QuestionHello Dr Nordquist,
My mother is 75 years old and has recently been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. She was treated for Stage IIb breast cancer in 2011-2012, but the cancer is now showing in her hip bones (left and right), spine and in some fluid around the right lung.
She had a full-hip replacement on her right hip in January, which is how the original metastases was found. She then had radiation on the right hip. She is now undergoing chemotherapy - she had her first treatment this week.
I'm not sure exactly why I feel this way - for various reasons I think - but I am starting to feel that because of her age, she may not be getting the attention and help that she desperately needs right now. I understand that her cancer is significant, but I am not OK with her being left to kind of fend for herself. I am watching the doctors closely and jumping in and bothering people and becoming a pest, but I don't really care about that. She is my mom.
Can you give me any advice on how to handle my suspicions or what I can do in this case?
Thank you so much Dr Nordquist
Maria
AnswerShe is not that old only 5 years older than I am. And I am also a prostate cancer patient apart from being a cancer doctor. The treatments you describe are standard treatments for patients in her situation. Without knowing her treatment in more detail I can not in any way support your suspicion that her treatment is in any way neglected. And I see no reason why it should be. She is given chemotherapy. In fact that treatment is quite expensive. So as far as I can see she is given good treatment. To be able to reach any other conclusion I would need much more - and different - information.
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