Any medical people around please ? I need the bottom line on this situation.

[Kittypickle]

I wonder if someone could help a bit with this. MIL is in Spain which means the amount of information filtering through is poor and it's hard to know what is going on.
She's 75 and was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagos at the beginning of the year. She had chemo, radiotherapy and a new drug in the summer.Scans showed in the summer that the cancer hadgone supposedly from the 50% of the esophagos that it was previously covering, but that there was a small "weakness" that the consultant couldn't be sure there was nothing behind, so she had a further 3 sessions of a radiotherapy via a tube inserted down her throat, if I understood that correctly.
She lost a lot of weight in the summer as expected as she couldn't eat and was really really weak. Then all of a sudden she rallied.
She was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago and she now has pneumonia, shingles (external and now in her ear), some mention of fluid on the lungs, a kidney infection and her heart rate was very high, although a bit lower now.
Very bad day last Thursday where morphine wasn't working, then the next day she has been sent home. She has a doctor and nurse in daily, is on oxygen and goodness knows what drugs. They say apparently that the "pneumonia" is a little better. But apparently although she is now eating reasonably well, she is losing weight (under 7 stones now).
DH has 3 brothers and sisters and they are taking it in turns to go out, his poor Dad is 80 and had a triple bypass 3 years ago. DH is going out on Friday and planning to talk to the doctor, he's lining up a translator in case their english is poor, we really want to know what the score is with this.
I have absolutely no experience of this whatsoever but common sense is telling me that her chances of making it through this are extremely slim. What happens with pneumonia, I know it is a big killer of her age group, but how exactly does it kill people ? Any idea what we can expect over the next few weeks, I know it is incredibly hard to say without knowing properly her medical history, but anything anyone could say on this would be a huge help as I find the whole thing like we are poking around in the dark at the moment. His sister was saying today that she feels she has been sent home basically because they want her to be comfortable at home for her last days, which I'm guessing is probably right.
Sorry this is so long and thank you if anyone has made it this far. I'm off to have some dinner but will be back in a bit.

Kittypickle - I dont have medical experience - but wondered why no one else had answered your question . However my BF Dad passed away last yr - From Lung Cancer . His whole family were in denial that he would die so when it happened - they all appeared in total shock . But he had started to deterioate like your MIL. He too got Shingles (apparently quite commonly linked to cancer treatment)had fluid in his lungs and his death certificate states that cancer and Pneumonia killed him - I think its just your bodys way of shutting down . But obviously i can only speak from what happened to him and every situation is different - Cant you speak to NHS direct? a nurse there may help you? or there must be some cancer charities you could google who have a support centre for families suffering from cancer. Lets hope some 1 else posts something of help. I hope I havent upset you with what i said , hopefully your MIL situation is totally different - but it is better to be forwarned and get as much info as you can.

Kitty, we lost MIL to cancer a few years ago and a friend recently lost their mother to cancer as well, I think your instincts are right I'm afraid, I would suggest your dh's family go out and spend these last few days with their mother.

Thank you both for answering. I usually ask my very good friend who is a nurse these sorts of questions, but she is recovering from septicemia and needs rest - I will be SO glad to see the back of 2006 !
Once DH has gone out at the weekend, it will only be one of his brothers who won't have seen her recently so I think we will have to work on him. He firmly is in denial, just says "we'll see" if anyone suggests she might not make it through.
This whole distance thing is a complete PITA and I am not liking it at all, it makes everything about 20 times more difficult. I think I'll see how DH gets on with the spanish doctors at the weekend, if no joy I am going to speak to my GP and see if she can give me a better idea of what to expect.

Kittypickle - I think your instincts are right. Keep working on the brother who hasn't been to visit - he will have to live with guilt and regret if he doesn't go to see her.
Sorry to be so blunt in this very sad situation, but honesty is better in the end.
Cancer Bacup is a very good voluntary organisation you can contact via the web.
Also, you could get in touch with your local hospital and ask for contact details of your local MacMillan nurses. Although your MIL is abroad, they may be able to talk to you and give you some information.
So sorry you are having to cope with this.

I've got my head back up the sand and resigned to what I see as the inevitable now having thought about it. She hasn't been part of our lives really so it's easy to forget about it and feel very distant, but I have decided I can't really as things like what will happen to his Dad do need talking about now before everyone becomes completely grief stricken. What I really could do with knowing is how long we are talking about. I will see what happens with DH and the spanish doctors over the weekend then start ringing around next week I think.

Thank you all for your help, it is very much appreciated