Hi everyone
I’m new to this group as I’m now supporting my 87 year old mum with her kidney cancer that has spread to her bones. I’m hoping you lovely people here can guide me. She had one urgent radiotherapy treatment on Monday to control a met on her vertebra. Amazingly she’s been symptom free since diagnosed 4 years ago and opted for active monitoring with the bone mets diagnosed in January this year and then shielded.
She’s frail, lost weight, and has quite a few co-morbidities and her oncologist has now offered her cabozantinib and we’re due back next week to make a decision.
We were given the Macmillan information for this drug, which sounds scary with the many side effects listed.
She lives alone and is clear that she doesn’t want to be unable to look after herself because of any side effects.
- Would love to hear from anyone who has had/is having this treatment especially if having it as an older person?
- What side effects did you experience?
- And did these interfere with you daily activities?
The oncologist is advising a 20mg dose as she’s just 44kg in weight. :-(
- wondering if a “try it and see“ approach is a good idea?
- and what type of care support could she have if she is struggling with side effects, as she has no family or friends nearby? She has just been awarded the higher rate attendance allowance thanks to the hospice and Macmillan input.
She feels young at heart and wanting to have treatment without disabling side effects...Bless her.
