Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer
In cancer diagnosis, Stage Four indicates that the cancer has spread from the primary organ to other organs. There is no stage five.<p>With cancers of high mortality -- and pancreatic cancer is one -- quality of life is a usually a sound primary focus. Quality of life means different things to different people of course. For some people, the terrible side effects of highly aggressive treatments with debilitating surgeries and radical chemo-therapy are worth the price. For others, palliative treatments to lessen the worst symptoms of their disease allows them to be more present and whole during the time they have left.<p>Oncology is a job just like anything else. Some oncologists focus on patient care. Some on business. You can throw as much money as you got and then some on cutting your friend&#x27;s body and dumping toxic chemicals into her blood just for the sake of &quot;doing something&quot; because there&#x27;s an oncologist out there who wants a new dock for a new boat at their lake house.<p>Or you can find an oncologist who will do the best by your friend in good faith and provide an accurate prognosis based on hard to live with experience.<p>Even if that means you don&#x27;t hear what you wished someone would say.<p>My beloved is a clinical social worker. Thirty years mostly in hospice and oncology. Our relationship has involved a lot sad conversations about the ways people die.<p>There&#x27;s a spectrum between calmly surrounded by loved ones and confused, mutilated, and painfully stuffed with tubes.<p>It&#x27;s not your choice.<p>Good luck.