breast cancer and dimentia

aphyasst

does anyone have a story about someone 80 years old newly diagnosed with breast cancer? or does anyone have experience with 80 year old with dimentia and breast cancer?

dh100397

Hi, My Mother-in-law who is 79, was diagnosed in May and has had 2 separate biopsies and 2 surgeries(didn't get it all the first time) and started with her first chemo on Oct. 4th.  She has been in 2nd stage Alzheimers for about a year and we knew that starting this treatment plan would intensify the memory loss and we have definitely seen some big changes.  Right now her white cell count is at .07, a UTI, so not only are we dealing with the ALZ but also dealing with the possibility of rejection of chemo entirely.  She has been in the hospital for 3 days and probably wont' be released for another 3-4.  At the hospital we have had issues with the staff, they come in for a 2 minute follow-up but Mom can't tell the truth about symptoms because she doesn't know.  They ask did you urinate today, she says of course, they ask ask did you eat breakfast, she says of course(she doesn't know how to order her meals), they ask any bowel movement, she says of course.  Seriously frustrating-they don't treat her as an ALZ patient first which they should.  We have had family intervene to make sure her meals are ordered and she is bathed and going #1 and #2 every day.  The hospital staff should have protocol about dealing with ALZ, it is not an uncommon thing yet as family members we are telling them to spend more time not listening to her but just doing.  She is basically a child now and can't make decisions.  I feel your pain. I am also out of state and rely on family members to coordinate her care, which makes me feel helpless. 

GramE

I am sorry to hear of the problems with hospital staff and your mother.   She should have a gerontologist (old people doctor) coordinating her treatment.  That is their speciality, but I will add that hospital staff can and often are not doing their job properly.    There are many good nurses out there, but overall, the patient is just a room number and the goal is to get them out of there quickly.

dh100397

I guess I am expecting the hospital to look at her overall care but obviously they can't spend the time with her.  My sister-in-law is a nurse and has told the staff many times that she is an ALZ patient as well but doesn't seem to be heard.  I think your suggestion is a good one. Thanks for your input!