I wish that there was consideration of age given. I am 67 yrs old and currently in the 3rd cycle of 4 cycles of Chemo to be followed by radiotherapy, and some other other form of hormonal blockers. I seriously considered not taking on treatment but accepted that at least I needed to do this. But do I want it to go on? Do I want my remaining years dominated by Cancer treatment?? To get a few more years? I was diagnosed with early breast cancer with 3 lymph nodes affected. Are there women my age who are thinking this way?

Dear @Molly5I was 67 when diagnosed. I had a mastectomy and lost 17 lymph nodes (only one was malignant but several looked iffy!), six months of chemo, a year of herceptin and ten years of letrozole (hormonal blockers). Was it worth it? Too right. In the past 12 years, I finally got to Iceland, along with a lot of other travel, took on a new and challenging job, became a grandmother (twice), joined a choir, took upa musical instrument (badly!) and became a volunteer with a small museum and a reader for Vision Australia. Wouldn’t have missed any of it. I have a few side effects but nothing that really impacts on my day to day life. I didn’t retire till I turned 75. After chemo, I still had herceptin infusions but now you can have it orally if required. So there wasn’t too much impinging on my time (I worked through chemo). Obviously, a whole lot depends on how you travel through treatment but my life certainly wasn’t dominated by treatment. My feelings were not somuch that my age reduced my willingness to go through treatment but that my age meant I should make the most of every moment. Give it a shot, see how you go. Cancer is a complete pain but it’s sometimes accompanied by some insights and curious benefits. Best wishes.

Hi @Molly5 I was 65 when diagnosed (71 now) and wouldn't be dead for quids. I was lucky & didn't need chemo ... It can be a tough ask to do the chemo treatment ... but with the help of your Chemo Nurses, they should be able to help abate most side effects. I found that the radiation was fairly 'easy' (just let the nurses know if you see any skin breakdown & keep the lotions & potions up to it after each session ...) The hormone blockers don't affect everyone badly - so you can always just give them a 'go' and if they don't suit, then in discussion with your Onc, consider a break! But it is the mix of the treatment that is most likely to give us many more years of life, which hopefully, will be long & prosperous!! ;) I think your general health and agility and support network (other than the current cancer treatment) is a factor in this as well .... and maybe if I was already in my 80s, I would think twice re aggressive treatment .... time will tell.take care

A friend in her mid 80s felt the same way but did what she was told - spent her final months having the treatments and died anyway. Her family felt she should have just taken pain medication as needed towards the end but had some quality of life before that point.You are not alone in your thinking at all.People have different lives and reasons to push on through, not all think they "wouldn't be dead for quids".You can only do what you feel right is for you at this time. Do you have family supports ?You are stronger than you think, though, and this phase will pass !

Hi Cath62, Thank-you for you expressing your thoughts and experience, and as you say the questioning whether to treat or not, or for how long to treat, faces us all.I have a good life, which I am very grateful for, and I have experienced things which as a child I would have never imagined. My sister passed away from metastatic breast cancer when she was 57yrs of age and perhaps being with her has influenced my thinking...residual anger that the treatment did not save her. Perhaps I should talk to someone!! Be well,

Right now you are in the thick of it but you are more than halfway through chemo and hopefully, radiation will feel like a breeze in comparison. As for the 5-10 years of hormone tablets... only you can decide to take them or not. I have thought about quitting Tamoxifen so many times. When it really starts to affect me I stop taking the tablet for a few days to a week until I feel better and then I get back on it. It's not a perfect system but we all do what we have to do :*

The Age Factor | BCNA Online Network

15 Replies

Abbydog
Member
1 year ago
Dear Molly5,
I'm 66 now, BC in 2020 with Mastectomy, axillary clearance ( I had 3 positive lymph nodes too), !6 weeks Chemo, 5 weeks R/T, 5-10 yrs Hormone Blockers. I was a bit younger than you at diagnosis. But I don't regret any of my treatments. It wasn't too rough for me, I was very lucky. Between 2020-2023, I have had breast reconstruction, and 2 knee replacements also. I am now just getting on with as much as I can, including travels. I'm hoping to get more than a few years. Actually now at 4 1/2 yrs. I have settled with Hormone blockers, but they are the only thing that I would consider optional. I guess that I do have a few more Drs appointments than average. But my Oncologist is the Dr that I have the most faith in. I see him every 6months. I do hope that you get through your remaining treatments. Radiotherapy was relatively easy. I highly recommend using Mepitel. It is a dressing worn 24/7, over the treatment area. It was provided by the hospital that I attended here in SA. I had no burning or skin reaction.
iserbrown
Member
1 year ago
Hi @Molly5
As each decade passes by age comes into our thoughts.
At the end of the day reality is Breast cancer and other diseases/ailments, can hit at any age.
I was 57 at time of BC diagnosis. I've had 2 other major non cancer surgeries since...
I have a sister who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at age 49 and another sister diagnosed with Dementia at age 59.
For us as a family it's about the treatment.
Dementia is challenging however what I'm trying to say, it's understandable that the age factor is in your thought process.
Hopefully your treatment regime is manageable and very much routine so you can enjoy life and everything it still has to offer
Best wishes
Take care
Molly5
Member
1 year ago
I would like to thank there for their comments regarding my post 'Age Factor'. I have appreciated others perspective which has helped me to reflect on my attitude. Thank-you
GorgyS
Member
1 year ago
The moment I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I knew I would accept all the treatments offered to me. I believe in medicine, but I also understand that medicine cannot always guarantee health or a long life. I had two breast surgeries (lumpectomy and re-excision), chemotherapy, radiation, and I am now on letrozole for 10 years. If I test positive for the BRCA gene, (I am currently waiting for the results) my medication will change.
Looking back, I can say that all the treatments and side effects were well managed. I don't know what the future holds, but I am not spending my time sitting, thinking, or worrying about what might come. What I’ve learned is to enjoy every moment of life and stay as positive as I can.
I was 64 when I was diagnosed last year. My first thought was that this is just one of the challenges that comes with age, and I have to deal with it, for myself and for the people I care about. Neither side of my family, neither my mother’s nor my father's has a history of long lives, so I am grateful for every day.
cranky_granny
Member
1 year ago
Hi @Molly5 and @Maxiash I am also 67 though I was 59 when originally diagnosed with invasive carcinoma left breast. Did the whole gambit of treatment chemotherapy surgery the DIBH radiation.
Its been a long hall. I sometimes get annoyed at some people saying well you are getting older a lot of your issues could be age related. Besides my mother and aunt who had heart conditions the rest of the older generation have lived beyond 85. One aunt made it to 100 and 9 months. Dads side and On my mums side nan was 97 and great grandma was 99 So go figure. If hereditary traits go my way I should be here for the long haul accept for what this bloody cancer has done to me. My oncologist has been the inly honest one and in her words. “All this treatment has aged you 10 years” and thats was before the mets diagnosis. Treatment is working at slowing progression. But sh*t I feel decrepit some days.
On the plus side. I’m still here working part time (might retire at 70) and fighting the mets and I get to enjoy the grandkids and a great grandchild coming in December.
I plan life a dit differently now. I Don’t take on as much. And strive to enjoy the good days.
I am looking atm for someone to walk with to increase my fitness and connect with life outside work and family. I do volunteer sometimes for a local charity group. But its not that physically challenging.
Hope all goes well for you both.
Maxiash
Member
1 year ago
Hi @Molly5
I turn 67 in January and I was diagnosed with early breast cancer in July. I caught covid for the 1st time the week I was diagnosed then I caught another virus 2 weeks after I caught covid. My lumpectomy had to be delayed so I was put on Anastrozole a type of Estrogen blocker until I had my surgery. Im booked in to talk to Oncology about starting again on hormone therapy and im booked in to see radiology. I will go back on the hormone blocker. I am concerned about having radiotherapy im worried after reading with left breast radiotherapy my heart and lungs may be affected. My family are keen to have me around and I would like to be around and have quality of life. My mum died at 69 from a different cancer and I was devastated to loose her. My husband is 68 he also has cancer in the rectum with is more advanced and thats a hard one to deal with. I feel its harder as you age to deal with stuff for sure.
Afraser
Member
1 year ago
Dear @Molly5

I was 67 when diagnosed. I had a mastectomy and lost 17 lymph nodes (only one was malignant but several looked iffy!), six months of chemo, a year of herceptin and ten years of letrozole (hormonal blockers). Was it worth it? Too right. In the past 12 years, I finally got to Iceland, along with a lot of other travel, took on a new and challenging job, became a grandmother (twice), joined a choir, took up
a musical instrument (badly!) and became a volunteer with a small museum and a reader for Vision Australia. Wouldn’t have missed any of it.

I have a few side effects but nothing that really impacts on my day to day life. I didn’t retire till I turned 75. After chemo, I still had herceptin infusions but now you can have it orally if required. So there wasn’t too much impinging on my time (I worked through chemo). Obviously, a whole lot depends on how you travel through treatment but my life certainly wasn’t dominated by treatment. My feelings were not so
much that my age reduced my willingness to go through treatment but that my age meant I should make the most of every moment. Give it a shot, see how you go. Cancer is a complete pain but it’s sometimes accompanied by some insights and curious benefits. Best wishes.
CRM
Member
2 years ago
Right now you are in the thick of it but you are more than halfway through chemo and hopefully, radiation will feel like a breeze in comparison. As for the 5-10 years of hormone tablets... only you can decide to take them or not. I have thought about quitting Tamoxifen so many times. When it really starts to affect me I stop taking the tablet for a few days to a week until I feel better and then I get back on it. It's not a perfect system but we all do what we have to do :*
Julez1958
Member
2 years ago
Hi @Molly5
I am 66 first diagnosed at 62.
I had mastectomy , reconstruction , radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
I thought 62 was pretty young - my mum is 90 , now that is old!
The thing about treatment is it affects everyone differently and with things like hormone therapy some are affected quite badly, some only mildly , you won’t know until you go on it.
I had almost no effects from radiation ( 28 sessions) as I used the strata xrt creme - just got a bit tired towards the end.
The hormone therapy if one drug gives bad side effects there are others you can be moved to which might be better.
I found talking to a psychologist who specialised in cancer related distress helped me come up terms with everything.
Whatever my medical team suggest for me I ask “ what would you do if it was you” ( or your mum).
Whilst in the end it’s your choice about what treatment to undergo , the medical specialists have your best interests at heart.
Take care.
🌺
arpie
Member
2 years ago
xx Maybe consider Giving our helpline a bell in the morning on 1800 500 258 ... it is always good to put your thoughts past someone else, someone independent ....

So sorry about your sister & brother's passing xx. I lost my husband to Metastatic cancer just over 2 years ago ... He'd beaten it once before & had another good 11 years before it came back in early 2020. It is a mongrel of a disease, that is for sure. :(

All the best & just keep doing what you love doing xx