Life Expectancy

My mother in law is 85. About 9 years ago she had breast cancer and went through a mastectomy. The doctor said her cancer is back but it is in her lymph nodes now. They said they couldn't treat her due to her age. How long can someone expect to live with untreated cancer?

[katarina777]

She could live for a few years, rhonan222. It's a good sign that your mother in law's cancer stayed away for 9 years, or at least the longer between initial diagnosis and recurrence, the better the prognosis. She didn't have any additional treatment nine years back, right?

Then, often cancers in older people are less aggressive than the ones we find in younger women (this is of course a generalization) and more slow growing.

On the other hand, and especially since she had no other treatment than mastectomy nine years ago, it may be worth getting a second opinion for her. (If she feels that is what she wants, and this would help her both physically and/or psychologically)

I am not sure if she is in stage 4 now with the cancer having spread to the lymph nodes or not.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful and none that I said is written in stone, OK? all the best, Katrin

[rhonan222]

Thank you for your response. I know that is always a hard question to answer but I guess I was just looking for a generalization. Her cancer IS in her lymph nodes but I am not sure what the doctor said about what stage she is in. She has a number of other issues, one of which is diabetes and I guess you cannot expect an 85 year old person to seek out new or alternative treatments.