Cervicectomy with negative PET scan followed by radiation and chemo

@riverdancer, I can imagine that you are worried about your friend having to undergo chemo and radiation when she has multiple health complications. Typically, health status is a major consideration when deciding on a treatment plan.

It sounds like they suspect the cancer may have traveled beyond the cervix and want to use the best options to kill cancer cells both regionally (pelvic area?) and systemically (throughout her body).

Is she being treated at a major cancer center? Did she discuss the pros and cons of treatment with her cancer team, do you know?

@riverdancer I can understand your concern about your friend, her health status and going forward with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Like @colleenyoung, my understanding is that cancer care teams take overall health status under careful consideration as they consider treatment options. Do you know where you friend is being treated? If she is not going to a large cancer care center and assuming she is in the U.S. would she want another opinion at one of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) centers?

Find an NCI-Designated Cancer Center:

-- https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find

@colleenyoung
Thank you for responding. She did not go to a major clinic and just told me after much consideration that she is not going to have any treatments. She feels that the cost to her body is not worth the possible remedy. Her immune system is so badly compromised that she just didn’t want to go through all that. I completely understand. She is 70 and has had MS for probably 40 years or more.

@naturegirl5
Thank you for responding. She did not go to a major clinic and just told me after much consideration that she is not going to have any treatments. She feels that the cost to her body is not worth the possible remedy. Her immune system is so badly compromised that she just didn’t want to go through all that. I completely understand. She is 70 and has had MS for probably 40 years or more.

@riverdancer Thank you for bringing me up-to-date with your friend.

I'd like to share that a very dear friend of mine has lived with MS for almost 40 years. She is close in age to your friend and while my friend continues to receive excellent care for MS she had to retire earlier than planned . The MS made it impossible for her to continue working. We have had many end-of-life discussions and if she had a cancer diagnosis I'm reasonably certain she would elect no treatment.

You are a good friend. Thank you for coming here and expressing your concerns.

@naturegirl5 I’m in North Carolina and she is in Michigan so I don’t see her nearly as much as I’d like, although we talk often. She is such a trooper and generally maintains good spirits in spite of her challenges. When I see her struggle to walk, it makes me realize all the things I take for granted. Thank you for your kindness.

@riverdancer I'm in Michigan where I first met my friend and she is now in Georgia. Like you, I talk with my friend often but we do not get to see one another as often we we would like. My friend is pragmatic and her life and choices reflect that. Fortunately she has made some very good friends in Georgia who do not hesitate to help when needed. That gives me some ease when I think about how she manages day-to-day.

These friendships are so very dear to us.