Point blank question for Steph

I feel I can ask this question because of the anonymity factor here in
this newsgroup. Your professional opinion please:

Is there any evidence that currently used cancer treatment drugs
extend life for Stage IV cancer patients?

Thanks.

--Joe

"46erjoe" <somebody@spamless.net> wrote in message
news:5jtuk2l9543lgq25af9haqiv16idt52p2j@4ax.com...
>I feel I can ask this question because of the anonymity factor here in
> this newsgroup. Your professional opinion please:
>
> Is there any evidence that currently used cancer treatment drugs
> extend life for Stage IV cancer patients?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --Joe

Joe,

I'm not Steph, but I wrote an article for the newspaper on a lady that was
diagnosed with stage IV cancer. If you'd like, I can email it to you. She's
doing great actually and outlived the doctor's prognosis. She's older, 67,
and it's just an awesome story. My email address is jmarrs@myspeedworks.com
if you'd like the story, email me.

Peace Out!

Giuditta

"46erjoe" <somebody@spamless.net> wrote in message
news:5jtuk2l9543lgq25af9haqiv16idt52p2j@4ax.com...
>I feel I can ask this question because of the anonymity factor here in
> this newsgroup. Your professional opinion please:
>
> Is there any evidence that currently used cancer treatment drugs
> extend life for Stage IV cancer patients?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --Joe

Depends on the cancer..........

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:49:45 GMT, "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island>
wrotF:

>
>"46erjoe" <somebody@spamless.net> wrote in message
>news:5jtuk2l9543lgq25af9haqiv16idt52p2j@4ax.com.. .
>>I feel I can ask this question because of the anonymity factor here in
>> this newsgroup. Your professional opinion please:
>>
>> Is there any evidence that currently used cancer treatment drugs
>> extend life for Stage IV cancer patients?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --Joe
>
>Depends on the cancer..........
>

Hmmm. Then there is some evidence for some drugs for some cancers,
yes? Mine is Stage 4 colorectal with a handful of small 10 mm mets to
some lymph nodes, liver and lungs. Last scan showed some shrinkage and
no growth... but this is not the same thing as extended life, is it?
... since the tumors can "catch up" later.

I guess I should be grateful, since from what I've read, I've outlived
the ave. of 2.5 years from 1s d/g. If I remember right, the 5 year
survival rate is only about 7%.

Hope this helps in your response. Thanks.

"46erjoe" <somebody@spamless.net> wrote in message
news:4of1l21cpvpucqs29g6pj8ni3kg4m0ppdk@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:49:45 GMT, "Steph" <steph@vancouvers.island>
> wrotF:
>
>>
>>"46erjoe" <somebody@spamless.net> wrote in message
>>news:5jtuk2l9543lgq25af9haqiv16idt52p2j@4ax.com. ..
>>>I feel I can ask this question because of the anonymity factor here in
>>> this newsgroup. Your professional opinion please:
>>>
>>> Is there any evidence that currently used cancer treatment drugs
>>> extend life for Stage IV cancer patients?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> --Joe
>>
>>Depends on the cancer..........
>>
>
> Hmmm. Then there is some evidence for some drugs for some cancers,
> yes? Mine is Stage 4 colorectal with a handful of small 10 mm mets to
> some lymph nodes, liver and lungs. Last scan showed some shrinkage and
> no growth... but this is not the same thing as extended life, is it?
> .. since the tumors can "catch up" later.
>
> I guess I should be grateful, since from what I've read, I've outlived
> the ave. of 2.5 years from 1s d/g. If I remember right, the 5 year
> survival rate is only about 7%.
>
> Hope this helps in your response. Thanks.
>

Some metastatic cancers are curable - testicular germ cell cancers, some
lymphomas.
Some metastatic cancers do derive an improvement in median survival (weeks
to months) with chemotherapy. Usually the benefit is modest, as it is with
colorectal cancer.
Many metastatic cancers show no benefit in survival with chemo. Lung cancer,
stomach cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer...........

But median survival is a population concept, not an individual one.


Your question was like asking "Do antibiotics cure infections?"