08-30-2009, 01:22 AM
My understanding of cancer is that stage four means "end stage", that there is nothing that can be done except to attempt to minimize the patent's pain and suffering.
Life expectancy is based on a HUGE number of factors, starting with the quality of care, the patent's will to fight/live, the patent's support system (family/friends/concerned caregivers) and the patent's age and overall health apart from the effects of cancer.
Oncologists are rightly reluctant to give a specific figure because each patient is different. My mother survived for 2 1/2 years with stage four breast cancer that eventually spread to her brain, bones, liver and lymphatic system. She was originally told that a year of decent quality life was about as much as she could hope for, but she didn't start to become an invalid for roughly two years. She had a great attitude, support system and health care, which I'm sure contributed to more time for us with her.
I hope that whoever you are asking about (I assume you're asking on behalf of someone you care about, or possibly yourself) receives the right kind of support and care, and that their suffering is minimal.
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