A mother and son’s journey to a quality-of-life treatment decision

At 85, Sharon is a proud New Yorker and a former ballerina who still thrives in the rhythm of city life. She swims, does aerobics, and strolls through the city she loves with her sons and grandchildren. Independent, active, and vibrant, Sharon embodies what it means to be a “super-ager.”

When she was diagnosed with early-stage bladder cancer, Sharon was faced with a life-altering decision. The tumor had been successfully removed through a minimally invasive procedure (TURBT), but her care team presented her with two very different paths forward: radical surgery (bladderectomy) or a bladder-preserving option known as trimodal therapy (TMT) which included chemoradiation following the TURBT procedure.

One option promised the highest chance of eliminating the cancer, but would mean removing her bladder—major surgery with significant risks and long-term lifestyle changes. The other (TMT) offered similar cancer control, but would preserve her bladder and allow her to stay more active.

Sharon leaned toward TMT. But her son, deeply involved and informed, had reservations.

Sharon’s son had done his research — a lot of it. He consulted Facebook groups, pored over medical literature, and even asked ChatGPT for guidance. He was convinced that a bladderectomy was the best choice to protect his mom.

The problem? Sharon didn’t feel the same way. She valued her independence and quality of life more than an aggressive surgical approach. She felt confident in her instincts—but worried about disappointing her son. Their conversations grew tense. Facts were flying back and forth, but neither side felt heard. Sharon needed more than options—she needed clarity. Her son needed reassurance grounded in evidence. That’s when her care team brought in Ardynn.

Through her Ardynn advocate, Sharon received a Capire360 report—a personalized report unique to Ardynn, providing real-world outcomes that used data from people just like her in terms of age, sex, race, cancer type and overall health status. It compared treatment options side-by-side, not in general terms, but based on what actually happened to people over 80 with her specific cancer features.

The findings were eye-opening:

• Cancer control was comparable between surgery (bladderectomy) and TMT for people like Sharon.
• TMT had fewer complications, a key consideration given her age and active lifestyle.
• Bladder function and independence could be preserved with TMT—something that mattered deeply to Sharon.

  What’s more, the report and conversations with the advocate helped Sharon’s son see the difference between internet anecdotes and real-world data. With support from Ardynn, he began to understand how context matters—especially when making decisions for someone he loves.
  Sharon’s advocate spent the time to talk through every detail of Sharon’s treatment options with her son. They helped him ask better questions, make sense of the medical literature, and understand that Sharon’s preference wasn’t based on fear—it was based on facts that mattered for her. They also empowered Sharon to express what she wanted—clearly and confidently. She wasn’t avoiding treatment. Rather, she was choosing a path that aligned with her values.