I am caring for my father in law, who is a remarkable 97 year old living with us since Covid. Three years ago he had a pacemaker fitted, he's survived hospital acquired pneumonia when he went in for a blood transfusion, he's fallen off ladders, if he trips up he rolls. He has all his own teeth, hair etc. Some short term memory loss, calls me nurse or Mary... but chuckles and enjoys his food and manages the stairs, walks with a stick. Watches football and gets involved. So not what you conjure up when you say 97. He'd pass as 70. He only stopped driving a few years ago, and before Covid lived independently but was losing weight and of late had carer's who came in twice a day as his cognition took a knock when he got pneumonia.
Since living with us, he's put the weight back on, but he's now had three lots of blood in his urine. Each time it was initially treated as a UTI, but it was atypical. No pain, just blood. This last time they took him into hospital and found a big tumour in his bladder - 4-6 cm, contained within the bladder - but filling at least 50% or the space, possibly more.
The consultant today said - what with his age - they didn't think invasive treatment advisable. We will just be managing the symptoms.
I am just wondering, he's a tough chap - anyone older fought bladder cancer? What was your experience. We have power of attorney, and we have said DNR to anything too invasive, but just wondering if we didn't know his age you'd operate on a 70 year old - and he's in great shape.
Hi and welcome to the community, although sorry to hear about your father in law. We have had members here in the past who have had treatment for bladder cancer while in their 90s. it has always been considered a person's ability to cope with surgery rather than age. Hopefully, some of our older members should be along to share experiences. Best wishes.
