Older Age And Mcl

My grandmother was diagnosed today with MCL...I immediately panicked and began searching on Google everything i could and after reading all that i became extremely depressed until i read the messages on this board...i have definitely calmed down, my only concern is that all the posts i read were ppl that were 70 years or younger...my grandmother is 85 years old.  i know she will not qualify for the stem cell transplant but what are her chances of surviving?  I know she is old and most ppl would suggest just living with it as long as possible...are the treatments even worth it for her at this point???  would  she suffer more just letting the cancer take her or going through the chemo at this time in her life....she is a survivor of colon cancer but that was about 8 years ago....just feeling lost right now.

thank you for your time

Hello

sorry to hear about your grandmother. My husband has MCL, we live in Belgium where he is receiving treatment. Take a look at the Mantle cell lymphoma consortium website. Chose the "Featured researcher" and then "Dr John Leonard". There is an interesting article which you might like to read about using low-dose, long term chemotherapy (pill form) called PEP-C - they are using this treatment for patients for whom the heavier treatments might not be suitable. I don't know if this is only at clinical trial stage, but try contacting these people and see and certainly discuss it with your grandmothers oncologist. Hope you find it interesting and perhaps a start point for your research.

 We've asked lots of questions, done loads of research on the net and we constantly throw reports at our oncologist here, and ask opinions. I also read a book called "The patient from Hell" by Stephen Schneider which advocates that principle of finding out as much information as you can and asking all the questions you need to, and getting the best possible treatment available.

Take care,

wishing you and your grandmother all the very best of luck

Debbie