Is it normal for terminally ill cancer patients to have really bad days and then bounce back?

[PussinJimmyWhoooos]

MIL terminally ill with cancer (have posted here lots about it before). She's been stable for a good few weeks but the last three days she was really bad - bad pain, no energy etc and then today, back to being stable again - is this normal? What does it mean?

Hi,
Sorry to hear about your mil. Is she very near the end do you think?
In my very limited experience of terminal patients when working on a paediatric medical ward, I did notice this happening with children who were at the very final stages of their lives. A really lovely consultant from a hospice explained to me that it can be to do with swelling on the brain being reduced due to dehydration, causing the patient to seem more 'well' than close to the end.
It's all very sad, but I had thought that in a way it can be a chance for everyone to say a nice goodbye.
hope it's not too painful for you.

My mum was in a hospice for a couple of weeks before she died. On my sis 16th bday the hospice did a party for her and she seemed to really come round talking , eating etc. It was such a lovely surprise to have that last 'normal' day with her. Although sadly in our experience this was very near the end.
Sorry to hear about your mil.

I don't think she is very near the end....well, its really hard to say as she has already exceeded the time the Drs gave her iyswim? Its all very tense..poor DH is in bits..

well, maybe she was just feeling a bit rough for a few days instead, it must be so hard seeing a lo in pain and knowing that she will die soon and you know the pain you will all suffer.
There are a few people on hear who have lost lo to cancer reently, maybe it would be worth asking some advice on how to cope with the this period of limbo that you are all in.
I imagine that if you can make this time special and be very kind to yourselves, then after she has died you will have a small bit of comfort.
Is there any way your dh can speak to her consultant, to ask questions you may not be able to ask your mil?

Sorry to hear this Pussin

My friend had a few episodes like this and exceeded her sell by date (as we called it) but she couldn't continue to fight the cancer.

I don't know why people react like this tbh. It seems like false hope for the onlooker but at least it gives the person suffering the illness a bit of respite.