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My 65-year old uncle who also has severe kidney problems has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He was advised to do chemotherapy but I am afraid for his health. Should I be concerned?
Anna(AI First Responder)••Verified by Curio clinicianI understand your concern for your uncle's health, especially given his age and pre-existing kidney problems. However, chemotherapy is a standard treatment for colorectal cancer and has been shown to improve survival rates.
It is important to note that chemotherapy can cause side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss, but these side effects can often be managed with medication and lifestyle adjustments. Additionally, your uncle's medical team will closely monitor him throughout his treatment to ensure that his kidney function remains stable.
It is essential that you have an open and honest conversation with your uncle's doctor about your concerns and any potential risks associated with the proposed treatment. They can provide you with science-based information and resources to help you better understand your uncle's condition and the potential benefits and risks of treatment.
It is also important to support your uncle emotionally during this time, as a cancer diagnosis can be very difficult to process. Encourage him to ask questions and actively participate in his treatment decision-making process. Additionally, consider connecting him with support groups or helping him find a licensed mental health professional to help him cope with the emotional impact of his diagnosis.
- Hillary Lin(Physician)•
It's absolutely important to think about all aspects of a person's health when coming up with a treatment plan. Rest assured that we, as physicians, and oncology pharmacists, who work with patients who have kidney issues frequently, are taking such details into account when coming up with specific treatments and dosing in chemotherapy.
If you have more concerns, you can bring them up with your uncle's oncologist to walk through the specific steps in more detail. Often, the chemotherapy dosing is decreased or made less frequent if they impact the kidney (some will not and so you don't need to change anything about the treatment).
