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Opting for no treatment

Posted by Seeking Info @knshopper, Mar 25 4:02pm

Hello, my family member has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and immunotherapy has been recommended. The family member is 88 years old and is feeling well, does not want to risk side effects of treatment. Not sure what to expect going forward? Any information is greatly appreciated.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 2 days ago
In reply to @miscanthus "@colleenyoung Thank you for the information. I saved all of it. I do know about palliative..." + (show)
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@colleenyoung
Thank you for the information. I saved all of it. I do know about palliative care and hope to get a referral to a doctor practicing palliative medicine or possibly an oncology social worker.
Next week my husband will see his urologist for his post-TURBT-surgery appointment. We've already seen the pathology report and know his cancer (non-muscle invasive in situ) is still there. He's had six years of treatments and surgeries.
His doctor says he is running out of options, as the drug he planned to go with isn't available (Adstiladrin). Which leaves pallative care, or clinical trials. A radial cystectomy isn't a possiblity since John has demensia. Right now he is in the milder stage and still has independence. But he does not have the capicity to handle the changes bladder removal would bring.
So, right now our plan is to ask the urology how long John could expect to live, if he does nothing, going forward, to treat his cancer.

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Just to clarify for everyone reading this thread, one can ask for a referral to palliative care at any point in the cancer journey to help manage symptoms, not only at the end.

@miscanthus, I'm glad you're seeking a referral to palliative care and/or oncology social work. It is hard to hear that treatment options are running out. His urologist should be able to draw the picture of what progression might look like should no more treatment be administered. The oncologist was very frank with us when my father was near the end. We had him for 13 months instead of the predicted 6 months, but the progression was almost text book and we were well prepared (as much as one can be).

I send you a virtual shoulder to lean on when needed.

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Seeking Info | @knshopper | 1 day ago

@colleenyoung In your last post you mentioned that "progression was almost textbook", if you don't mind and are able, would you elaborate please? If it is too much I understand. Thank you.

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