Postby Lee » Wed Sep 09, 2020 6:56 pm
I am a 16+ yr survivor. When I was diagnosed, FOLFOX was deemed experimental. It had not been approved by the FDA yet. At that time, it was assumed generally only "old" people got this cancer. When I was diagnosed, I remember the GI doc telling me, we are seeing more & more younger people (under the age of 50) getting this cancer.
Anyway, one of the things I learned back then, as your body ages, speed of cell reproduction slows down, this includes cancer cells. I kind of learned then, many elderly people who had this cancer, not uncommon to died from other medical issues relating to age, & not this cancer. Just throwing that out there because your mom is 83.
At 83, some people are healthy, young and active, my father in law was one of them. He was still driving across the country at that age. He is 94 now. He's not allowed to drive anymore, but still living independent. I know another women who is 88, she is driving local only, butt again still living independent, her Dr(s) have told her she could easily make it to a 100 yrs in pretty good health. I have another friend, her older sister at 83-84 is starting to show memory loss issues, she might be going to a assist living in the next few yrs.
Yes talk to the onc, talk to her primary, butt mostly talk to her. I was young when diagnosed, they threw the kitchen sink at me. I beat it, butt I feel my body is 10 yrs older than my actual age. If I got another cancer diagnoses, I would look at options, butt would probably do something like that chemo lite. Make me comfortable, butt no kitchen sink. Another good friend, her older sister in law, early 80's got a cancer diagnose & chose to do nothing. Another type of cancer, retired RN, stage IV. Her response, just make me comfortable. At your mother's age, it's a personal decision. If you don't have the will to fight, the treatment/cure could very easily kill you.
Just food for thought,
Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!