Distant Mets-Mick

carolinagirl67

Mick,

My husband origianally had tumor on right tonsil with one lymph node involved.(Diagnosed 6/4/2009) He did 35 rads and two rounds of Cisplatin. All the cancer in the neck is gone but on his first PET they found some activity in a lymph node in his chest area. So now he is doing erbitux, carboplatin, & 5-FU for six to twelve weeks. I hope this works. Our doctors never said it was terminal and I appreciate that, however, now I am a little scared. He did so well the first time, I hope they get it all this time. I love him so much.

Glad your news was better than you thought. I am enjoying the book too. Take care, Donna

micktissue

Donna
Hi Donna. I spoke to mt Dr about his comment to get clarification. His take was that once this cancer is distant from the primary (in the lungs, for example) prognosis is poor. However, he did say these "are just numbers" and that there are many factors involved that cannot be measured. By definition I am stage IV. I think your husband was probably stage II, correct? If so, by definition (and statistically) his prognosis is better than mine.

The thing for you both right now is to focus on staying positive *OH* by the way I am reading Anti-Cancer and it's a wonderful book for perspective.

There is so much research going on all the time about cancers that what is standard procedure today will be improved upon next month. Do not despair, you guys must stay focused on surviving and that will go a long way. I think if distant mets meant terminal they would have told you and allowed you some choices, so if you have questions about what distant mets mean to your Dr, make sure and ask.

You guys are in my thoughts.

Warmly,

Mick

carolinagirl67

micktissue said:

Donna
Hi Donna. I spoke to mt Dr about his comment to get clarification. His take was that once this cancer is distant from the primary (in the lungs, for example) prognosis is poor. However, he did say these "are just numbers" and that there are many factors involved that cannot be measured. By definition I am stage IV. I think your husband was probably stage II, correct? If so, by definition (and statistically) his prognosis is better than mine.

The thing for you both right now is to focus on staying positive *OH* by the way I am reading Anti-Cancer and it's a wonderful book for perspective.

There is so much research going on all the time about cancers that what is standard procedure today will be improved upon next month. Do not despair, you guys must stay focused on surviving and that will go a long way. I think if distant mets meant terminal they would have told you and allowed you some choices, so if you have questions about what distant mets mean to your Dr, make sure and ask.

You guys are in my thoughts.

Warmly,

Mick

Mick
Mick,

Thanks for you reassurance. That is what I love about this site. We really do support each other. Yes, I am going to stay positive. Fear, what an awful emotion, sometimes it just takes over, ya know.

Take care of yourself too.

PS. My husband was stage IV too. That's okay, we'll make it.

caroljean11

Donna,
I just read your post
Donna,

I just read your post from 2009 and am wondering how things went for your husband. I have a similar situation with a friend of mine and am torn apart. He too had the same dx and he too had lymph nodes light up in his chest.