well, she has Hepatitis C, so I don't think there is a set time. My mother got Hepatitis C in 1979 (from a blood transfusion after giving birth to me) and just passed away last week, so you can live a long time with it I guess. Of course it attacked my mother's liver causing cerosis, which ultimately was the cause of death, I really don't know about Pam.
Yeah, Hep. C is a fucking bitch.