my 81 year old mom has just had mastectomy and axillary node clearance
how long will it take for her to recover? she is having a problem with build up of fluid. (she had op 3 wks ago) she has had it drained once but nurse said they do not want to keep draining it because of risk of infection. Will it get better on it's own? mom is now taking arimidex. we have to see oncologist next week about radiotherapy. There was involvement in the sentinal node but not in any others and the tumor which was 3.2 cms had not spread. does she really need radiotherapy at her age? I am concerned about side effects. Has anyone else gone throught this with a lady of this age?
Healing rates vary considerably, but my surgeon said three weeks was typical. However, older people can take longer to heal. Since often the treatment choices are either lumpectomy and radiation OR mastectomy, I'm not completely clear on why radiation is the suggested follow up for a tumor with no lymph node involvement. Perhaps the doctor is suggesting radiation as an easier treatment compared to chemo if the details of her pathology report suggested that chemo would be appropriate. Your mother should be given the facts on how much risk reduction radiation will give her, and what the likely side effects will be. Then she should make the choice about what she wants to do.
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gillflower
Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Phyllis Johnson
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 06:02 PM
I hope it all goes well.
Thank you for your answer. mom saw the oncologist this week who told us that radiotherapy is a 'belt and bracers' approach to attack any cancer cells that may have got to the chest wall. so she will be taking the hormone treatment Arimidex for 5 years plus radiatherapy for 15 sessions starting ina week or so when she is able to lift her arm above her head.Will let you know how she gets on.