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Consultant feedback: no plans to treat my husband's bladder cancer because he has Alzheimer's and is over 70. Has this happened to anyone else?

Rosiedod
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Has anyone else had the experience of basically because my husband has Alzheimer’s and is over 70 then the hospital has no plans at all to treat his bladder cancer.  Not medically why or even what we should expect in symptoms from now, but just that we don’t need any further appointments? I fully understand that the bladder removal is not an option due to it being a costly, major operation. But why nothing? 

  • Welcome to the forum Rosiedod, although I'm very sorry to hear about the decision that's been made and that you've not been told why, or what will happen next. This must be incredibly upsetting and frustrating.

    If you have any contact numbers for your husband's medical team you could try arranging a follow up appointment with them so you can ask them how they came to this decision, and get any other questions you have about this answered as well.

    If you disagree with the decision that's been made or want to find out if other treatment options may be available, you could try getting a second opinion from a different doctor.

    Hopefully some of our members who have been in a similar situation with their loved ones will offer their thoughts and advice to you soon, but we also have a team of cancer nurses you can talk to on 0808 800 4040. Their helpline is open Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m and they will do all they can to help.

    In the meantime, we're sending you all our strength and support Rosiedod and hope you'll get some much needed answers about this soon. 

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi . Sorry to hear that you’re going through this. I’m in almost the same situation. My husband was diagnosed with with an aggressive bladder cancer last October. He is 76 . He has a neurological problem which presents in similar ways to Alzheimer’s. He had prostate cancer 4 years ago which had been successfully treated with radiotherapy.No treatment has been offered, only palliative care. I was told that chemotherapy and / or bladder removal would not be in his best interests. We were upset by this but have trusted the doctors. At the moment 5 months on he is in the last stages of dying. I feel now that I wish we had got a second opinion. The outcome may have been the same but I would  have felt that we had left no stone unturned. I hope all goes well with your husband .

    Happyflower

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