carcinoid stage 4

Im currently in a study at stanford university hospital.  I was told friday that I have stage 4 and I'm having a hard time really understanding what that means.  Currently my father is in the hospital with stage 4 lung cancer so I'm not thinking real clear.  My cancer is inoperable this is why Im in a study.  I dont have any pain Im just tired and kind of in a fog does anybody have any ideas?

From Wikepedia:

• Stage 0 carcinoma in situ.
• Stage I cancers are localized to one part of the body.
• Stage II cancers are locally advanced.
• Stage III cancers are also locally advanced. Whether a cancer is designated as Stage II or Stage III can depend on the specific type of cancer; for example, in Hodgkin's Disease, Stage II indicates affected lymph nodes on only one side of the diaphragm, whereas Stage III indicates affected lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm. The specific criteria for Stages II and III therefore differ according to diagnosis.
• Stage IV cancers have often metastasized, or spread to other organs or throughout the body.

These are very general however and you have to research your particular cancer for specific staging info.

Your stage 4 carcinoid diagnosis is not that unusual for carcinoid patients.  We often do not find our carcinoid until it has spread to other tissues and organs, usually the liver amongst others.  I would caution you to NOT ACCEPT an "inoperable" diagnosis until you have consulted with one of the carcinoid experts in the US to get the best information you can.  Please visit www.carcinoid.org and their list of physicians who have carcinoid experience.  One of the best surgical teams is located in the New Orleans area at the Ochsner/Kenner Medical center.  Dr. Eugene Woltering leads that team of doctors and they have successfully operated on numerous "inoperable" carcinoid cases in our support group!  I certainly don't know the whole story on your case, but you can send the group in New Orleans your medical records and scans and they can tell you if you have more options than are currently being presented to you.  Carcinoid usually gives you some time to search out your options, so get informed...get in touch with the experts that see this kind of cancer every day.  You don't want to leave this to doctors that only see this infrequently!  My blessings to you and yours.  If you want to contact me off-list, please respond to

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On 6/28/2009 stanford study wrote:

Im currently in a study at stanford university hospital.  I was told friday that I have stage 4 and I'm having a hard time really understanding what that means.  Currently my father is in the hospital with stage 4 lung cancer so I'm not thinking real clear.  My cancer is inoperable this is why Im in a study.  I dont have any pain Im just tired and kind of in a fog does anybody have any ideas?

 

 

On 6/28/2009 stanford study wrote:

Im currently in a study at stanford university hospital.  I was told friday that I have stage 4 and I'm having a hard time really understanding what that means.  Currently my father is in the hospital with stage 4 lung cancer so I'm not thinking real clear.  My cancer is inoperable this is why Im in a study.  I dont have any pain Im just tired and kind of in a fog does anybody have any ideas?

o  I am a 15 year survivor of Carcinoid cancer, it is not staged like other

cancer ... if your doctor(s) are staging it they are not well versed on Carcinoid!

You need to go to www.carcinoid.org and read up on this cancer.  There

are also Listservs at ACOR and YAHOO for this disease!  If you tell me

where you live, I will try to give you a specialist in your area!

Mac