He has a knot on his neck that they discovered was cancer last week. Now they've got the full body PET scan back and they found it in his abdomen, left lung and all the way up to his neck. The Dr. sounded optimistic and said that there was hope if we started chemo and radiation, but how much can his 75 year old body handle? He's got respiratory problems, as well. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I'd hate to lose him now..my son is only one and can't stand the thought of him not knowing and being close to his great grandpa :(
2007-11-13 03:59:36 · 8 answers · asked by ... 1 in Health ➔ Men's Health
Not good.
Not to be cold, but he should save the money.
2007-11-13 04:45:13 · answer #1 · answered by uisignorant 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the up side there is a chance, but on the down side it's not very big. If the cancer has spread then you can't get it out by surgery. There is a chance it could be benign instead of malignent. Chemo is hard on the body. It works by killing cells. It starts with the fastest growing cells like hair and cancer cells. That's why chemo patients lose their hair. What the doctors will be trying to do is to kill him slowly with radiation and hope that enough of the cancer cells will die off to send it into remission, which means that it's still there, but no longer out of control, before it does damage to him. So don't give up hope. Remeber that even if it doesn't work, though it may, that dieing isn't really important. It's the amount of living that you've done. You just need to help everyone, including your grandfather, remember the good times. Good luck.
2007-11-13 04:08:53 · answer #2 · answered by Dalton 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His chances of survival are slim to none... an operation at his age or chemotherapy would only make the quality of life extremely uncomfortable, and may be unsuccessful anyway, since the cancer has metastisised (spread) so much. Usually with a patient matching your grandfathers description a doctor would advise him that the route of trying to prolong his life any longer through medical intervention would be a bad choice and result in more suffering than is necessary. It's always an awful thought at the prospect of losing a loved one, but I hope that both your grandfather and you and the family can come to terms with your current situation.
2007-11-13 04:06:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radiation and Chemo may help him but he's going to lose a lot of weight and get sick from all that. There is medication that they have out that can keep his white count up so he can keep with his chemo on schedule. I'm not a doctor and can't give you a prognosis. However, after seeing my father, grandfather and grandmothers die from cancer your grandfather's chances aren't good. I wish your family the best in dealing with this. Spend as much time as you can with him.
2007-11-13 14:40:21 · answer #4 · answered by Eric 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite often in these situations the body is saying it's tired and that is that. You need to ask your grandfather what he wants to do, so often we rush into ordering all sorts of treatment without considering the patients wishes.
At his age chemo would have a devastating effect on his body, has all this been explained to him how does he feel about it? Let him decide what if any treatment he wants, if you love him you will respect his wishes.
2007-11-13 05:32:16 · answer #5 · answered by DAVID W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not good. You are right, it is the radiation that will likely be 'the straw'.
I lost my grandpa not too long ago to cancer. he was 80. In hindsight he would have probably lived another 2-3 years without radiation,, but the radiation killed him in 6 months. =(
2007-11-13 04:05:13 · answer #6 · answered by dynastronii 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cancer has several stages, usually when it spreads to several organs, it is very difficult to erradicate, although not impossible. If it has reached Stage IV, "Metastasis", then it is beyond our capabilities.
Chemotherapy is quite agressive, and takes a lot of strenght to endure it, it is basically not an age issue, but an endurance race, for the inividual and his family.
Your doctor expressed a possitive opinion, most likely he is right. It is a matter of willpower.
2007-11-13 04:11:47 · answer #7 · answered by Pablo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...it depends in what stage he's in, stage 4 is non-cell its terminal . Surgery is no longer an option. The only thing they can do for him ,make him comfortable.
Has it spread to his lymph nodes and blood, this is good Question to ask the Dr.
2007-11-13 04:09:00 · answer #8 · answered by ispy somthin blue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋