My mom, age 83, has breast cancer. Turns out she found the lump almost 5 months before seeing a doctor (this is typical behavior for her).
She is adamant that she does not want chemo, but is willing to have a lumpectomy and radiation. My sisters and I support her decision against chemo, but my father lost it when she initially said that. I'm afraid he will pressure her to have chemo if they give her a bad prognosis after surgery.
Does anyone have experience with an elderly person getting chemo? Also, any experience with an elderly person and lumpectomy, mastectomy, and radiation?
My mother had an aunt who went through the mastectomy and radiation in her 80's and had a ROUGH time of it.
She just witnessed her pastor turn into a shell of his former self over the past 2 yrs with chemo and then die. One of her close friends has been battling lung cancer and getting chemo and having a rough time.
I accompanied her to her first oncologist appt this week. Dr asked her what she was willing to tolerate as treatment. She said NO CHEMO. He said most elderly say that. He did not push her at all.
She has good insurance.
The tumor size, hormone receptor type and any positive lymph nodes are factors used to stage breast cancer. A smaller tumor that has not spread may be removed by lumpectomy versus mastectomy which is no longer encouraged except for large tumors over a certain size. Sometimes in older patients they may not even do radiation treatments - just surgery tumor removal. Mastectomy is not always recommended.
My mother and MIL BOTH had a breast cancer tumor removed by lumpectomy - NO other treatments. My mother was age mid-70s and MIL was age early-80's. My mother is alive in NH at age 95. MIL passed at age 88 from other complicated health problems.
I was dx at age 49 with stage 2 breast cancer in 2006. Back then, if you had 1 positive lymph node you automatically got chemo. TODAY treatment protocols have ADVANCED with Oncotype testing to determine if chemo would benefit the patient. That testing was not available back then. Now SOME patients with a particular type of breast cancer can have 1 - 3 positive lymph nodes - AND with the Oncotype test confirm they may avoid chemo.
Do not jump to any conclusions yet - HOWEVER, I do agree that chemo is NOT an easy journey for some patients.
If the cancer is only in that one breast and is a very low Stage, have Mom ask her doctor if he/she thinks doing mastectomy might be a better choice. I know for myself, I had a mastectomy 13 years ago and didn't need chemo or radiation, but did have to take pills that I had trouble with side effect.
This can vary from patient to patient.
I'm just PRAYING that the lumpectomy and radiation will buy her a few years. I lost a relative to lymphoma a few years ago and watching her go through chemo was horrible.
Both lived another 10 years, and neither died of breast cancer.
I took adjuvant chemo for 6 months and refused radiation 36 years ago. One chemo was infused and the two others were pill form; most of them ended in landfill at the time.
Your Mom should make her own decisions and I would say basically shame on your father for trying to make that otherwise.
We all die of something, and let me tell you that overall, those who die with cancer get good pain relief and hospice at end of life now while those suffering dementia and losses one cut at a time through aging are less lucky in my book. I fear cancer less than just about anything out there other than a weak heart that might take me instantly.
Chemo can kill. Let your Dad know that. It is very destructive to the body. He needs to honor his wife's decisions for herself as she should honor his own for himself.
My opinion only, but heaven help the person who interferes with my decision. The amount of advice and directions whether by well meaning friends or doctors themselves is confusing enough without the input of a frantic husband. He needs to stand strong for his wife's decision. This is her deck of cards. Let her play them as she sees fit. And the very very best of luck. As an RN I played my own cards years ago. That I happened to win THAT hand doesn't mean that I won't get the game I can't win. We all are going the same place. That I am 80, raised my children, had a life, did what I wanted, makes me feel very very lucky indeed.
Your dads reaction is based on love and fear, just like yours is but he doesn’t think about your mom being 83 he thinks of her a 60, he doesn’t think about himself being 80, he feels as sharp
and vital as he was when he retired, whether or not he/they are.
Rather than trying to convince him chemo isn’t a good idea go on the journey with him to educate yourselves and make an informed decision. Be their partner and let them make you an advisor rather than feeling like your imposing (I can’t find the word I want, of course you aren’t imposing) your views on them. You may find that radiation isn't needed or worth it too and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. You are more likely to get results if you help guide them than you are trying to convince or plead with them. Give Dad time to let things sink in too. Sending good thoughts and energy to all of you as you go through this.
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