When your wife comes home from the hospital, she can have a visiting nurse check on her a couple times per week. This should be something arranged at the hospital. There also may be some home health aides who could come help. They can help her with simple things like bathing and dressing. I had visiting nurses weekly for 9 months. But I also had some major complications, most patients will be ok after a couple months. Most will stay 2 or 3 weeks in the hospital. Many will go to a rehab facility for a few more weeks to help them gain strength and to prepare them for being able to go home. The surgery is a big one and recovery is long but since your wife is in otherwise good health she should be ok with this. She hasnt had radiation yet so her healing should be faster than someone who already did radiation. I know its a huge decision to make.

I wish you both all the best with everything!

Still in limbo. Surgeon felt we needed to talk to medical Oncologist to discuss radiation/chemo option to surgery. Have session on Monday and then big decision. Thanks for all the input.

Tomorrow is last info day before decision. We wonder how much agony we are willing to go thru at 80 yrs of age. We all want to be healthy at any age but the cure may not help our overall health. I know we will do something but also looking at the least invasive options. Just venting. Any 80 yr old out here?

Hi Vandypaul

Going back to your first post which asked what sort of questions you should be asking. Everyone has given great advice about getting second opinions and giving you some idea of what to expect from the OC aspect but I don't see any advice around (or missed) addressing the Crohns disease.

My question to the doctors if I were in your wife's shoes would be to ask how treatment would affect her Crohns. I am thinking specifially of chemotherapy which affects the whole body - including the entire gastro-intestinal tract. Make sure your oncologists don't forget they need to take this into account when recommending treatment.

Good luck and let us know what you and your wife decide

Karen

I wish you all the best with your difficult decision! OCF does have an older gentleman who stops in from time to time. Look for posts by EzJim. He has gone thru heck and has shown such resiliency for a man in his 70s. He is a great example of someone who never gives up or gets discouraged, he just keep a positive outlook and keeps going. There have been others in their 80s but off the top of my head I can not remember specific screen names.

No matter what you decide, we will be here to support you with info and a place for moral support. Best wishes!

Decision has been made to go with chemo/radiation.Impact of Crohns is a little less than the 10 hr surgery option. Hopefully begin next week-go for mask fitting tomorrow.Hard choice and only time will tell. She finally fully understands the side effects after our meeting with thw rad oncologist Thanks for all the inputs.Our choice of Vanderbilt and their team approach helped tremendously in making the decision.

Vanderbilt's a great center - my husband's ENT trained there. It will be a difficult journey, but the good doctors at Vanderbilt are supporting it because there is a good chance it WILL be worth it. Younger people have us on physical strength and stamina, but age brings its own emotional fortitude, courage and patience. My very best wishes to you both.

Your post arrived

It was deleted as it took away from your thread responses.


Nutrition and hydration will play a huge factor in your wife's success with getting thru this easier. Every single day she needs 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. Do not skimp even one day thinking it can be made up the next one. It never happens. If you push for even more per day that is even better! Try to get her to enjoy all her favorite foods now as her sense of taste will be altered for a while.

So glad you have chosen a cancer center!!!!

Good Luck!!!!

Best of luck! You'll get through it. Hugs!