Question about Cancer Treatments

[lovetoscrap]

Patient: 78 yr old man in not so great health Had a heart attack earlier this year, has had several TIA's, beginning Alzhimers, borderline diabetic and a few other things. Cancer is rare and will be treated at a hospital about 4 hours away. He does not take care of himself well--doesn't cook, clean or do laundry. If left alone he either eats cold leftovers or goes out. Can't boil water or use a microwave. In general right now he mostly sleeps all day and really just doesn't feel well


Question: Am I being unreasonable to think that sending him to live in a hotel, or to what is basically a dorm, by himself for 4-5 weeks of radiation and/or chemo treatment is a really bad idea?

From what I know of these treatments (he will probably do several weeks of radiation and then chemo) the side effects will be awful. I am just imagining him lying in bed miserable sick and too weak to get out of bed, and thus not eating for days. A family member will check in on him probably once a day but for the most part he will be on his own and will have to walk or get a cab to and from his appointments. If he had another heart attack or stroke it could be 24 hours or more before anyone noticed. And with the Alzhimers some days are better than others. One day he is completely with it, and on others he can be confused and can't find his way around familiar places.

There are other options (at least in my mind) but so far this is the one the family is considering. They are waiting on the treatment plan to be formulated and to get more information. I am appalled that they are even considering this and would think it is an option.

Am I overreacting and over dramatizing the side effects of these treatments?

 

[Pakey]

Everyone responds differently to these treatments. I did 8 weeks of daily radiation and thought it was a breeze. I worked every day and drove myself to my radiation treatments on my lunch hour. I did 6 months of chemo (injected every other week) and was so sick I could barely function, nausea medication made it worse and my daily injections for low white counts had terrible side effects. Others I have known breezed through chemo, continued to work, etc.

Chemo changes how food tastes and nothing tastes good. It didn't matter what I ate so having someone to cook didn't make a bit of difference because I didn't want any of it anyway.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Many major hospitals will have residence facilities on (or near) the campus. These facilities are supported by donations and very low fees. They are hotel-like, but do have common-use facilities including dining at no charge to the Guests. And they have free shuttle service.

So it might be worth checking with the hospital's social services office to see what might be available.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Many major hospitals will have residence facilities on (or near) the campus. These facilities are supported by donations and very low fees. They are hotel-like, but do have common-use facilities including dining at no charge to the Guests. And they have free shuttle service.

So it might be worth checking with the hospital's social services office to see what might be available.

That is the "dorm" I referred to. But from what I understand it is just a place to stay, there is no one checking on you, making sure you are doing okay. And it looks like this one doesn't offer meals-- they have a common kitchen.