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Lung cancer at 94 years old
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Char4Dad posted:
Doctors just diagnosed Dad with a 4.5x5.5x7cm spiculated mass on his upper left lung, very near the aorta. They want to do a biopsy, knock him out completely to do it, then do radiation to shrink it. Biopsy must be done VERY carefully due to its proximity to the aorta.They say it WILL come back at some point after radiation. Is that too risky for an otherwise healthy 94 year old? What might his quality of life be like?
Having trouble knowing how to proceed.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Lung cancer at 94 years oldDoctors just diagnosed Dad with a 4.5x5.5x7cm spiculated mass on his upper left lung, very near the aorta. They want to do a biopsy, knock him out completely to do it, then do radiation to shrink it. Biopsy must be done VERY carefully due to its proximity to the aorta.They say it WILL come back at some point after radiation. Is that too risky for an otherwise healthy 94 year old? What might his quality of life be like?<br />Having trouble knowing how to proceed.
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georgiagail responded:
A good article that discusses the various types of biopies:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/biopsy/CA00083

Typically a biopsy is a relative quick procedure; the patient is under anesthesia for a short period of time. Thus, their quality of life is no different than it was prior to the biopsy.

A concern of doing any procedure that requires anesthesia on the elderly has more to do with the patients lung and heart function than anything else. If your father is healthy otherwise the risk to these body organs should be minimal from the procedure itself.

Gail
Report This| Share this:Lung cancer at 94 years oldA good article that discusses the various types of biopies:<br /> <br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/biopsy/CA00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/biopsy/CA00083</a> <br /> <br />Typically a biopsy is a relative quick procedure; the patient is under anesthesia for a short period of time. Thus, their quality of life is no different than it was prior to the biopsy.<br /> <br />A concern of doing any procedure that requires anesthesia on the elderly has more to do with the patients lung and heart function than anything else. If your father is healthy otherwise the risk to these body organs should be minimal from the procedure itself.<br /> <br />Gail
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