Ongoing Treatment for NSCLC Stg 4

I'm a caregiver for my 58 year old Mother who was diagnosed with Stage 4 NSCLC (in September 07)that gone to her brain. They did immediate full brain radation on the brain tumors since they we causing swelling and she was passing out. This is actually how we discovered she had cancer. After the radation was completed they started her on a Carbo/Cisplatin cocktail that took 4 to 5 hours to complete each time she went in. The first cycle was great and everything had shrunk. after the Second cycle tests showed growth a new spot on her liver and she had neropathy so they stopped it. At that point They decided on alimta for the next round of treatment. She had been getting treatment every three weeks starting in June '08. Recently to give her a break they extended it to every 4 weeks. She has had 30 cycles of alimta with very few side effects. Those being fatigue and has short term memory loss but that is from the radiation. The tumors in her brain were gone shortly after the radiation was over. The tumor in her lung is barely detectable now and there is just a tiny spot on her liver. That wouldn't even be called cancer if they hadn't already seen something there.

She has never been what I would call a fighter. Although from the above account it may appear differently. She has had trouble with drugs and drinking her whole life. Her diet is really bad and I have always been more of a mom to her than vice versa. She will even admit this. I am completely the oppisite. I have never done drugs, I only drink socially, I eat pretty healthy and go to the gym regularly. I come to her house every week and orgianize her pills for her. I pick her up and drive her to the treatments and dr visits. I stay with her while she is at the treatment center and then take her home after. The treament itself is only about 10 mins but she gets blood drawn and has a dr visit on the same day. So the whole trip including driving to and from the hospital is about 5-6 hours. We chat in the car, watch tv at the infusion center and usually go have lunch.

Lately She has been complaining about the trip to the hospital and the treatments and is talking about taking a break from the Chemo. She says she feels ok but she is just tired of going there. I think it's a terrible idea because I truly beleive this treatment is what is keeping her alive. Ultmately it is her decision but considering the fact that she is now on disability fighting her cancer is the only thing she has to do and she only needs to do that every 4 weeks. I know people deal with things differently but this is just really hard to comprehend. Can anyone help me understand this or am I right? Should I push her to continue or let her take her "break". She had been having the alimta treatments for 1 year and 10 months now. Has anyone heard of being on this treatment this long?

I am willing to listen to any advice or comments you may have.