The treatment plan for cancer in the elderly depends mainly on the type of cancer your parent has and the stage of the disease. Doctors also consider the patient's age and general health. Often, the goal of treatment is to cure the cancer. In other cases, the goal is to control the disease or to reduce symptoms for as long as possible. Caregivers can work closely with their elderly parent's doctor to ensure their aging parent is getting the proper treatment.
Your elderly mom or dad's treatment plan may change over time. Most treatment plans include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Some involve hormone therapy or biological therapy. In addition, stem cell transplantation may be used so that a patient can receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some cancers respond best to a single type of treatment. Others may respond best to a combination of treatments. Treatments may work in a specific area (local therapy) or throughout the body (systemic therapy):
- Local therapy removes or destroys cancer in just one part of the body. Surgery to remove a tumor is local therapy. Radiation to shrink or destroy a tumor also is usually local therapy.
- Systemic therapy sends drugs or substances through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells all over the body. It kills or slows the growth of cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are usually systemic therapy. Your doctor can describe your treatment choices and the expected results. You and your doctor can work together to decide on a treatment plan that is best for you.
Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effects depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next. Before treatment starts, the health care team will explain possible side effects and suggest ways to help you manage them in your aging parent. This team may include oncologist, nurses, a dietitian, a physical therapist, and others.
Questions to Ask the Doctor
You may want to ask the doctor these questions before treatment begins:
- Has the cancer spread? If so, where? What is the stage of the disease?
- What is the goal of treatment? What are the treatment choices? Which do you recommend? Why?
- What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- How can side effects be managed?
- What can I, as a caregiver, do to prepare my parent for treatment?
- How often will my mom or dad have treatments? How long will treatment last?
- What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my parent's insurance cover the costs?
- What new treatments are under study? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for my elderly parent?