Hi everyone,

My mother was diagnosed with a small tumour in her ureter in October 2016. Unfortunately she has only had CT scans done. On admission to hospital for a general anaesthetic investigation in January 2017, the anaesthetist found she had a heart murmur. Further tests revealed this was severe aortic stenosis. She needs a heart aortic valve (we have been told by the specialists this can be done at short notice for her due to her condition). She is still unsure whether to go ahead with open heart surgery as she is 85 years old and feels well in herself (she has no breathlesses or any heart issues at the moment).

Unfortunately, she can't undergo any treatment for her ureter unless she has her heart valve replaced as any anaesthetic to deal with the ureter is too risky. The heart needs fixing first. Her small tumour is slightly growing in the ureter and she is experiencing some light bleeding when passing urine (the bleeding has been going on for nearly two years, but very little blood loss). The specialists have told her that the only way to deal with this would be a removal of the kidney and ureter (ureteronephrectomy).

Does anyone have any advice? She's a very fit lady who is full of life and she just doesn't know whether she's prepared to put her life on the line with a big heart operation (but ultimately unless she has this op she can't cure her cancer) ... or whether to just continue with no treatment at all? (as is the case at the moment).

It's such a difficult decision.