How to survive a “golden years” diagnosis of breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I thought it was the perfect time to share a story with you about one of Dr. Fred Pescatore’s patients…

A few years ago, she came to him after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 85. He was shocked to find out that her oncologist had recommended a double mastectomy.

When Dr. Pescatore called the oncologist to find out why he had suggested such a drastic surgery for an older woman, the doctor’s response was basically, “Why not?”

“I was appalled,” Dr. Pescatore says. “But I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. Many doctors, especially oncologists, recommend major surgeries and exhaustive treatments simply as a knee-jerk reaction. They do it because they can—and effects on the patient are never considered. Because to them, once the cancer is gone, the case is closed.”

And in Dr. Pescatore’s opinion, this perspective on treatment is problematic, especially when you’re a woman of a certain age faced with breast cancer…

In many cases, any treatment is overtreatment

The fact is rates of breast cancer are highest among women over the age of 70. And disease management options can—and should—change as you age. The right protocol for a 45-year-old isn’t necessarily going to be the right one for an 85-year-old.

Especially considering the fact that, despite the higher rate of the disease, for the most part, cancer in older people tends to be much less aggressive—especially when we’re talking about hormone-related diseases, like breast cancer. And less aggressive cancer means a much better prognosis.

That’s why, no matter your age, Dr. Pescatore strongly recommends considering these two important questions when it comes to treatment:

  • Will this treatment increase my life expectancy?
  • Can my body safely tolerate surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy?

Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are not easy treatments. And they can come at a very high price to your health. Including heart disease, pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lung, and what is often called “chemo brain,” which sentences some patients to lasting brain fog and memory issues.

But Dr. Pescatore doesn’t completely rule out these treatments.

As he puts it, “Let me be clear: I’m not suggesting that it’s not worth it to pursue conventional treatments. But you should always bear in mind, if you’re treating a disease that’s not likely to kill you in the first place, you may wind up taking unnecessary risks. Risks that could both shorten your life and impact its quality.”

So how do you know if your cancer is likely to kill you without aggressive treatment? Dr. Pescatore explains…

Get a second opinion-—maybe even a third

First, it’s essential to know exactly what type and stage of breast cancer you have, as they all carry a different prognosis and, therefore, different treatment strategies.

That’s why Dr. Pescatore strongly recommends you demand a PET/ CT scan, even if your doctors are convinced your disease is nothing to worry about. Your results from these scans can greatly influence how you choose to proceed with treatment—or if you choose to proceed with treatment at all.

You may also choose to have genomic testing to see which treatments will target your disease most effectively. Unlike genetic testing, which assesses your cancer risk, genomic testing uses tumor tissue analysis to help guide treatment decisions. It can help to assess the aggressiveness of your cancer, and also tell you how responsive it is likely to be to drug therapy.

But Dr. Pescatore’s best advice? Get multiple opinions.

He explains, “No matter what your doctor says when he or she gives you your diagnosis, you do have time to get a second opinion. Then take all of the feedback and recommendations you receive into consideration.

And really ask yourself: Will I be better off getting the therapy or living with what I have?”

The goal, as always, is to extend life. But the idea that this must always require you to compromise the quality of your life is just plain wrong.

You can learn more about natural breast cancer treatments in Dr. Pescatore’s Essential Cancer Protocol. Not yet a member? Click here to enroll today, or to learn more about this integrative approach to cancer care.