Anyone Over 70 in the Gang?

[Tom]

It is almost time for Mom's PET scan, and I am preparing myself mentally for what could be the ramping up of her treatment, if her health allows. As some of you know, she is 81, and is being treated with Herceptin as a single-agent therapy after having an earlier lumpectomy and a subsequent axillary dissection with 12 of 20 nodes involved. Pathology on all tissues showed HER2+3, ER-, PR-.

Her oncologist has suggested that she might tolerate a "little bit" of Taxotere, and I am trying to decide what our options might be if we discover distant metastases. Mom has an unusually good cardiac output, with a baseline MUGA score of 80, which has fallen to 70 after many weeks of Herceptin. I would love to hear from any of the older ladies (please forgive me) if they are out there, and find out what course of treatment they have pursued. Thanks.

[Cathya]

Tom; So sorry to hear about your mom. My mother was early 70's when she went through chemo for small bowel cancer. This was about 13 years ago when they didn't have drugs for the naseousness. She went through the hourly throwing up, baldness, etc. with the support of my dad and did very well. My mom is mid 80's now and absolutely full of life, active, healthy, and was the most wonderful help to me during treatment. Thank goodness for the drugs available today. I didn't take taxotere but had taxol instead so can't really comment but I guess she could always stop treatment if she found it too difficult?

Cathy

[TriciaK]

Dear Tom, "Older ladies" is okay as long as you don't say "elderly"! I am 75 as most of you know and considered "young for my age" (my spirit is timeless, my body may be 75, but my mind is still 19!) I am now NED after 20 years and 3 periods of fighting cancer, the last one has been all this past year. I truly believe that attitude and faith are everything, and having a son like you sure helps too! Tell your mom to hang in there! There's more hope for a cure or at least ongoing control now than there has ever been. Hugs, Tricia