Leo, what you are describing as the suggested treatment for your mother is probably what is known as a bladder sparing protocol pioneered in the US and still under investigation at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for at least 15 or more years. While not the first line of treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer it is used in very select patients (no P53 over expression, single tumor of expectable location, no CIS) and the elderly. After full removal of the tumor they use radiation and low levels of chemotherapy and a longer systemic chemotherapy regime following full response in the clinical trials. In the elder they often use the low level chemotherapy and radiation after full removal of the tumor. Here is a link to the most current trail.
www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00238420?term=NCT00238420&rank=1
There is much written about bladder cancer treatments in the elderly if you Google that term you will find many results such as these. Doctors are many times trying to balance quality of life and the person’s tolerance for standard treatment when dealing with the elderly patient who has bladder cancer.
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540087
www.asco.org/ascov2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=54&abstractID=20545
While taking low level chemotherapy I was told that it might thin, fall our or stay the same and I have talked to people who have experienced any of the above and it also depends on the drugs used so ask. Tell your Mother that I have lost my hair twice to chemotherapy and both times it came back and was nicer than it was before. Unfortunately like baby hair it went back to normal but was nice while it lasted. I also noticed while I was bald that I given the best seats in restaurants and was once upgraded to first class while flying without asking so there are benefits.
If you do not feel at ease with the treatment path that has been suggested you of course should seek a second opinion to see if there are other options.
We are here for you and will try to help if we can please keep us updated.
I have been researching different info on the chemo treatment but I would like some opinions from you on what to suggest to the doctor tomorrow. This is soooo overwhelming to absorb everything but I am doing the best that I can. And to top it off, we had a earthquake and hurricane this past week. Such a terrible week for all family. Thank you! 