New to this forum: Who else made it through chemo (in their 70s)?

I was diagnosed at 65 and had just retired. I started chemo after my biopsy and continued for about 4 months about 3-4 times a week. I lost all my hair.........everywhere........but, never got nauseated. Just very tired and lost my appetite. I lost about 30 lbs (which didn't take long to come back.) The only long term affect I have had is loss of taste and smell and really..............who knows what caused that as I also had radiation and surgery. Follow what you feel is best for you. I am doing well so far and have no regrets.

2003 and age 54 I had: lumpectomy, nodes removed, chemo, radiation, AI for 5 years. Cancer in remission until 2025 DCIS, LCIS popped up in the other breast. I had 22 years clear mammos. Now I am 76 and on AI again. I would not do chemo again ,even if it was appropriate , as I had a rough time with lingering side effects. Each person has to make the best choice for themself. Quality of life is important to me especially at 76.
Good luck to you!

I made it through chemo at age 79. ince i had some cancer in my lymph nodes the oncologist said it would be the best way to go. It wasn't awful after the amount of taxol was adjusted and now I am almost 84. Blood work shows no sign of tumors in my body. I'd do it again.

Have you had somatic testing of the tumor materials from biopsy? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0936655524004503
This isn't what you've asked (apologies), but it might help you make the decision.
My cancer was colorectal without somatics I'd have suffered all the side effects from the three chemotherapeutic foisted upon me. I was determined to avoid chemotherapy, though. I'm the right age, the wrong cancer, and not gorgeous.

I was 71 when I went through chemo (oncotype + as well). Lost all my hair and as someone else mentioned, loss of taste and smell - I had a lot of mouth lesions and just finished up about 6000.00 of dental work because of it. Still no real sense of smell but some return of taste, just not a lot and it seems different than before. Currently going through extreme fatigue followed by insomnia - maybe due to the ai therapy but unsure as a lot of people mention these side effects of treatment up to 2-3+ years after. The biggest problem with all of this is that it is so “rock vs hard place”. If I didn’t do the recommended chemo and in 2 years had new tumor growth, then “gee I should have done chemo” doesn’t help. Same with radiation. It is all a personal decision and depends on what you can emotionally and psychologically live with. I do go through periods where I feel it was a mistake to do chemo but you know, there’s no way to know. My tumor markers have never gone to normal and actually went back up to where I started at one point so I still have that little voice wondering if there’s something there they haven’t found yet. I was lucky in that I didn’t have any comorbidities at the time so that didn’t enter the decision for me.

You are so right about doing what is best for you.
I was diagnosed at 67 and went the whole route, but chemo first, surgery a masectomy, radiation, chemo pills for 9 months, zomeda for 3 years.
In my case eyelashes didn't come back very well.
I did develop PVCs but not sure yet if that is related to cancer treatments or something else.
I am four years out from treatments so trying to keep positive about that five year goal.
I don't have any regrets on the treatments I had as wanted the best chance for survival.
I know they say lumpectomy and masectomty have just about same survival rate, but to me, in my case , having most of the tissue removed might help if any microscopic cancer cells were in tissue.
I had rare, TNBC, lobular cancer.
Hugs to all.

I have never heard of having chemo after radiation.My Oncotype was 23 so I did 30 sessione of radiation and no chemo. I have always heard that chemo depends on the Oncotype test.I am 77 and was relieved when the numbers came back. Your oncologist must have missed something in your diagnosis.Please get a second opinion as soon as possible!

If you have tnbc which isn't hormone driven, after your treatment is done that's it . No pills to take for five, 10 years. So they use a chemo pill to try to make sure any residual cancer is taken care of. In my case after surgery tumor had shrunk but not completely.

Hi, I’m 74 now, but my adventure in cancer began at 72 with a surprise triple positive ductal carcinoma diagnosis during a mammogram screening, in my right breast. Chemo is what I went through first, and it was the worst part of the treatment, but - as someone else mentioned here- I never experienced nausea. Lost all my hair, everywhere, and had diarrhea and lethargy, but that was the extent of it. And that was only some days.

Next was radiation (not bad at all,) lumpectomy and finally hormones. Really the hormones were the worst part. Anyway, two years later I’m cancer free, and feeling great. It’s okay, you can do it, girl!

You are asking the right questions here with those of us having similar experiences. Have you considered getting a second opinion? It seems as if you are not satisfied with your doctors decision. Or meet with your physician to ask the questions you have.
I was 75 when diagnosed. My cancer was aggressive and I had chemo, a mastectomy, radiation and more chemo. I'm 4 years passed dx and doing well. Chemo left me with a minor case of neuropathy in toes of my left foot. It does not stop me from walking 4 miles each day.
With all that said, studies are showing that doctors are treating breast cancer less aggressively. I don't know where your situation fits, that's why I ask if you could get a second opinion or talk with your doctor again.
Weigh your current health conditions carefully