Hi I'm new to this my daughter in law was just diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer she is only 21 i need help please have there been any survivors of stage 4?

I believe that there are some here as a matter of fact.

I also believe that the survival rate for IV is not too bad if treated quickly and aggressivly. Your DiL being young has a very good chance that she can withstand an aggressive treatment regimen that an older person would have much more trouble with. On the other hand of course it really sucks that someone so young would get this.

We are all here to answer questions that we can and to provide any emotional support we can as well. Feel free to ask about anything, we may not have an answer but you can still ask. We have all been touched by colon cancer, either by having had it ourselves(such as me or CancerDad) or have had loved ones who have, such as is the case for you.
If you don't mind my asking, how is your son doing and are there any grandchildren? My wife was a huge part of my recovery, I tear up as I think of it. It was extremely difficult on her but she aided me every step of the way and for that I do not think I can ever thank her enough. The kids were grown up so they were not as much of a worry though as they might have been if they were little.

Some other questions (I know that answering some may be painful, if you don't answer them we will understand), where in the colon is her tumour? It will affect what she may encounter during an operation and during recovery. Is the CC tumour resectable, that is is it one mass that can be removed/ Finally, what is the status of the metastisis? Is it confined to one other organ and only one site in that organ?

ty so much for answering my heart goes out to all of u my son and daughterin law have been married 3 yrs they have an 11 month old baby girl . they have been living an almost story book life highschool sweethearts. very much in love had lana bought there first dream home last yr and have been decorating it and making there plans for living in beautiful mountain town with their daughter im so proud of them they have the kind of love we all dream of dilaw is very sweet soft spoken my son is what i describe as a gentle soul to others. she started getting sick around her time of month shortly after baby was born finally went to see dr a month ago and turned out she has a blockage drs new it was cancer from tests so she had surgery friday they took out 8 inch section with the cancer in i believe the large colon. they also found cancer in rectum and vagina they removed all cancer she just got results yesterday that it is stage 4 and 9 lymphnodes were involved. son is to upset at moment to discuss more with me she is home now from hospital suffering much pain and nausea.they r staying at moment at her mom and dads house while she recovers.

Welcome Mountain:

I'm soo sorry it's under these circumstances. Since she seems to have had cancer in her colon and rectum, she is facing both chemo AND radiation, (as did I). I too had positive nodes (6/10 removed, even after the pre-op radiation and chemo I endured) BTW, I am 32 with two young boys. Jaydees is soo right. You need to keep a positive attitude... really difficult at times, but really important. Let your son and dil mourn over the news... It's extremely shocking. They will probably talk with her about genetic testing as well... as she probably carries a genetic factor being so young. They suggested the same for me. You can run a search for HNPCC and FAP. Sounds as though it's probably HNPCC though.

Statistics suck. That's the truth and the realist view. For some reason, you would think young would do better than older, but it's actually the opposite. They do treat you VERY AGGRESSIVELY with chemo and radiation, and it is true that younger people bounce back faster. With that said, now forget it! It's all about attitude. You need to be supportive that SHE WILL BEAT THIS. The one thing that studies have shown, for older people too, but moreso for younger is that Cancer in the young is DEVESTATING Financially. If you are in a position to help them, If your son needs to take time off under federal Family/Medical Leave Act to help her, believe me, they would be SO APPRECIATIVE. There is so much to worry about, and finances should NOT have to be one of them. I am getting WAY ahead of myself though. Like JD said, we are here for ANY questions you may have.

GOD BLESS and GOOD LUCK. We look forward to hearing from you. :)

Warm Regards,
CancerDad :angel:

Mountain, my heart goes out to you, your daughter in law, your son and the rest of your and her families. I think this is a good example of how this is not a disease of older men. My cancer was diagnosed as stage 3, one lymph node, growing outside of the colon. They were able to do a resection immediately. I am just finishing chemo and do not need radiation. With the rectum involved, radiation is common. All of us are here to offer any support we can and to answer your questions to the best of our abilities. Think positive-the chemo nurses have stressed how that makes such a difference.

Welcome to the board but sorry you had to come here with such sadness and fear. As Jaydees and Cancerdad say, there are people here who are doing well after treatment for Stage 1V....I am sure Ktee from the UK will post as soon as she sees this. Her husband is doing well having been dx Stage 1V about two years ago, if my timing is right. My husband was Stage 111 but with 11 out of 18 lymph nodes involved. He is much older but is doing well. Each day is a blessing.

We will all help with information and advice as much as we can so please keep us updated.

Oh no this is horrible! I was just starting to finally think positively and now I read this! :(

My husband was Stage 111 but with 11 out of 18 lymph nodes involved. He is much older but is doing well. Each day is a blessing.
Hi Alison:
Sidenote question for you... What was your husband's TNM Staging... That we can convert for you. I think he's a Stage 3C like me. It helps clarify when talking about all this stuff, as to whether there was nodal involvement. I was T3N2M0. Because there is a big difference from a Stage 3 to a 3C. Just wondering for clarification.

The TNM system is based on the extent of the tumor (T), the extent of spread to the lymph nodes (N), and the presence of metastasis (M). A number is added to each letter to indicate the size or extent of the tumor and the extent of spread.

Primary Tumor (T)
TX Primary tumor cannot be evaluated
T0 No evidence of primary tumor
Tis Carcinoma in situ (early cancer that has not spread to neighboring tissue)
T1, T2, T3, T4 Size and/or extent of the primary tumor

Regional Lymph Nodes (N)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated
N0 No regional lymph node involvement (no cancer found in the lymph nodes)
N1, N2, N3 Involvement of regional lymph nodes (number and/or extent of spread)

Distant Metastasis (M)
MX Distant metastasis cannot be evaluated
M0 No distant metastasis (cancer has not spread to other parts of the body)
M1 Distant metastasis (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body)

Thanks. Hope you are both doing well. I will pray for NO Hurricane season this year!
~Love~
_____________
Regards,
CancerDad

Oh no this is horrible! I was just starting to finally think positively and now I read this! :(

Kewpie:
What is so horrible, and What is so Terrible? We have told you up front time and again what you need to do. Maybe this will spark you into doing something instead of making someone else, who has taken necessary testing, been diagnosed, and is trying to cope feel worse. If I were in this person's shoes, your post would make ME feel terrible. How about some compassion and understanding for others, as we have provided you? Whether you choose to take our advice is up to you.

CancerDad

With 11 out 18 nodes involved, my husband was T3N3M0....you are right to be precise!

Alison:
So Stage 3C. Thanx for the clarification.

Lots of love,
CancerDad

I'm so very sorry. I'm praying for your family. Its so hard, but you have to try to believe that she will beat this.

Dear Mountain.
Sorry to hear your news. I am only a stage 2, had open surgery, where they took out 18" of bowel and now having just completed my first chemo treatment out of 26..
I hope you will try and keep a positive attitude for your d.i.l. and son.. They can do so much these days where cancer is concerned, and Im hoping they will do their best for your d.i.l. Its not going to be an easy road, but it can be done..
You have come to the right place for support, encougement and answers. The people here (most of them) are fabulous and have installed much faith and support in me.
Best wishes and luck!

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter in law. It has been said many times but I will reiterate attitude and being positive and staying as strong as possible psychologically is so important. Your DIL has some very big motivation to stick around and be strong and healthy!

There ARE stage 4 survivors. Do not lose hope and do not let her lose hope! Yes, are Cancerdad said, the statistics are unpleasant to say the least, and no doubt there will be unbelieavably difficult times, but there are also precious moments that can come out of tragedy.

There are wonderful supporters here! You are lucky to have found this board.

Well wishes!
~P

Must add note to Kewpie, I was surprised to see your post as I also felt we were being encouraging. Felt maybe you had posted in the wrong place! We hear such miraculous stories here sometimes that we have to be full of hope. And we have had Stage 1V's who are doing well and use those as inspiration to those who have just been diagnosed. It is so scary when you start your journey to recovery and we have all been there, or have a loved one who has, so we can imagine how Mountain is feeling and want to give all the support we can.

When I look back to where my husband was a year and a half ago, there were many times when I thought he might not make it but it is amazing sometimes how we come right back to where we were before (well, nearly!)

Hi Mountainessence,
I have been at this board reading posts written by a very dear friend (and others of course) and I do not have cancer. That I know of. One thing I do know however is this. None of us have any more than today given to us. We might like to think we have tomorrow guaranteed...but we don't. We have the green new leaves and grasses of spring and the baby birds (I am a baby bluebird godmother as we speak..fell out of nest) but tomorrow is never now. Now is now. When my father, a beloved town physician, died 4 hours after an horrific car crash, breaking every bone in his body and never losing consciousness even during extrication and the trip to the hospital......I learned we have only today. What a lesson. Oh dear what a lesson.

Anolther thing I have learned is that God loves prayer. Mine, yours, children's...He loves and honors prayer and I will be in prayer for your family for one thing specifically. That one thing is for you to be able to do the will of our Lord in any circumstance, in grace and in peace of mind and heart. I will also be asking that you and yours feel the immortal love that is given us every day and is ours only for the asking. It has already been given...we need only to reach out for it.

I know life seems sometimes as if it is too good to be true and that when interrupted, that new life is somehow unfair. I truly believe that we know not what is best for us and our course has been duely noted by our Father and He will help us through it all. I realize I speak without firsthand knowledge of cancer but I know of grief as do most of us. I know that you will be ministered to as you need. Spend today right here...in the beauty of the day we all have been given and should you be given the blessing of another day..I hope you can spend it in the same way.
Shesparkles/Shine

Shine:
Well said. And welcome to my other home!

Fondly,
CD

welcome to my other home!

ty CD
:):)
Shine

I want to thank all of u for responding to my letter I feel so thankful that i found this sight. your encouragement and support and info has been so helpful in easing my fears and helping me to put things into perspective so i can do every thing i can to help my dil and son I spoke to her mother and told her about u guys so she is going to get them internet so dil when she recovers from this surgery can chat with u and feel the strength and love and encourage ment u give so kindly from your hearts. god bless all of u and when i get more info from son and motherinlaw i will let u no what her dr says of her patholgy reports ty so much again

Mountain

So v.sad to hear of your dil's dx. My dh is a healthy Stage 4 survivor (2 years+) and was 44 at diagnosis. He had to endure very aggregressive chemo, radiotherapy and surgeries (not necessarily in that order) and it was very tough physically and emotionally for him. Please feel free to ask any questions about his treatment or how I dealt with caring for him..... it would be a pleasure to share.

Good luck to you and your family

ktee

Hi Dad-in-law,
How is your dil doing? and your granddaughter? If there is any news we would love to hear it. Prayers have gone out for everyone.
All the best for you and yours,
SS