parkingsons victim diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma

survivor2003

My mother, 83 years old was just diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, she is going to see an oncologist soon. We are worried that she isn't strong enough with the parkingsons to go through any kind of treatment. She is in a nursing home right now for rehab after an 8 day hospital stay, she cannot get up and walk as yet, my father is devastated by this right now. I was diagnosed at 49 with the same and had a lumpectomy, then a lymph node dissection, then 8 rounds of chemo and 35 days of radiation. I managed ok, but there is no way my mom can do this. Any one else out there with a similar situation?

gracie22

Different cancer, but my mom (82) was diagnosed with uterine cancer earlier this year. Rads and chemo were recommended, but with her preexisting conditions of very severe spinal stenosis and bladder/bowel issues, we felt she would not survive chemo, and had deep reservations about rads. The surgeon and radiologist were adamant that we should at least do rads and that she would likely get through that well. But she hasn't; following rads the bladder, bowel and spine issues all deteriorated and her previously decent quality of life is gone. Rads ended in June, and we are now having her hospitalized once again, and if there is no improvement she will need nursing home care as it has become impossible to safely care for her at home. The rads contributed to bone fragility followed by multiple small spinal fractures (very painful.) My personal opinion is to leave it be. If simple lumpectomy without rads or chemo is a possibility (and it may be; the elderly don't benefit much from rads following early stage lumpectomy), perhaps do that. If my family knew then what we know now, we would have done surgery only for the cancer as she overcame that quite well. The after effects of the radiation have been miserable. Quality of life is everything at this age. In another example, my grandmother in law was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 80s. We talked about not treating it, but the surgeon said to do a mastectomy and node dissection and she would be fine. She got through the surgery fine, but suffered with lymphedema for the remaining 2 years of her life, and then died of an unrelated illness.

Moderators

Survivor-

We're so sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis. We know it's a difficult time. We have a forum on Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis, where you might find some helpful info. Please feel free to post your story there as well: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/142.

The Mods