No Treatment For Mom

[ForAnna]

Just got hit with the news that my 83 year old mother has breast cancer.  She felt her left breast getting larger, went in for a Mammogram where they found numerous suspicious calcifications.  When she had the ultrasound the doctor confirmed she had breast cancer and scheduled a mastectomy.  They both agreed that at her age chemo and radiation would not be an option – or at least that is what she told me.  She is a health food advocate of the highest order and has decided that she is not even going to have the surgery because she can control or cure it with diet and prayer – she states that because she is old it is going to grow slowly.  I, on the other hand am a bit more of a pragmatist and am trying to get her to have some treatment.  We both don’t have a clue as to its type or classification.  If I can’t get her to go for surgery I am wondering what kind of time frame for healthy existence are we looking at? I know no one has a crystal ball – just trying to see if any of you have had similar experience and would be willing to share.  Thanks

[japdip]

Well, we all know that breast cancer can't be cured even with most of modern medicine, let alone diet, etc. I certainly DO NOT agree with your Mom's decision BUT we all have the right to decide what treatment we are going to take or not take. I'm hoping she will somehow be convinced to have the surgery but I do see the sense in no chemo, etc. at her age. Still I will defend her right to say NO to all of it.

[mamaboulet]

Tell mom she can't cure it with diet and prayer and that you would really like her to stick around a while longer. She can use her diet and prayer to speed her healing and make her strong again. I can see not doing the radiation and chemo at her age, since she might not be around long enough for a recurrence, but the surgery may well save her life. Good luck.