Question:
Dad, aged 79, was just diagnosed with skin cancer on the top of his
ear. He is going next week to speak with the doctor about possible
treatments, and has asked us to go along for moral support and to
help him understand and possibly choose between treatment options
that his doctor may offer. The doctor said that they would discuss
chemotherapy and surgery.
Before going with him, I'd like to know what questions to ask and if
there is anything we should know and be concerned about. Any
comments in favor or one or the other treatment?
My first thought was that chemo might be difficult on a 79 year old
man, even tho he is very active and vigorous, while surgery on an
ear (in my humble, uneducated opinion) would probably not be. But
I don't know anything about what the prognosis associated with each
treatment might be... :(
Any suggestions?
Answer:
There are two critical issues -- has the disease spread and what kind
of skin cancer is it. It may be that the doctor is considering
chemotherapy ointment applied to the ear (a treatment for squamous cell
carcinoma).
