Chemo at 80?

[BCchemomum]

My mum has been diagnosed with HER+ hormone negative grade 2 (with axilla lymph node spread but further CT clear so I think considered curable) breast cancer. Due a mastectomy & lymph node clearance soon. She is in good health, no major comorbidities apart from high blood pressure & painful OA which has really reduced her mobility this year. I think she is likely to be offered chemo after the mastectomy. Can anyone offer any advice on whether chemo is much harder in someone her age? How does she balance the risk of the treatment being worse than the chance of the cancer progressing/returning? She will have a meeting with the oncologist after the results from the mastectomy are back - is there anything she needs to think about asking? Thanks.

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at 80, she had lumpectomy then radium and then chemo. Unfortunately for her 1 year on she is now in hospital and the cancer is still there and has spread. I feel chemo really took its toll on her and aged her so much. She is extremely frail now despite her being so fit before her diagnosis. That's not to say your mum will be like that, but my mum found it really difficult. The neulasta injection (this helps ward off serious infections during treatment)she got a few days after absolutely floored her and she got very bad pains in her legs from that so I would ask her oncologist if she would be having that.

FIL is 85 and chemo for bladder cancer made him very tired but not any more frail. He’s clear of cancer as far as they can tell now, and it back to walking the dog twice a day.

Overall I think it's just very tiring. With cancer my grandad's sense of taste also never returned and overall it sadly didn't work.

Looking back, he did the chemo for his kids and grandkids but not sure if was the right course of action for him personally.

Wish you and your mum all the best.

My dad had grade 3 bowel cancer found in a few localised lymph nodes but no spread. After surgery he was told there was a 75% chance he would still be free of the disease in 5 years and that chemo would pose a much greater risk in someone his age. (79 at the time) He chose not to have the " belt and braces" chemo and is still going strong nearly 7 years later.

Thanks for the replies. Lots to consider.

Once they have done the surgery they will send everything for histology and this may change the grade or stage.

But also ask for Ki67 test . This shows how quickly the cancer is growing:
Disease-free survival rates at 5 years was 96% for patients with Ki-67 0-9%, 90% for patients with Ki-67 10-19%, 80% for patients with Ki-67 20-29%, 75% for patients with Ki-67 30-39%, and 72% for patients with Ki-67 more than 40%.

There is also a computer programme called Predict which shows survival by rates with various options eg radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy etc

This would allow you to weigh the benefits with the risks.

My input is only based on friend's mum, so I don't know the ins and outs of her chemo experience, but did bump into her the other day in Sainsbury's and she was doing well she said. She is 81 I think, post chemo and about six months clear of breast cancer. Before that she had had melanoma so has really been through it but was pushing her trolley round and looked well.

I think you're assuming too much until you get to the meeting you won't know what the team has discussed. Chemo isn't done lightly and treatment varies by individual patients.
Quality of life, affects on long term health Vs living a life plus the individuals health are all considered. If chemo is started it's carefully monitored and adjusted or stopped as needed. Wait until the meeting ask questions take time to consider any option given.....do not Google if you need online advice use McMillan or Breast Cancer now not Dr Google.

Thank you. You are right of course. The care so far has been excellent & I have no reason to doubt that the medical team will consider all the relevant factors. I just want to feel that I know as much as possible.

Cancer is a strange journey I never felt I knew all the answers it seemed to change with every appointment as they found out more each test it's a roller coaster.

I have had chemo as a much younger person, at 80 I would not. I would accept this how life goes and enjoy my time left without being sick.

Thank you. So much for her to consider. Lots of positive lymph nodes & grade 3 & it seems that they are offering herceptin, chemo & radiotherapy. She doesn't have to decide yet.

For what it’s worth @BCchemomum my mum is just completing a course of chemo at the same age as your mum and I think her doctors are fully aware of her age and health. They are paying close attention to how she’s coping and wouldn’t, I feel, push her beyond what was reasonable.
I guess it’s about trusting her doctors and her maintaining open communication with them.
Wishing you and your mum the best for your ongoing journey.

I was quite surprised with the statistics we were given of estimated gain from chemo for my mother, as the figures were low. I think it’s entirely human and understandable to pin hopes on chemo, but the figures were quite sobering. I think we sort of glossed over that bit. Every single case is different, though. I wish you well.

I wish your Mum all the best whatever choice is made. Personally quality of life over duration would be the decider for me, so it would depend on what they can offer 🤗

I wouldnt have chemo if I was 80 with high blood pressure and OA. I wouldn't have it at 80 even with no other problems to be honest, but thats just me.

I've just finished chemo and honestly apart from hair loss had no real side effects.

Thank you all for the replies. Chemo starts next week, alongside herceptin. Mum v stoical & will just see how it goes. Everybody has been lovely, so kind & efficient.