Does anyone dare answer this question. Honestly? Sensitive Question.

Thank you, Kris! I want you to know that I did tell her and you gave her hope and inspiration! I so admire your spirit and love your attitude. I will be thinking about you as my mom and I embark upon this tumultuous journey. Please keep me posted on how you are doing.

Michelle

Hi Dorien and all – I’m new to this site, but I am soooo happy that I stumbled upon this thread! Thank you for posting this question and for all of you who answered. I, too, have been looking everywhere for answers to this exact question, but haven’t been able to find anything. My mom, who is 62 was just diagnosed with CC – we weren’t told the stage, only that surgery is not an option because the cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes. The surgeon at Henry Ford offered us this explanation – once it has hit the lymph nodes, there is no survival benefit in having surgery. She is seeking a second opinion at Johns Hopkins. I think my mom feels like this is a losing battle, and therefore, is afraid to try chemo and/or radiation. Honestly, I’ve been losing hope as well. I just don’t know how to come to a place of acceptance of losing my mom! I’m an only child and have always been so close to both of my parents. I have a 3 year old daughter who is just so in love with her grandma and just thinking that she won’t be able to have a life with her is heartbreaking to me. My mom has always been healthy and strong – she still is and you would never know she has cancer – maybe this makes it even more unbelievable to me. Anyways, I just really wanted to thank you, Dorien, for posting this question – and thank all of you who responded.

Hi all,

Sorry I am a little late to this post, been a busy week.

I wanted to add another perspective to this question of “terminal” and what that means.

I am taking a class where one of the topics we are covering is HIV/AIDS. Last class I learned that if given Antiviral drugs a person with HIV can expect another 35 years of life!! It’s doesn’t “cure” them but isn’t that amazing in such a short period of time for the disease and research they have extended people’s life by 35 years!

When I heard that I thought about CC and the research that is supported by this foundation and others. We can be there too.

What people have shared in this post (and on this board in general) is that some can “live” with CC, have wonderful fulfilling lives.

Remember, those people given an additional 35 years could also be hit by a car tomorrow, as we all can be. So life is what we live in the moment we are in, it’s not in the future nor is it in the past.

Oh and Dorian. Your question is not one that hasn’t haunted others. Thank you for posting.

Yes!!
A person can be stage 4 without mets outside of the liver. I was
Stage 4 because of the number and placement of my liver tumors. No way i would of got surgery if it had spread outside the liver.
Dr. Javle said 5 years of clean scans, and he will call me cancer free. Until then,
It’s remission.

Hi Dorien,

Just wanted to echo what Lainy said about the boards here in that they are indeed open boards. Always have been and always will be. All questions, expressions, opinions are welcome and everyone has a voice. Personally I welcome all questions and the only silly questions are the ones that are not asked! Not saying that we have all of the answers all of the time, but everyone will do their best to answer always.

You said Dorien that you probably shouldn’t have asked this question. But hey, you had a question that you wanted to ask and you asked it, and for me, you did the right thing in asking it! And in doing so you now know that some of the other members had the same questions as well! Result all round I would say!

Hugs to all,

Gavin

Gosh this Board is GREAT. I am overwhelmed by all of you. Dorien you asked a question you were leery about posting and look at the wonderful responses you have!!! Where else in the WORLD can you find a group like this.