Hi there, everyone,
I've scanned your boards looking for any insight or hope I can give to a friend and colleague at my former place of employment. The person suffering from OC is named David, He is a father of two beautiful young girls, a devoted husband, and an extremely kind, intelligent, and incredibly hardworking partner at an accounting firm. David was diagnosed with OC approximately 3 years ago. He had surgery to remove the sore on his tongue and likely some radiation. Not sure of initial staging-probably I or II. The cancer recurred this past January and has been staged as a Stage IV with metastasis to the lung. Lung tumor is "possibly operable" but dicey. He was at Sloan Kettering until yesterday, but they sent him home saying there was nothing more they could do. What!? He wanted chemo upon going in, but he's now too disoriented by all the sedatives and painkillers to advocate for himself. I know his wife is advocating for him, but I know she must feel overwhelmed. What do you all think? I think they (the doctors) are giving up too easily. Maybe I'm being naive, but he has everything to live for, and he wants to fight this. Or at least, those were his clear wishes when he went in to the hospital and they mentioned hospice. Please advise. My sister and I both worked with him and are horrified at what's going on. We think his wishes should be respected, even if it�s risky. It would appear that the greatest risk is not doing anything, since that seems to lead to certain death. Aren�t doctors obliged to follow the patient�s wishes?

Friend and colleague of amazing person diagnosed with oral cancer 3 years ago (tongue). Had recurrence in January 2011, was readmitted to hopsital where he was diagnosed as Stage IV, metastasis to the lung. Tumor in lungs declared "possibly operable" but dicey by specialists at Sloan Kettering.