Question about my grandmother - she's 96.

Hi,

 My grandmother is 96 - will be 97 in December. She takes no medicine for anything and can walk well (for someone her age), wash the dishes, run the sweeper, and play the piano.  Her biggest downfall is that she doesn't drive a car anymore!  Oh her cholesterol is a bit elevated but nothing major.

 A recent mammogram showed something fishy so they checked it out. It is a small stage one breast tumor. This was told to them on July, 16 - yesterday. My mother told me that my grandmother is scheduled to go to the HOSPITAL to have a lumpectomy. 

 Here are my concerns and questions:

If I were 96, I would not want to have a mamagram. At that age, why would I want to know if anything was amiss. I would try to enjoy myself as much as I could. I'm really upset that my mother even took my grandmother for a mamagram. I think it was a really stupid move.  it's like why LOOK for something wrong at age 96?

Is it worth it to put my grandmother through a sugerical operation? I'm worried about all of the bacteria and so forth that are running rampant in hospitals such as Staph, Psuedonomas, etc..When my Grandfather had to be rushed to the hospital at age 84, he got a staph infection and he died. 

2. Can  96 year old take being put under anesthesia?

3. Also, do you think the pain involved after surgery is something that a 96 year old should have to go through?

IF my grandmother goes to that hospital and gets an infection that screws her up or kills her I will GO BALLISTIC!!!!!

 I'm thinking she's not 25 so keep her out of the hospital. But my perspective is a bit uniformed which is why I am asking about this.

Please offer any thoughts.

Thank you so much for answering,

Hermione

Im with you. Since it grows so slowly ask the Dr. what doing nothing will impact in what time. I'd say the hell with it if I were 95. I'm ready to say the hell with it now- at 55!

I agree with the second poster.  I'm 51 years old and I had a bilateral mastectomy in March 2008.  If my cancer recurs I'm done.  I've made my contribution with tons of biopsies and breast amputation.  I would think the stress on a 95 year old person would very great going through any medical procedure.  At this point in her life I think she would be better off to forgo the trauma.  Can you imagine a person at that age going through chemo and radiation?  That would be the last thing in the world I would want at that age.  Just let her live her life in peace.  Medical intervention does not always lead to good things.

I know what you are going through. My Dad is 88 and 3 tumors were found on his lungs. I had breast cancer a year ago, so I called my oncologist to ask her what she thought we should do about my Dad. She said, "At 88 you should stay away from doctors!"

Well the family had a discussion about what my Dad should do. He decided that he would go and get the biopsy to see if it was cancer or not and if so what kind and what his treatment options would be. They were supposed to just biopsy one tumor. That went so well that they decided to biopsy a tumor in the other lung. That did not go as well and he developed a pneumothorax. He had to stay in the hospital overnight on a chest tube and on oxygen. They sent him home the next afternoon. Before he went into the hosptial he was mowing his grass, going to get the mail, and felt pretty good. When he got home he was short of breath and was taking naps 3 times a day and felt bad.

This was 3 weeks ago. Since then he has been to see lots more doctors. He got put on oxygen at home and some new meds for his lungs. He is gradually recovering from the biopsy ordeal. He has decided to not get chemo since he thinks that would make him too sick. He also does not want surgery because he thinks that would kill him. He is going to try radiation and see if he can tolerate it.

 One of the oncologist that he went to see told him that his cancer is very slow growing. She also said that cancer usually grows more slowly in elderly people.

If I were 96 years old. I would probably not have surgery. I would stay home and enjoy the time I have left. Just getting the biopsy was very hard on an 88 year old.

Everyone has to do what feels right to them. Is your grandmother with it enough mentally to make her own decision? If so, talk to her and discuss the pros and cons.

Good Luck!

Deborah