Elderly Father Just Diagnosed

My 77 year old father was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma last week.  We are awaiting the results of a pet scan and mri to see if the cancer has spread to his brain and vital organs.

 My question is:  Does anyone know what type of treatment doctors prescribe for elderly patients and how elderly patients respond to treatment.  I'm so afraid that any type of treatment will make my father so sick.  He is doing well now and trying to cope with this diagnosis.  We went to the doctor because of a lump on his neck.  The doctors are telling us that this is a secondary tumor.  We saw a dermatologist yesterday to see if she could find the primary source.

Any input from anyone experienced in this would really be comforting to me right now.

Patricia

I am truly sorry to hear of your Dad's diagnosis.  As you'll hear repeated on this board as well as others, all patient are individuals and it's very difficult to say how our loved ones will handle treatments.

Were they able to locate the primary source when your Dad went to the dermatologist? 

The dermatologist found one mole that looked suspicious.  She also find a "basal (spelling?) cancer" on his forehead and removed that.  She said sometimes a melanoma can look like a basal cancer.  Other than that there was nothing else that she could find. 

Not knowing what to expect is really driving both me and my father crazy! 

I guess we are still in the shock phase.