ringing hosp tomorrow to try and get her seen sooner as he is v worried.

Glad she's been seen. Sounds like your GP is on the case. If she worsens take her straight to hospital.

Deffo. Think we were hoping for years more with her but worrying it could be weeks now. Must find strength to support dh and his family through this.

It's very, very hard to face. We lost bil a few weeks ago - just so sad and exhausting.

The jaundice may well be treatable though not ultimately curable. Try and stay positive if you can.