Can a man with lung cancer tolerate chemotherapy at 62?

Question

Hello doctor,

My uncle is 62 and has stage 4 lung cancer, and recently he has lost a lot of weight and now weighs only around 93 pounds. We are very concerned about his weakness and loss of appetite.

What happens when a 62-year-old stage 4 lung cancer patient weighs only 93 pounds?
Does very low body weight affect the ability to tolerate chemotherapy?
Also, what can be done to improve weight and strength during cancer treatment?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

I wish your father a speedy recovery. Initially, we decide whether to give chemotherapy (cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells and prevent tumor growth) or not based on the general condition of the patient.

For example, if your father weighs 93 pounds and cannot perform his daily activities regularly, then at this stage we do not prefer giving chemotherapy because in stage 4 it is better to resort to immune therapy (it boosts the patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells) or targeted therapy (it directly attacks specific molecular changes in cancer cells to stop growth).

Chemotherapy has many side effects, and nausea and vomiting are almost absent with those treatments.

Then his general condition begins to gradually improve with immune therapy, so he can become better, eat and drink, and perform his daily activities calmly and well. Therefore, I do not prefer chemotherapy at this stage, especially for elderly patients.

Regarding immune therapy, we can obtain it if we participate in clinical trials for free, and they also provide financial support if needed. Please do not forget the importance of emotional and nutritional support.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.