HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - older women not benefiting as much

LoisAnn · 11-10-2011, 08:35 AM

Hi Jean & All,
Don't have a treatment plan yet. I was first told that I might need to take Pill Type chemo, but specific drug was not mentioned. The surgeon's nurse told my daughter she thought my age was a typo, and that they treat elderly women based pretty much exclusively on health status - age is not a significant determinant at their office.

Have talked with friend's who have BC too. My daughter is helping me with online research. My good friend, also in her 80's, has extensive metastatic disease but didn't even know what kind of BC it was when I asked. She originally was diagnosed 30 years ago, disease returned some years ago. She has treated it aggressively. The last IV chemo treatments caused her to lose feeling in her hands & feet. She said it has eaten through her skin, but she had been out raking leaves that day when I called her last week.

Some of my friends have lost their children to BC. We live in a city with top-notch medical care available. My Dr. is also a Prof. at the Medical College here. She was highly recommended.

Living in a large retirement community, I have some friends here who don't even know what the meds they take are for. I guess they just don't question their Doctors, or don't want to know. I question everything I'm prescribed and get information by reading up on everything. Even at the hospital they had to tell me specifically what every drug was for.

This am I'm heading out to mass after a good breakfast.

11-10-2011, 08:35 AM	#4
LoisAnn Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 7	Re: older women not benefiting as much - I wonder???? Hi Jean & All, Don't have a treatment plan yet. I was first told that I might need to take Pill Type chemo, but specific drug was not mentioned. The surgeon's nurse told my daughter she thought my age was a typo, and that they treat elderly women based pretty much exclusively on health status - age is not a significant determinant at their office. Have talked with friend's who have BC too. My daughter is helping me with online research. My good friend, also in her 80's, has extensive metastatic disease but didn't even know what kind of BC it was when I asked. She originally was diagnosed 30 years ago, disease returned some years ago. She has treated it aggressively. The last IV chemo treatments caused her to lose feeling in her hands & feet. She said it has eaten through her skin, but she had been out raking leaves that day when I called her last week. Some of my friends have lost their children to BC. We live in a city with top-notch medical care available. My Dr. is also a Prof. at the Medical College here. She was highly recommended. Living in a large retirement community, I have some friends here who don't even know what the meds they take are for. I guess they just don't question their Doctors, or don't want to know. I question everything I'm prescribed and get information by reading up on everything. Even at the hospital they had to tell me specifically what every drug was for. This am I'm heading out to mass after a good breakfast. __________________ Newly diagnosed at 88yrs! Healthy, very active. L Mod Rad MX 11/11. ER+ PR- Her2+.