CHEMO/RADS/HT AT 76??

aqaa73

Hello,

my mother had a left-side mastectomy a month ago. There was node involvement (2 positive/15 removed). Onc suggests the "triple combo": chemo, radiation and hormone therapy. Tumour size was 2 cm, ER 100%, PR =0, HER2 neg, MIB-1: 30%, grade: 3. mitose: 3.

I have checked predict & cancermath, done a ton of research (PubMed, alternative sources, you name it..), so I am familiar with the stats.

Should she really opt for all three at this age? She's not too keen on having chemo. She is taking turkey tail to boost her immune system though.

Thank you for your answers!

cive

I think a lot of us might not do chemo under those circumstances, but I think it really depends on how healthy and active  your mom is.  If she's fairly active, she probably wouldn't do too badly with chemo, you can always do genetic testing to see if it would even help her at all.

Gussy

I am 78 and closer to 79. I was diagnosed in late June with IDC and enlarged lymph nodes and have had 3 of 4 A+C treatments with 4 Taxol treatments after that. Every two weeks. I have not had one minute of nausea; a day or two of real fatigue two days later and then perk right back up. I've lost the hair on my head and have a lovely wig that no one guesses is a wig. So far I have done extremely well with treatment. I will have a lumpectomy in Feb. and then start radiation six weeks later. So, looking at an April finish. I would not have chosen to not have treatment. This is a big bump in my road but I'm not going to let it get to be more than that. In addition, I will be marrying an old friend of 58 years in Dec. He is a blessing in my life and helping me get through this with as much grace and dignity as possible. I am a blessed woman. I am also blessed in that I have no other chronic problems and that has probably helped a lot. If your mother has a life still to live encourage her to have the treatment.