Linda, i am sorry to hear about your husband. My husband was stage 3 so unfortunately i don't have much to share. Good luck, you are in my prayers.

There have been a handful of Stage 4 surviors - some as long as 12 or 17 years - but they only drop in here once in a while. lt must be brutal going through what you are, Linda.

My husband was Stage 3 also so I'm not much help. But, I believe there are some Stage 4 survivors on the Smart Patient website. I look at both sites almost daily. My husband is doing relatively well at this point, but I always have the fear that the cancer will come back. I wish you and your husband the best.

Hi,I was dx stage4 in February 2008. I had xeloda, avastin and oxyliplatin for almost a year. University of Michigan insisted I be off all chemo for 3 months before they would consider me a surgical candidate. I had esophagectomy in 2009 and have been cancer free since. I think if the chemo works on new sites he may still be considered but it is up to both of you to fight for it as I can not remember how many times and how many doctors told me no they will not consider me for surgery. Surgery is not an end however there will be many adjustments as to diet and sleeping inclined. I wish you both well.

Hooray, GivingBack, glad to hear your story.

Hi Linda,
I was diagnosed with stage IV EC late January 2012. I have several liver mets. Surgery is not an option. I have been on palliative chemo for about 18 months. Initially I had several months of epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU; then carboplatin and Xeloda. The Xeloda was discontinued as it was causing angina. All tumors reduced in size over first year, and the cancer is now 'stable'. For the last 6 months I have been on weekly 5-FU by bolus IV and 3 weekly carboplatin. This regime will continue indefinitely. Apart from the cancer I am healthy and active and nobody would guess I have cancer.

Although not exactly the same situation as your husband, I hope my story is of some use.
Kathy

Linda, This is just a thought ... have you looked into proton radiation therapy? It can target a spot, and doesn't kill good cells on way in or way out. It won't guarantee cancer not coming to another area, though. It is possible to receive chemo with Proton - in my husband's case the chemo (2nd time around) with the proton made him too sick and he ended up in hospital - so he finished chemo later after recovered from the proton.

He isn't exactly the same, as he had surgery, but here's his journey:
His original dx was stage 2 but after surgery became stage 3 (found in a lymph node by his clavicle), then to stage 4 when it was found on his adrenal gland. Proton radiation was to lymph node and spot on adrenal gland.

He had a clean scan in Sept, but we are both very wary about this. He has lots of complications but overall is improving every week.

Hoping for the best for you both. It can be so overwhelming and distressing. this site has some folks who can give great support, so hopefully someone with same situation will respond.
Joan

thanks for all the comments and suggestions. My husband had 2 rounds of palliative FolFox but we all do not believe it is working as he has new symptoms within the last week and 1/2. He is now again having trouble swallowing and has new pain in his collar bone where there was a hot spot found in sept. And still, he is so tired, and sick...finally has an appetite but his stomach doesn't want food at all....I will look into proton radiation