Brother in law with stage 4 rectal cancer...help

[Guest guest]

My brother in law is 48 just diagnosed with rectal cancer. He is

stage for with mets to the liver (two spots) and lymph nodes in the

groin area (2 nodes) and 3-4 nodes in the chest area, also seeding

in the peratenium area. The original tumor is 16 cm long. We are

so stressed out. I know that the long term outlook is not good. We

are trying to get a feel for how this cancer responds to treatments

and what to expect. He starts radiation Monday and the chemo

Tuesday. Any information would be great. THANKS!

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to our group. I am sorry that you have need to be

here but since you do, you couldn't have found a better group of

people who are very knowledgeable, supportive, and most importantly,

extremely compassionate. I myself came here a little over a year ago

when my husband Bert, then 50, was diagnosed with stage III right

colon cancer, four nodes involved but fortunatley, no other visible

metastesis.

I know how scary and depressing this all can be when diagnosis first

comes but believe me when I tell you it's not hopeless. Cancer is no

longer the immediate " death sentence " that it used to be. Yes, there

will be trials and tribulations ahead...good days and bad, some very

bad, but it will be a journey with many blessings as well.

As far as being stage IV " chances " are concerned, no one can say how

long each of us has, not even doctors. What they quote is statistics

and that's exactly what they are...statistics, a bunch of numbers

based on information that is old to begin with. Each one of us is an

individual and will react to treatment and outcomes in a different

way. I will tell you that there are several stage IV long term

survivors on this board and I'm sure you'll be hearing from them

soon. My husband's oncologist treats a few that have been around for

well over 8 years...so it's not impossible. And with advances being

made all the time, who's to say what the near future holds.

For the time being, I would suggest that when the shock of diagnosis

wears off, your brother-in-law, with the help and support of family,

take a few deep breaths and read, read, read. Find out all there is

to know about his disease and options that are available to him.

Knowledge is power...especially when it comes to cancer. There are

many sites on the web that are very good and provide thorough and

comprehensive information. Ask questions of his doctors...making

sure that they are all on the same page. Someone should accompany

him to his appointments, if possible, as another set of ears is

always a good thing to have. If not, he should make himself notes so

he won't forget to ask the many questions that he will have. Most

importantly, he needs to know that there is hope and that the love

and support of his family are his.

Monika

> My brother in law is 48 just diagnosed with rectal cancer. He is

> stage for with mets to the liver (two spots) and lymph nodes in the

> groin area (2 nodes) and 3-4 nodes in the chest area, also seeding

> in the peratenium area. The original tumor is 16 cm long. We are

> so stressed out. I know that the long term outlook is not good.

We

> are trying to get a feel for how this cancer responds to treatments

> and what to expect. He starts radiation Monday and the chemo

> Tuesday. Any information would be great. THANKS!

[Guest guest]

I'll pop up and say that in December of 2003 I was diagnosed as

stage IV with lots of mets to the lungs and a couple of lesions on

my liver, in addition to the tumor in my colon and the lymph node

invlovment in the colon area.

I had a resection and started chemo in February. The liver lesions

are gone, the lung mets cleared up and are barely noticable, the

resection was unremarkable, and the lymph nodes are back to normal.

In most respects I am now cancer free.

That doesn't mean that the cancer won't resurface sometime, but the

point is that a diagnosis of Stage IV Colorectal Cancer is not a

death sentence. With a good attitude, a good oncologist, and good

luck your brother-in-law can beat the odds.

Be positive and supportive. The process is frightening and he'll

need all the encouragement you can provide. Make sure he knows about

this group. A lot of us will be available to chat or just say atta

boy.

-joe-

> My brother in law is 48 just diagnosed with rectal cancer. He is

> stage for with mets to the liver (two spots) and lymph nodes in

the

> groin area (2 nodes) and 3-4 nodes in the chest area, also seeding

> in the peratenium area. The original tumor is 16 cm long. We are

> so stressed out. I know that the long term outlook is not good.

We

> are trying to get a feel for how this cancer responds to

treatments

> and what to expect. He starts radiation Monday and the chemo

> Tuesday. Any information would be great. THANKS!

[Guest guest]

I'll pop up and say that in December of 2003 I was diagnosed as

stage IV with lots of mets to the lungs and a couple of lesions on

my liver, in addition to the tumor in my colon and the lymph node

invlovment in the colon area.

I had a resection and started chemo in February. The liver lesions

are gone, the lung mets cleared up and are barely noticable, the

resection was unremarkable, and the lymph nodes are back to normal.

In most respects I am now cancer free.

That doesn't mean that the cancer won't resurface sometime, but the

point is that a diagnosis of Stage IV Colorectal Cancer is not a

death sentence. With a good attitude, a good oncologist, and good

luck your brother-in-law can beat the odds.

Be positive and supportive. The process is frightening and he'll

need all the encouragement you can provide. Make sure he knows about

this group. A lot of us will be available to chat or just say atta

boy.

-joe-

> My brother in law is 48 just diagnosed with rectal cancer. He is

> stage for with mets to the liver (two spots) and lymph nodes in

the

> groin area (2 nodes) and 3-4 nodes in the chest area, also seeding

> in the peratenium area. The original tumor is 16 cm long. We are

> so stressed out. I know that the long term outlook is not good.

We

> are trying to get a feel for how this cancer responds to

treatments

> and what to expect. He starts radiation Monday and the chemo

> Tuesday. Any information would be great. THANKS!