How does Stage 4 progress?

My best friend has ovarian cancer - stage 4. She chose to use natural therapies, so she's not on chemo. Was diagnosed late last Oct. Debulking surgery showed extensively cancerous ovaries and cells under her lungs, thru her abdomen, etc. Pretty bad. Her blood screen had her at 1,100!

She's had her lung drained twice and had a pleural effusion less than 2 weeks ago. This has all happened within a month. She complains of pain from her lungs, has lost weight, has no energy, etc. It's evident that it's serious.

How does this all progress? Doctors won't give a time for her if she is to pass on. Does anyone know what symptoms show up as this progresses? If she is to die and has been diagnosed only since late October, where does she stand timewise?

I know that people can't give me a time - even doctors often won't. I am afraid to go on vacation because I don't know what to expect. Can someone give me some insight? I'm having trouble with this - she's only 44.

[Sue838383]

Hi Lanie,
What a brave move for your friend to opt for natural therapies. My understanding of stage 4 OVCA is that cells have spread outside the abdomen and possibly infiltrated other organs. This a a steady process, having pulmonary effusions do not create a swift end. Liver mets would produce abdominal ascites - fluid in the abdominal cavity, requiring drainage to keep comfortable. Again it is not sudden. From reading a brilliant article on the web about bowel obstruction and palliative care with peer reviews. This may be when things happen suddenly. By that I mean a potential life expectancy of 1 1/2 months to a year of managing acute multiple bowel obstructions.
There are many instances of women with stage 4 living for ages with tumours in their abdomens, keeping things moving by taking slippery elm bark.
Have you thought about going on holiday with your friend and spending some quality special girl time together while the going is good? You could do something local, where she could easily get medical attention if needed.
Thinking of you.

[sheri938]

i  was diag with stage 4 n=my count was in the 1200's i chose the  most agressive treatment they would offer me- i had my lungs drained thats how they found it- along with the ct scan
i weighed 155 in feb and 103 in april
after 5 chemos- debulking surg and 5 additional chemos  my ca 125 was down to 11 it started to clim recently  - it  spiked up to 33 so i am undergoing additional chemos with a diffeerent chemo.i have been doing well this last year  not a lot of energy but healthy otherwise, and not as depressed as i was- i have all the confidence in the world in my medical team and can not say enough about them.

[jane65]

I don't know if your friend is being brave or foolish by not using chemotherapy for her OVCA, but rather taking a natural approach.

I was staged 4B 3 years ago and I'm now on my 3rd chemo drug, Gemzar. By the time I was diagnosed, my cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, which is where we're once again dealing with it.

I wish your friend the best of luck, but as is often said "We only get one chance to get this right".

[Lanie1007]

Thanks to all of you - this is a source of comfort for me. I wish you could all stop by and we could chat.  :)

You're right - you only get 1 chance with this disease. At this time, she seems to be gradually getting worse. This doesn't seem real at all. I am desperately trying to bring her out to my house or do something together. Her energy is so low...

It is so cruel - I keep thinking that if I make sure that her lungs are clear enough and she has some oxygen that we can do something together. I desperately want to! Instead, I visit her and we laugh a lot! There's so much we have going on in our heads with this that words just don't suffice.

I picked a few things up at Disney a couple of days ago. A doll that she had from her childhood that was thrown away years ago....

[crab08]

What a friend you are?  May you have continued strength as you support her.

[Lanie1007]

My friend's breathing is a bit better, but now she is vomiting. Is this another step or progression of her cancer?

[jane65]

I think you're a wonderful caring friend, I just wish your friend would give the medical community another try.
There are so many treatments, and chemo drugs which have been used successfully for OVCA. Perhaps she gets some more good quality time.

Jane

[ronnie92]

I.agree you are a wonderful caring friend!  I will keep her in my prayers!  I have stage 1V ovarian treatment is every wk carbo every 3rd wk doing well absolutly no side effects thank god!  I have 6 more chemos to go then who knows I dont worry about what comes next I just stay positive and let Dr. take care of it and leave the rest in gods hands. God Bless everyone!