Question about prognosis

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Sending warm thoughts and prayers toall this morning. My aunt lab

reports all came back and now we just have to wait to meet withthe

the onc. again, but I would like to tell you guys the facts and get

some input because my aunt is going crazy. She had her primary

tumor removed last week it was a little over 4 inces in the lower

colon. They also removed two feet above the that becasue there was

another spot. Her byopsy results came back as positive on the

liver. They tested 4 spots and all of them are cancer. They test

20 lymph nodes from the same area 1 had cancer. She does not want

chemo is she will most likely going to die anyway. I have tried to

explain to her that it will atleast extend her life. At this point

she only wants to doit if the oncologist tell hers she can do it and

it will cure the cancer. Am I wrong or at this point with stage 4

cure is unlikely. I do not want to lie to her but no one has been

straight with her about her prognosis. I feel that she will here it

from the oncologist soon enough. Am I right will the oncologist be

straight with her and honest about her chances so she can make a

decision based on that. Sorry for being depressing. I want her to

fight at least try. She is only 53 and in great health.

Thanks,

Jenn

[Guest guest]

Jenn,

I am going to try to walk a very fine line here because I definitely

have some personal opinions based on experience and education that

differ from many others on this board.You are right in that the

statistics show that the prognosis for stage 4 with multiple

inoperable liver metatatisis is poor.They do not even talk 'cure'at

this point.That said,there are always exceptions to every rule and

statistic and yes,I do believe in miracles.So one does not ever want

to take away all hope even though we have to face reality at some

point.Treatment plans and thier sucess rates depend on many factors

and have to be determined for each individual.Ultimately,what kind

of treatment your aunt receives is her decision and she needs you to

support her in whatever that decision is.

I would hope that her onc will be honest and not instill a sense of

false hope in something he/she cannot deliver(unfortunately,some do)

At the same time you do not want the onc to take away all hope for

some quality time.Most often in cases of advanced cancer any

treatment mode is considered palliative,meaning it is not intended

to cure but rather to enhance and extend the quality of life for as

long as possible.This can be achieved through chemo,some

radiation,and alternative comfort measures.When chemo is used in

this manner,the dosages and administration regimes are further

adjusted to greatly reduce or eliminate bad side effects-remember

the goal is to make one feel better,not worse.Palliative chemo has a

very good track record of improving quality of life for an extended

period of time.At 53,your aunt has some very tough decisions to make

and they should be based on the facts of her desease,the

prognosis,her family situation,her faith,her life goals.She needs to

have a very long talk with her onc and decide what is most important

to her.

In the weeks before my husband died,a very good friend said to me " ya

know,there are worse things in life than death " .She had watched her

40 yr old daughter-in-law suffer from ovarian cancer for months,is

the primary caregiver to both her mother and her husband who have

suffered severe strokes.While I thought her comment odd at the

time,she knew what she was talking about.And she was right.

Hugs & Prayers,

H.

>

> Hi all,

>

> Sending warm thoughts and prayers toall this morning. My aunt lab

> reports all came back and now we just have to wait to meet withthe

> the onc. again, but I would like to tell you guys the facts and

get

> some input because my aunt is going crazy. She had her primary

> tumor removed last week it was a little over 4 inces in the lower

> colon. They also removed two feet above the that becasue there

was

> another spot. Her byopsy results came back as positive on the

> liver. They tested 4 spots and all of them are cancer. They test

> 20 lymph nodes from the same area 1 had cancer. She does not want

> chemo is she will most likely going to die anyway. I have tried

to

> explain to her that it will atleast extend her life. At this

point

> she only wants to doit if the oncologist tell hers she can do it

and

> it will cure the cancer. Am I wrong or at this point with stage 4

> cure is unlikely. I do not want to lie to her but no one has been

> straight with her about her prognosis. I feel that she will here

it

> from the oncologist soon enough. Am I right will the oncologist

be

> straight with her and honest about her chances so she can make a

> decision based on that. Sorry for being depressing. I want her

to

> fight at least try. She is only 53 and in great health.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jenn

[Guest guest]

So well said ....I applaud you and your courage. And yes, your

friend was sooooo right!

Hugs,

Monika

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > Sending warm thoughts and prayers toall this morning. My aunt

lab

> > reports all came back and now we just have to wait to meet

withthe

> > the onc. again, but I would like to tell you guys the facts and

> get

> > some input because my aunt is going crazy. She had her primary

> > tumor removed last week it was a little over 4 inces in the lower

> > colon. They also removed two feet above the that becasue there

> was

> > another spot. Her byopsy results came back as positive on the

> > liver. They tested 4 spots and all of them are cancer. They

test

> > 20 lymph nodes from the same area 1 had cancer. She does not

want

> > chemo is she will most likely going to die anyway. I have tried

> to

> > explain to her that it will atleast extend her life. At this

> point

> > she only wants to doit if the oncologist tell hers she can do it

> and

> > it will cure the cancer. Am I wrong or at this point with stage

4

> > cure is unlikely. I do not want to lie to her but no one has

been

> > straight with her about her prognosis. I feel that she will here

> it

> > from the oncologist soon enough. Am I right will the oncologist

> be

> > straight with her and honest about her chances so she can make a

> > decision based on that. Sorry for being depressing. I want her

> to

> > fight at least try. She is only 53 and in great health.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Jenn