80 years old with DCIS

Ang7

nieceincharge~

I'm sorry I don't have much in common as I am in my 40's and had a different diagnosis.

Just wanted to send some good thoughts your way and please let your aunt know that we are thinking about her...

CandDsMom

Niece-

((Hugs)) to you and to your aunt.  I see from a previous post her DCIS is ER PR negative and high grade.  I hope she (and you) are doing well in whatever path you chose.

Sleuth1- Once again I find your comments to be outrageous, and, frankly, offensive on multiple different levels.  First, 80 is not necessarily "old."  I have seen 40 year olds who are less functional than some 80 year olds I know. 2nd. Niece specifically stated the MX recommendation was made due to the diffuse spread of disease so perhaps lumpectomy was not an option. 3. Your continued disdain of the DCIS diagnosis is really offensive.  Yes, we all get it is pre invasive cancer.  Yes, I get that you personally feel like it is overtreated.  I support your ability to make your own treatment decisions, but stop crapping on mine.  I am not sure I understand why you keep finding it necessary to post on the DCIS board such dismissive and hurtful comments. 

CandDsMom

Just saying - if you feel that you have to delete your posts  - maybe you shouldn't have been posting them in the first place. Don't PM me  - put it out for all to see.

CandDsMom

Sleuth1 whoever you are I reiterate - why are you posting inflammatory messages on the dcis board? As far as 80 year old women go per the acc aha guidelines for preoperative risk assessment Which is something I am familiar with as an actual trained professional who went to, yes, medical school, breast surgery is a low risk superficial procedure as far as non-cardiac surgeries go. I do not claim to be an oncologist, I am here to get support and to offer support. All I ask is that you, a non dcis patient, respect our forum and do not post your derogatory comments. If you have a difference of opinion you are welcome to post it, but again, I do not understand your interest in posting on a forum that is about a diagnosis you do not share. And when your info is from ladies home journal as opposed to a reputable ,medical journal, well, I don't really know what to say. Bottom line, mastectomy as a superficial procedure in the right patient is a low risk operation. I am not trying to be anyones doctor here and I actually have an MD after my name. What are your credentials?

CandDsMom

FYI the above is in response to a pm that sleuth aka stellar or whoever she is sent me stating that I " don't know what I am talking about" in saying an 80 year old can have a mastectomy procedure. I beg to differ after 4 years of med school and 3 years of residency and nearly 6 years in clinical practice. This is not to say all 80 year old would be candidates but since thus procedure does not enter a body cavity it is considered lower risk by the acc aha. So this ultimately would be decided by a woman and her physician. again I am not trying to be anyone's doc here but this ill-informed person has brought me out of the doc closet. Wishing the best to all ladies on this board, CandDsMom

redsox

Stellar919/sleuth1/ whatever previous names you have used (clearly you have) --

Numerous members of the DCIS forum have politely asked you to stop posting here because you do not have DCIS, know almost nothing about it, and make posts that are unhelpful and unsupportive. 

Once again, please find a more appropriate forum for yourself.

CTMOM1234

I'm in my 40s and undergoing anesthesia and dealing with surgical recovery were tough enough. Although there are many youthful 80 years olds, quality of life is a really important component of this, and like wise posters before me have already stated, she will very likely pass from something before this evolves to idc and higher stages of bc. I would certain proceed cautiously and get another opinion.

As for the drama regarding this Stellar919/sleuth1 person, I don't mind if "non-DCIS" people provide constructive posts on this board. I consider myself a dcis person although a teeny idc was uncovered in my final lump. pathology report, so please do not tell people they cannot post anywhere they want. That being said, I agree that sending an unwelcomed pm is inappropriate, as are generally combative posts on these boards.

* edited to add that hopefully this thread can get back to addressing the original poster's topic.

CandDsMom

Ok - let's take this down a notch. Stellar/sleuth1: I am glad that you feel good. Truly, that is the most important thing. And I am really ok with anyone with any diagnosis posting on the DCIS board. What I reacted so strongly too is the tenor of your message. It is hard for me, not as a professional, but as a woman, to think back to what I have gone through (and yes, I am fully aware that it is so much less than what so many of our sisters here go through) over the last year. It has been hurtful for me to read dismissive posts that my disease is "just DCIS" and isn't something that may not come back or progress in some iteration to take my life. Although it is a low chance of happening, 1-2% of women with my diagnosis are not here in 5 years.

That for me is very frightening considering my age and the fact that I have 2 small children at home. And I think that I reacted instinctively on some level to that.  

I definitely think we all have to approach our treatment as individuals, and to you Stellar, kudos for following your heart. Your decisions may not be for everyone but they are yours, and that is what is important.  I am fine hearing your opinion, and other opinions, as to treatment - opinions are valid and there is room enough on these boards for all opinions.

What I have the problem with is the blanket dismissive statements about my disease and also the personal attacks on me.

I never said that I am in support of all 80 year old women getting mastectomies. Heck, if it is a grade 1 localized cancer or if there are other health issues or personal preferences going on I can certainly see not doing anything or doing a lump only.  My only point is that I think it is not helpful to post statements saying essentially that it is crazy for an 80 year old woman to consider a MX for a noninvasive disease which is clearly not what the situation was here for Niece's aunt who has high grade ER PER negative DCIS suspected to be in the entire breast with possibly even an invasive component.  My F-I-L had a knee replacement at 90. I thought it was nuts, but he did fine.  Just because someone is older it doesn't mean that they won't make it just fine through surgery. I think it does a disservice to women to scare them unnecessarily - this discussion is best left to individuals in consultation with their docs and families.  

I initially posted to support Niece and her aunt, in whatever path was the right one for them.  I think that is the purpose of the boards for me, and hopefully for others to.  So Niece, if you are out there, I still offer that support and good wishes your way.  I have no desire to have a flame war here, so can we call a truce?

redsox

I agree that ramping the tone down is desirable.  I would like to clarify some points.

I did not say that no one with a diagnosis other than DCIS should post on this forum and I also did not advocate a mastectomy for an 80 year old.

I (and others on other threads) asked Stellar/sleuth to stop posting here "because you do not have DCIS, know almost nothing about it, and make posts that are unhelpful and unsupportive".  The combination of those factors is important.

The first response to nieceincharge came from Coolbreeze who does not have a DCIS diagnosis and generally thinks DCIS is overtreated, but she expressed her opinion in informed and respectful language.  That is key.

I have been in the position of being named as the decision-maker in a health care power of attorney for a close relative in her 80s and have been part of decision-making for other elderly relatives.  It is definitely more difficult than making decisions for yourself because you need to figure out what the patient really wants while taking into account the immediate disease and co-morbidities.  Still, you cannot just assume that turning 80 means you should always say "no" to treatment. 

Nieceincharge seemed to be well-informed and asking the right questions.  She posted this topic, got some good responses, and has not posted since mid-February.  I am sure that her decisions have been made by now and that she did the best job possible.