Stage IV cancer, always = years of struggle + death?

Question

Imagine a patient with stage IV colon cancer with mets in his lungs and abdomen. Alive after two years and still in a good physical condition. Needs complex treatment surgical [thorough, selective removal of lesions from abdomen and lungs] and medical [chemotherapy]. What would one do?

Answer 1

Miracles can happen. A womanI know personally was diagnosed with last stage cancer - brain tumor. She was given at most 1 month, but was told to come in for a check-up in 3 months (so as not to dishearten her completely I guess). She started doing reiki and homeopathy and what do you know, in 3 months she came for her check-up and everyone was astonished she'd lived so long, and when they did the tests, her tumor was gone completely. More such stories exist out there and they are true. Medicine can't explain it completely, and most of the time it just denies the possibility.

As for whether to choose traditional or alternative medicine, I guess it's up to the patient. It's always useful to get many opinions and also if possible combinate both approaches. What really counts in the end is the will to live.

I heard a biorgonomist say that chemotherapy is useful to go through once, but need not be repeated if alternative medicine is applied regularly. But all these are just tiny snippets of information, and apply to very specific cases. In the end the chioce is the patient's: will they choose to live out the rest of their life as they want and accept death, or fight against the disease in any possible way, either non-aggressively or operatively, and go through a lot of pain for a chance of success.

What I would probably do in this situation, I'd look for a really good healer who is known to have great results in treating cancer patients, and then together with them try to determine how far I would take the traditional medical approach. I guess if I really wanted to live, I'd do anything to get well. But first and foremost I'd ask myself what brought me to this state; my lifestyle, psychological issues, my relationships with other people, how I see the world, what reality do I create with my thought patterns, what really matters to me etc. I'd probably try a liquid diet (I hear Breuss's juice diet is really good, that's also what my aunt did and she managed to combat breast cancer), meditation, psychotherapy (I'd go with the Jungian approach, because to me it seems more natural and, well, sane lol). I'd spend quality time with people I loved. I'd make my peace with this world.

In life, everything is possible. We are the creators of our own reality (ever seen the movie "What the bleep do we know?" try the extended version, it will change your life). In death, also, everything is possible. Death is just a different state of being. It is not the end nor the beginning, but a continuous cycle of energy.

Answer 2

This is a choice that has to be made by the individual. When cancer is in Stage IV the prognosis is not good. But prayers can be answered. I know of several people that have been given 6 mts to a year to live and found other treatment and are doing well and still living after many years. There are new treatments and drugs developed all the time. Have you checked a clinic out in Houston, Not sure of the name of the clinic but I had a friend that my same oncologist game him a year to live so he check the Houston area and went to a clinic and he's now eating and has gone back to work and is doing well. Not cancer free but they did get alot of the tumors that had spread through his body. He was at one time on a feeding tube and unable to walk. Prayer also helps!

Answer 3

NO. It does NOT always equal death. I recently heard of a young man who was diagnosed with cancer (sarcoma). He was misdiagnosed for a whole year before they figured out what it was, and by then it was stage 4 and it had spread to his lungs and abdomen. Every doctor told him he was toast (though not in so many words). His parents didn't buy it and went in search of a sarcoma specialist. They found one and now it's been 3 years, he's cancer-free, and he's on the wrestling team. I know this isn't the same as colon cancer, but stage four doesn't always mean death.

Answer 4

Stage IV of any cancer is very serious. When you say it has spread to Lungs and abdomen, the chances of survival is very poor. However we can not leave the disease as it is and it has to be treated by surgery, chemotherapy and Radiation therapy also. We can only just postpone the end there is not cure at this stage. Please take care of the patient.-

Answer 5

Prayer,treatment,Family,and Lots of love.Later on if the operation is unsuccessful,Hospice care and lots of morphine.Dignity until the end.My Mother and I have been through this struggle and death with my grandparents and aunts and uncles,its the fact of someone in the family being there to make things alright and comfortable that really counts

Answer 6

No treatment. Get comfortable and enjoy what's left of life.

If he decides to treat, he'll be in hospitals, uncomfortable, people looking at him naked, etc. and then chemo will sap all his energy, take his hair and make him throw up. And then he'll die earlier than he would have if they'd left it alone. The chemo will kill him.

If he's still in good physical condition, why throw that away? Take a vacation with your family, throw a party to celebrate life. Have fun and tie up all your loose ends.

TX Mom

Answer 7

Lots of prayer and then go through treatment with vigor and confidence.

Answer 8

my mom had stage 5 and lasted about 6 years battled and won battle and won batlled and won. her faith carried her through and she showed everone alot. god bless

Answer 9

prayer and meditation.