Good Morning,

We haven't heard from Joyce yet. But so far the treatment has been delayed a week. I don't see it happening the next few weeks. If such is the case how fast does the cancer/tumor on the right side of her face metastasize. What is the probable prognosis or life expectancy that you have witnessed when OC is not treated after 3rd reoccurrence?

At this point, we are just waiting to see if our family back home could fine that amount of money to support her treatment?

Thanks,
Ina

Joyce, Im so sorry you are worrying so much over your MIL. It must be so difficult for you getting second hand info and waiting for updates.

The questions you asked we wouldnt be able to give you any concrete answers. They are specific and so much depends on her condition, how strong she is, the size and extent of the tumor, etc. These are questions that maybe even her her doctor (with seeing the patient and having her full medical history in front of him) would have trouble answering.

I have seen patients make amazing turn arounds when they were terminal and Ive seen other patients who appeared to be doing very well suddenly pass away. This darn disease is so random!

Wishing you and Joyce all the very best with everything!

If the money you are paying is ONLY going to help prolong her life not cure her then stop. my thought is that it would be better spent on good palliative care (pain meds, and things to make her comfortable - maybe some private nursing care if she's at home) - not more treatment that isn't aimed to cure. In the long run this is just going to extend her suffering. Radiation is brutal on even the healthiest person, for someone in her state it's excruciating so you are basically paying for her to live the rest of her days in pain.... I know everyone loves her and wants to do what's best for her re treatment, and the peg is a Good thing to help her get nutrition etc... But more rads?more chemo? To do what ? Help her live another 6 weeks in pain?
I know this is all very hard. Hugs to you.

[quote=Cheryld]If the money you are paying is ONLY going to help prolong her life not cure her then stop. my thought is that it would be better spent on good palliative care (pain meds, and things to make her comfortable - maybe some private nursing care if she's at home) - not more treatment that isn't aimed to cure. In the long run this is just going to extend her suffering. Radiation is brutal on even the healthiest person, for someone in her state it's excruciating so you are basically paying for her to live the rest of her days in pain.... I know everyone loves her and wants to do what's best for her re treatment, and the peg is a Good thing to help her get nutrition etc... But more rads?more chemo? To do what ? Help her live another 6 weeks in pain?
I know this is all very hard. Hugs to you.[/quote]

Update: I was just informed today that the treatment was continued by another sibling. For now the funds send will pay for 4 weeks worth of radiation and 4 sessions of Erbitux. Let us hope that this can help until the rest of the funds come in. Nobody from the inlaws side want to give up.

And yes Cheryl there is no cure. Just prolong.

Glad to hear that. Take one day at a time, Ina.

Almost a month after her radition and Erbitux treatment. I think she is half point. In the event that she gets better can they do additional chemo and radiation on Joyce.

Finances is a major issue. Each treatment is around $3000 combination of chemo and radiation.

Based on the limited information I have given you, do you think this is pallatative or for a cure?

I am very confused on what the doctors are aiming for.

Please keep in mind that I am a CPA not a licensed medical ANYTHING.

Since it's been a month since she was last treated I'm not sure what benefit a future single treatment of either or both chemo/rad would be. The standard or normal radiation regimen for this cancer is appx 72 gys over a daily (except weekends) 6 to 7 week period. Chemo is added either weekly or every 15 days with it's main goal to weaken the targeted cells making them more susceptible to be killed by the radiation. IMO doing the radiation/chemo on an infrequent basis will not achieve the desired kill rate and IMO is not curative and I can't believe it provides much if any palliative benefit.

Treatment options can change when health conditions change wether from being palliative to curative, and vice versa, but is not the typical or ideal situation. My treatments stopped just from 5 days chemo, and was supposed to have 3 cycles of induction chemo, and then 7 weeks Chemoradiation for stage 4 tonsil cancer, and two metatastic lymph nodes, but couln't due to my critical health issues from chemo. While hospitalized, no talk was made for further treatments or even diagnostic tests, for 8 months, only my survival to critical illnesses was a concern. i was left all that time wondering what cancer was doing to my body. I was also in the critical illness nursing home, one a floor where everyone was left for dead. I was only able did radiation 1.2 years later, when I partially recovered, and receieved curative radiation, no chemo, since the doctor said that would kill me, and turned me down two more times for chrmo, so yes, they may be able to do treatment anytime when health improves, if still treatable. Keep in mind, I was 48, and that factors in, as does other comorbidities.

The only thing this treatment will do is line the drs pockets. - as David said rads and chemo should be an uninterrupted 30 - 40 days.of rads (the usual being 33-35 spread over 6-7 weeks with only weekends off) and either weekly or 3 cycles of chemo - beginning middle and end if treatment. What they are doing for her will likely not help at all, the only thing it does is put cash in someone's pockets. Hugs.

Where there is life, there is hope! Never give up! Radiation was not given yet, according to the singnature.