Radiotherapy for mum 82 With short term memory loss

Hi, I am new to the forum and have joined after reading some of your amazingly informative posts. This is all new to me. Mum has been diagnosed with cervical cancer and it has spread a little bit to her bowel. This has come as a complete surprise to all our family. Upto Christmas she was fit and well, very well read , intelligent lady. She was admitted to hospital in February with a chest infection, since then it’s been one test after another.

last week confirmed she had cancer. Whilst in hospital she suffered a stroke ( missed by all the staff around her) . The stroke has caused short term memory loss but no other lasting symptoms.

we were told last week that because of this she cannot have chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is an option only if her memory improves within 4 weeks! The doctor said they are concerned she may move during treatment .

Does this seem right ? Despite her memory loss she isn’t that bad and could certainly stay in same position for 30 mins as she did in her MRI. 

Do you think the doctor is trying to tell us it’s not worth treating ?

Any advise on this and what actually happens whilst having the treatment? Thankyou .

  • Hi there, and welcome ...

    How does your mum feel about treatment .. if I were you I'd write down All those questions and ask her oncology team ... l know sometimes they give little or no treatment when they know putting someone through it, may make only a tiny or no difference .. 

    If she has treatment it really does knock the stuffing out of young fit adults ... sometimes to make the most of every day she has with the best quality she has .. isn't giving up .. it's not wanting to go through those treatments ... I know when my brother in law was in last month's, they gave him one, because he wanted to fight all the way .. where as I'd rather have whatever time and make the most of it ... which is just what I'm doing since my diagnosis ... every day is a memory day ..

    But the bottom line is how she feels .. what she wants .. and from what I know she would have to stay really still, as it's not like an x ray .. this is radiation targeted in an exact place ... 

    What ever you all decide, it won't be easy .. but as long as she feels supported and you all hold her hand, it'll mean more then you'll ever know ... Chrissie xx

  • Thankyou for your reply and good advise. It’s early days for me getting my head around her diagnosis and I’m experiencing all sorts of emotions about it. So it’s good to get advise from experienced people like yourself how to deal with it. We will speak together and make a list to discuss with the doctor.

    Thanks again and wish you all the best x