Maybe someone can help me out here. I've been all over the internet and keep coming up with so many different answers, I decided to ask you guys even though you may think I'm crazy. As you can tell by my sig, I'm a stage 4b survivor. I've been out of treatment (I use that as my timeline because I'm more comfortable with it) almost 3 1/2 years. I realize they are coming up with new tx every day but I'd really like to know what my expected survival would be? I'm so close to 5 years that I'm pretty positve I'll make that one but is it 10, 15, 20 years? I'm not being morbid, I'd just like a straight answer. I'm not one of those literal people that you say 5 years and then I'll die on that date. I'd like to have some sort of estimate, tho. Am I nuts to want an idea? I do have reasons for asking this which I might go into more later. Thanks, Carol

You are asking a question that there is no answers to.

Because we are all unique biological entities, what happens to one of us, may not happen to another person of the same age, sex, and stage at diagnosis. We have survivors that have posted here that are 10-15-22+ years out from treatment. Does that mean that you will be one of them? No one can tell you. Statistics give us hints, but even those do not apply to everyone.

If you spend a lot of time contemplating or worrying about this, you are wasting time that could be better spent enjoying each day that you have.Tomorrow is promised to no one. For all you know a Mac truck with your name on the bumper will come around the corner next week, and cancer will be a non-issue to you. Focus on today. Live it fully. Learn something new. Help a stranger. Enjoy the companionship of a great friend. Tell those you love that you do. Thinking about the odds of you being around in the future at some particular point in time is futile, is not knowable - not by doctors, statisticians, or anyone from any discipline of knowledge. If you believe in a supreme all knowing being, that entity may know, but there is no way for you to know what that entity knows. There is no absolute or even best guess answer, life is too random, let alone from the perspective of the cancer issue itself.

Hi Brian, Thanks for the prompt answer. I knew I was asking a question that would be difficult to answer. I also appreciate the good advice about living a good life which is what I've been doing. I'm heavily involved in different charity work, I volunteer at one of the local hospitals in addition to the food bank. I spend time time with newly diagnosed HNC patients, offering them support and whatever else they might need. I'm also taking time for myself, which I've never really done much of until now. I'm doing as much as I can with my family and dear grandsons. I believe in God and I realize only He knows when I'm going home to him. I had a stupid reason for asking and it was that we are changing life insurance companies for my husband and I just wondered if we should do the 15, 20 or 25 year term. I was just trying to figure out our finances. LOL

Hope to live to 100, treat your body with respect ( nutrition, exercise, inner calm exercise, regular screening for all things that might enter your life) believe that you will make it, and plan for that, as if there is no end in sight. Making any other assumptions of short term survival won't change things. As to insurance, I found it was too expensive in the first 5 years to even consider. But if you find good rates at longer time periods, take them.... after all if you don't live that long (for whatever reason), you won't have to pay anyway!!!

Buttercup
David the wonder CPA is better qualified than I to crunch the numbers etc on life insurance, but there is a fundamental question you need to answer first. Will your survivors NEED to replace the income you bring in? No amount of money can replace the love and caring you provide. The Life insurance companies have hoodwinked most people to see it as some obligation to leave a windfall. It is meant to replace income. Taking a somewhat different tack on Brian's advice to live in the now, I suggest you ask yourself if the additional premiums you will spend on life insurance could be better enjoyed now. A trip with your loved ones, etc etc. If your assets cover funeral etc and your beneficiaries are not dependent financially upon you, seriously analyze how much life insurance you need if any at all. Everyone is different and I have been and remain the sole financial support of my family, so I have no choice. Often times, spouse do and my lovely wife laughs at the insurance pitches she receives.
But the emotional comfort of "providing" counts also.
Whew long winded way of saying you cannot make a mistake here, so do not worry. CONGRATULATIONS on being so close to the magic 5. I need to restart my clock, drat it

That was sound advice form brian and Charm. Live your life to it's fullest and enjoy it. You could walk out your door and a tree fall on you, or some maniac looped up make a mistake and take you out by your front door. Live it and when it's your time, no matter where or what you are doing, you will go then and not before. Good luck and we'll both celebrate the 100th.

I only provide enough insurance on my wife to ease the transition into living without her financially. Very subjective but you need to put a value on what your worth in terms of daily or monthly cash flow and then set a time period where the remaining spouse, person, etc will be able to adjust or say sell a business. As Charm says this is a huge selling job on the public. I don't provide for much on my wife because I am confident that I can recover financially quicker than she could without me. She on the other hand plans on retiring to the south of France with my proceeds. We don't always see things the same logical way. I was a tad surprised that with all the life ins on me that she worked so hard to keep me alive. Women, you just can never figure them out!!

Hi all and thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I seem to have mislead you, however. The life insurance is on my healthy husband who turns 55 this year. He carrys it to make sure I am taken care of in case something happens to him as I no longer work. The plan we are looking at has 10,15, 20 and 25 yr fixed rate policies. Obviously, the difference between the 10 and the 25 year terms is fairly large. We decided to take the 15 yr because it is pretty reasonable and he should be retired by the time it runs out and he doesn't feel we need it after that with his retirement (what's left of it, lol) and such. We have a small 10k policy on me that we have had for some time and are keeping it in force. After seeing David's answer, I think I'm going to up the amount as retiring to the south of France sounds like one heck of an idea.
Incidently, I think I'm one healthy speciman and could very easily live to be 100. I plan on seeing the rest of you there, also. Carol

Buttercup, you can count on this guy being there , but if you see my EX and not me, LOL She is there spending my Life Ins and I am up there watching and screaming.

Jim, In case I do happen to run into your EX, is there a message you'd like me to relay to her? LOLOLOL