Hi and welcome.. ignore the statistics. They are nothing but a distraction. Your mom needs to have someone go with her to the appointments. Using the tape recorder is a good idea. Your mom should ask for copies of all medical reports and keep her own file. It could come in handy later, once she is more savvy about her lung cancer, in making treatment choices or visiting other docs, or maybe comparing notes with others on this site. As has been said, your mom, you and the rest of your family are going through the worse times now. It will get better as she garners hope and follows a plan. There is lots of hope.
Don M