Newly dx at 77

ML1209

Hi all - my sweet mom has just been dx at age 77. Hers is a weak estrogen positive and chemo would be first choice before surgery if she was younger (this was my treatment plan). Being 77, trying weigh the benefits vs the risk. Would love to hear from any of you her age and how you did with chemo if you had it. Right now, she doesn't think she will have it, but has an appt with the medical oncologist to discuss. Thanks in advance.

bevemar

I am bevemar and am 73 years old, diagnosed in May, 2019 with IDC, lymph nodes clear, ONDO test was 27, oncologist told me needed Chemotherapy, 4 treatments, Cytotax and Taxere, 3 weeks off between treatments. I did and do have side effects, lost all my hair, metallic taste in mouth, no energy, fingernails affected too. I had my last chemo treatment on August 28, 2019 and today is Sept. 8th, 2019 and still feeling side effects from the Chemo.

I admit I feel at times I will never feel the same anymore and I am frightened the cancer will return. I am Stage 1, and had a bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction, at age 73 did not want implants nor reconstruction, and happy to be "flat". I did not seek out a 2nd opinion, everything happened so fast my mind was "swimming". I had the chemo treatments at our local Cancer Center in Wisconsin. I am to see my oncologist on Wed., Sept. 11th for blood work and he told me I would be having blood work regularly for awhile.

I had a mammogram in October, 2018, (I always had a yearly mammogram) and the radiologist who looked at the films did an ultrasound and he determined what he saw and found was "not of concern" at the time in Oct. 2018. I was back for a follow up mammogram late April, 2019, a female radiologist did an ultrasound and ordered a biopsy, the biopsy came back as Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.....I was stunned, shocked......IF the radiologist in Oct. 2018 would have done a biopsy at that time perhaps I would not have diagnosed with IDC in May, 2019. I have lost faith in our local medical facilities, the original radiologist as well and IF he had ordered a biopsy in Oct. 2018, maybe my outcome would be different than what I am facing now with the IDC. . Honestly, I sometimes feel I will not feel ok again with the lingering side effects of the chemotherapy.

I wish you the best and ask a lot of questions about chemotherapy, whatever it may be, even the blood work results, the drugs to be used for chemo, etc. I also will be taking a medication for post menopausal women, an aromatise of some kind for about 5 years. Be thankful you have your children to support you.....I have no one for me.....my husband has early dementia and is a Type I diabetic and I need to take care of him. I am thankful he is still with me.

Beaverntx

ML1209, I too was diagnosed at age 77. However, I did not have chemo. Please remember that one person's reaction to any treatment is likely to vary from that of any other person. Your mother is fortunate to have your support. While the decisions are hers to make, it will be helpful to have your listening ear and willingness to offer input when asked. One of the challenges at this age is identifying which aches, pains, and changes are age related and which ones are side effects! Hugs and best wishes to your mother and you.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What grade is the tumor? because if it's grade 1 or 2, without nodes envolved, maybe just surgery and radiotherapy would be fine... Chemo is hard... I hope she is well and they find the better tx

Beesie

Just because you had chemo before surgery with the same hormone status doesn't mean that this will be recommended for your mother. Every case is different and in your case, your age and tumor size likely factored in.

To Yndorian's questions, what is the diagnosis? Size of tumor, grade, nodal status, PR status, HER2 status? And has she had an Oncotype test done? Along with her age, those are all factors that play into whether chemo will be recommended and the amount of risk reduction benefit she will get from chemo.

ML1209

Thank you all for you responses. She is PR negative and Her2 negative. We have already been told that if she was younger the best treatment for her type if tumor would be chemo. She is seeing my breast surgeon oncologist and he wants her to meet with the medical oncologist and hear her thoughts. It is grade 2 and no lymph nodes are involved. He did an oncotype on me, but said he may not do one on her since she is such a weak estrogen positive (25%). The predix test shows 49% 10 year survival rate and that increases to 56% with chemo. Being 48 at dx with 3 children, chemo was a no brainers for me. But I completely understand if she chooses not to do chemo. It definitely ages you. Yes .... even at 51 I wonder if my aches and pain are side effects of the AI I am on or just age. My precious momma has been my rock thru having a sweet daughter with Down Syndrome, my son having cancer at age 4(he is now 17!!!), and then my breast cancer roller coaster. I surely wish she didn't have to do any if this. We have had genetic testing and no mutations .... guess we just have metal rods sticking out of our heads and lots of lightening strikes lol.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Katiha

Hi ML1209!

I was wondering how your momma doing