cancer spreading

my mother in law has stomach cancer she had chemo, finised the course but has now been told that it has come back and is also in her calf. she has now got to have aggressive chemo can you please tell me what that means and what are the chances of her being cured

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  If your mother in law has recurrence of stomach cancer in her calf, this indicates an advanced form of disease which is probably not curable.  The chemotherapy in this case is going to be given to control the spread of the cancer, but not to cure it.  At best, the chemotherapy can "stabilize" the cancer, and prevent complications from occurring.