Question: Friend with Stage 4 rectal cancer

[ANDRETEXAS]

I have a friend who was diagnosed with rectal cancer around the same time I was diagnosed with colon cancer. She unfortunately was unable to heal after surgery and was unable to start further treatments. She eventually started Xeloda, and the cancer spread forming two nodules on her lungs. She has taken a multitude of chemo drugs including Stivarga and Lonsurf. Her oncologist has put her in two clinical trials, and in each case the cancer has gotten worse. At least with Stivarga, her situation was stable. She has now stopped the second clinical trial as a CT scan early this week showed she now has several brain lesions and has started radiation on them. Is there anything I can say to give her some hope (or not)? Thanks.

[CRguy]

ouch
this is a tough one buddy and I wish I had a magic bullet .....

are the brain sites confirmed mets / cancer ?

any other clinical trials an option ?
existing immunotherapies ?
Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR)
Oncogenomics ?
CyberKnife / Gamma Knife ?

I know we are swinging for the fences here
BUTT hope always has to be in our hearts

support her
ask her what she needs from you / friends

Be there for her
AND keep pushing the docs, asking questions

wish I had more

Harmony my friend
to you and her

CRguy

[ANDRETEXAS]

Thank you CRguy. I will be calling her later today, and maybe get some more information. Thank you for your help. There is always hope !

[ANDRETEXAS]

Damn this cancer. My friend was rushed to the hospital early yesterday morning with low sodium levels. I saw her last night and this afternoon, but she was sedated and asleep from one visit to the other. The oncologist told the family yesterday that there was nothing left that could be done. A few hours after I got home today, her daughter called me to say that she died peacefully. I hope this cruel disease comes to an end. Less than a year ago, we were celebrating my birthday. She was bubbly and doing well. Today she passed. She was 64.

[susie0915]

I am so sorry for your loss. Cancer does suck.