my mother is newly diagnosed with recurring colon cancer and I don't know what to expect

twoareusnow
twoareusnow Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Caregivers #1
My mother was just diagnosed with recurring colon cancer which is now in her lung, lymph in her chest and lymph in her abdomen. She is 80 years old, has diabetes and congestive heart failure, yet wants to go through chemotherapy. I'm afraid it will kill her and that her quality of life will suffer greatly. She will be receiving chemo for three full days every other week for 2 months. Any thoughts?

Comments

  • Melrose18
    Melrose18 Member Posts: 1
    #2
    My first thought is that if the physicians feel that she is OK to have chemo then they probably wouldn't put her through that if her other conditions would put her at great risk. If she wants this than I would encourage this but talk with her and communicate your thoughts, maybe she doesn't completely understand the risks of chemo? She sounds like a real fighter! Take care.
  • CHM
    CHM Member Posts: 3
    #3
    I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT YOUR MOTHER, BUT SHE IS ONE
    COURAGEOUS LADY. I LOST MY MOTHER AT AGE 64 WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, AND MY FATHER DIED OF LUNG CANCER AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 45. ONE SISTER DIED OF BREAST CANCER AT AGE 46, SO I KNOW ONLY TOO WELL HOW YOU ARE FEELING. PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MOTHER AND LET HER KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, BUT DO NOT STOP HER FROM TRYING THE CHEMO. MY OTHER HALF IS ON CHEMO NOW, ONCE A WEEK FOR 3 WEEKS AND OFF ONE WEEK. IT MAY TAKE MONTHS TO HELP HIM AS HE IS A STAGE 4 NON-SMOKERS LUNG CANCER PATIENT, AND HAS HAD RADIATION ON THE TUMORS. THESE PEOPLE ARE STRONG AND WANT TO LIVE.
    IF YOUR MOTHER GETS VERY ILL FROM THE CHEMO, SHE MAY DECIDE TO NOT DO IT AFTER ALL, BUT YOU SHOULD
    DEFINITELY LET HER SEE FOR HERSELF. NOT ALL CHEMO
    MAKES PATIENTS ILL. WE THOUGHT THE FIRST ONE WOULD KILL JACK AND ME, HE WAS SO VERY ILL, AND IS
    72 YEARS OLD NOW. BUT, THE NEW CHEMO IS DOING WELL AND HE IS NOT SICK FROM IT. HE IS OFF OF THE STRONG PAIN MEDS THAT BEGAN LAST OCTOBER, AND ABLE TO EAT WELL ONCE AGAIN AND NOT GET SICK. HIS HAIR IS COMING BACK IN, EVEN DARKER THAT IT WAS BEFORE HE LOST IT. MY SISTER HAD 2 YEARS OF CHEMO AND TONS OF RADIATION FOR 2 YEARS, BUT HER
    CANCER HAD SPREAD ALL OVER. STILL, SHE FOUGHT SO HARD TO LIVE!! GOD BLESS YOU, AND HANG IN THERE. MOST SINCERELY, CHM

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