Screening Tests for Older People

[JudyJB]

I belong to a CLL forum where there are some very helpful other patients. We got into a discussion because several of us over a "certain age" had been told we no longer needed to be scanned for some cancers and a few other diseases. For example, I was told last year when I had a colonoscopy that since I was now 80, I would not need any further screenings. I was not sure if I was happy with that news or not, and I questioned why, but did not get an answer from the person who gave me the screening last year. Did they think we were not going to live long enough to make it worthwhile?

One of the patients on this CLL forum is a retired doctor from Nova Scotia. He was a general practitioner, so not a cancer specialist, but he had substantial medical information and a lot of personal experience with this disease. Plus, he always make helpful responses to questions like mine. Here is his first part of his answer, which I thought was interesting for us old folks:

"It's not that fewer people get cancers in that age group—breast cancer incidence rises with age for example. It's that if diagnosed, you are less likely to die from it as cancers in older people tend to be less aggressive. So there is no advantage to early diagnosis compared to diagnosis later (point #3 above). You could spend lots of money on providing mammos for >80 year olds and maybe not save a single life. That becomes an easy decision for a single-payer system, but is more difficult when there is profit to be made by hospitals, and losses to be made by insurers".

When I asked if he knew why cancers in us older people tends to be less aggressive, he said:

"Not for sure, maybe just as our cells and their metabolism slow and become less efficient, those of our cells that become malignant remain old and inefficient too! A cell that groans trying to put its socks on in the mornings probably isn't going to make mutations that are suitable for a lean, mean, killing machine."

Interesting and positive information, at least, although I will continue to get as many screenings as I can since CLL patients tend to be more susceptible to other cancers.

[Bethers]

I've heard that, also. I was also told that many surgeries, etc, are more likely to be tougher on healing for or older bodies. But that we should be given the choices.

[Cudedog]

I belong to a CLL forum where there are some very helpful other patients. We got into a discussion because several of us over a "certain age" had been told we no longer needed to be scanned for some cancers and a few other diseases. For example, I was told last year when I had a colonoscopy that since I was now 80, I would not need any further screenings. I was not sure if I was happy with that news or not, and I questioned why, but did not get an answer from the person who gave me the screening last year. Did they think we were not going to live long enough to make it worthwhile?

Judy, my view on the medical profession and on medical care for the elderly is a bit different than yours.

I have come to believe that our culture and society places little value on individuals once they reach retirement age.

Denying or withholding medical care - of all types - for those over about age 65 is a sure way to cut costs.

Denying/withholding/rationing medical care for those above a certain age is also an excellent way to thin the ranks of those needing any type of medical care.

If you get my drift.

Anne

[Redetotry]

Judy I wonder if they don't recommend some tests for a couple of reason, particularly the colonoscopy as the prep for the test is very difficult and hard on ones body plus if they did find something would surgery actually prolong your life to a degree of being worth it. From what I hear most people say, regardless of age, is that it is very difficult to find a doctor and especially to find a good one. I haven't had a doctor touch me in years other than when they check my heart. Is this due to my age? One no longer puts on a robe and the doctor does a breast and abdomen exam. Now they just look at their computer and ask questions. I had a ultra sound this spring that I requested due to swollen lymph nodes in my neck. I received a copy of the report but when I had my 6 month check up with my doctor he did not look at the results. I had sent the report to my doctor in Brazil she read it and said in her opinion everything looked good. I still wanted my doctor to review it since I had paid for it! So I sent a message in My Chart asking for the results and received an answer saying 'He still has not reviewed it" A friend my age had a similar experience, after their lab work and appointment where it wasn't mentioned that they had third stage kidney failure. They later happened to reviewed their lab reports online and contacted a specialist when they saw the results. Thankfully I have access to the doctor in Brazil who is also the constitutional homeopath that was able to find something that gave me relief from Trigeminal Neuralgia. The doctor shortage and quality is growing and is expected to continue along with veterinarians.

[Acadianmom]

My doctor told me that I didn't have to have anymore colonoscopies. I finally got an appointment with a genealogist last year mostly to order a mammogram. They don't really want to see someone my age. She acted like the mammogram wasn't needed.

Martha