Targeted Therapy After 75: — Is It Worth It?

A second opinion is always reasonable, and a responsible oncologist will not object to one. What you want to understand is whether the concern is about the biology of your cancer — the biomarker result — or about your fitness to tolerate treatment. If it is a fitness concern, ask specifically what the problem is. Kidney function, liver function, and drug interactions are all things that may be addressable before treatment starts. Asking for the reasoning in writing helps when you take the question to another team.

Fatigue is a reported side effect of several targeted agents, and it can feel more noticeable if your energy baseline is already lower. Your team will ask about it at every visit. Mild fatigue is usually manageable and does not on its own mean treatment should stop. Tell your team the same day if fatigue is severe — preventing you from eating, dressing, or moving around — because that level needs to be assessed rather than managed at home.

It can be, and it is one of the most important things to raise before treatment starts. Some targeted agents interact with blood pressure medicines, anticoagulants, antifungals, and certain antibiotics. Bring a complete list of everything you take — including supplements and herbal preparations — to your first appointment. Your oncologist or clinical pharmacist will check each combination. Do not stop any of your existing medicines without asking your treating team first.

They are different treatments for different cancer types, not alternatives you choose between based on age alone. Which is appropriate depends on your biomarker results and what your cancer type responds to. For cancers where targeted therapy is indicated, the oral form and different side effect profile can make it more manageable for older patients. But that comparison only applies when both treatments are genuinely on the table for your specific cancer and results — your oncologist can tell you which is the case for you.

Your team will set the schedule based on which agent you are taking and your baseline results. In the early weeks, tests are usually more frequent, checking that kidneys and liver are handling the medicine well. Once your results are stable, the interval typically lengthens. Ask your oncologist for the expected monitoring schedule before you start so you can plan for it and know what to expect at each stage.

Most targeted therapies are oral pills taken at home, so daily visits are not needed. You will have scheduled appointments for blood tests, clinical review, and prescription renewal. Where targeted therapy requires an infusion or injection, CION administers it as day care — you come in for the session and go home the same day. Ask your oncologist at the start how often clinic visits are expected for the specific treatment you are on.

Call the same day if you develop severe diarrhoea, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the legs or face, a rash that is spreading or blistering, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a sudden change in how much urine you pass. These can be signs that the treatment is affecting the liver, lungs, heart, or kidneys. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment. If you cannot reach your team and the symptom is severe, go to the nearest emergency department.

Yes, and this matters more than many patients realise. Some targeted agents affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, blood glucose, or thyroid function, which means your other specialists may need to adjust what they are prescribing for you. Ask your oncologist for a brief summary letter that your cardiologist, diabetologist, or family doctor can keep in their file. Do not assume information passes automatically between specialists — it often does not, and a gap there can cause a preventable interaction.