Stage III colon cancer?

Question

I have a friend who was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer a few months ago. From what I was told, she started out on chemo and it stopped working so they put her on radiation. She told me a couple of weeks ago that it spread to her lymph nodes behind the ear and her chin and they were putting her on chemo. Things don't seem to be adding up when I do my research and she doesn't want to seem to talk about it. Are there any professionals out there or someone who has been thru this who can shed some light? I thought stage III meant that it had ALREADY spread to the lymph nodes and at this stage, surgery should be done along with chemo treatments afterwards. Please advise and thank you.

Very concerned friend

Thanks everyone. You're right, she doesnt like to talk about things. Everytime I try, she says "I'll be ok". I dont know anything about this disease and trying to educate myself on it for her sake. She always says things will be fine and that made me feel she's getting better. I guess there's a very high chance that she really wont recover and she's covering that up.

Answer 1

Firstly why the doctors stopped the initial Chemotherapy treatment cycles. They should not have stopped. No the position seem to be worrying. Anyway I suggest you not to loose heart and have the Surgery and other treatments. Apart from having Faith in God please have full faith on your Oncologist who is treating your friend and be with her and give all courage. From what you have stated we can not assess or give any suggestion and it is only your Oncologist can do whatever he can.

You should not at any rate stop treatments and you have to continue in full, putting up all side effects, as CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA-

Answer 2

Many times surgery is not an option, and they often alternate with chemo and radiation, except in the brain. Colon cancer is very, very serious and just be supportive of your friend. I am sure that there are things that she can't say, not because she cant talk to you, but because it hurts her to even think about it. I hope your friend beats this, good luck.

Answer 3

Look your friend is dying and the doctors are just going thru the motions. They are giving your friend options instead of just sending her home to die. They basically have to exhaust every avenue before they do that. Once it spreads to the lymph nodes there is not much more they can do. No amount of srugery is gonna help in stage 3. She is nearing the end of her life. Just be there as a friend. Listen to her. She will be going thru all kinds of emotions.

Answer 4

I hate to tell you but your friend is likely frightened of death- a likely course of events. Often people in this position shut down communication because it is very hard to face. My brother died of cancer 3 years ago and we did everything we could to find alternative health clinics with great track records that could help him but the fear of death and the stages of denial really overwhelmed him and his wife. They shut down communication and he died 10 months after his initial diagnosis. Very very sad. He was only 52 and never got to walk his little girls down the isle.