"Chemotherapy beneficial to older women"

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yared22311@yahoo.com - 04 Mar 2005 16:13 GMT

Chemotherapy beneficial to older women
Older women with breast cancer often are denied chemotherapy because of
their age, but a review of medical literature reveals the treatment
could improve survival for many older patients, who are most at risk
for the disease and its return.
at http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050303-115736-8784r.htm

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Howard Homler - 06 Mar 2005 20:23 GMT

>Chemotherapy beneficial to older women
>Older women with breast cancer often are denied chemotherapy because of
>their age, but a review of medical literature reveals the treatment
>could improve survival for many older patients, who are most at risk
>for the disease and its return.
>at http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050303-115736-8784r.htm

Age is not the only problem that comes up when you try to give
chemotherapy to older individuals. They may have many other medical
problems that makes them harder to treat with conventional doses
(renal insufficiency, heart conditions, impaired lungs and diabetes.
Often, the patients themselves are fearful of chemotherapy and are
skittish about taking it despite the benefit shown in several
situations. Our motto is still, "First do not cause harm." It can be
harder to explain the statistics of benefit to an anxious older
patient, too. Some are very well-informed, but others are very
overwhelmed and don't want to even think about cancer after completing
their primary therapy. H2

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