My husband diagnosed with stage IV w/brain mets.

I'm so glad I found this section.  I have received Cancer Compass messages for a long time and barely scanned the information and moved on in my email.  Cancer had not yet touched my family.

 It's different now. On Aug.6th, my husband had a CT scan because of continuing nausea, balance problems and headaches.  They found two tumors.  The largest in the cerebellum.

On Aug.20th, he had a craniotomy to remove that largest tumor, and so it could be studied.  No primary site could be determined.

MRI's before and after surgery confirmed 4 more tumors in his brain, and gamma knife radiation was performed about 10 days ago.

We finally got a PET scan this past Thursday and they did find the primary.  It is at the gastroesophageal junction. (involving the lowest part of the esophagus and the top of the stomach)

We are reeling as now we are talking radiation to the area, chemo...etc. My husband is 71 and in reasonable health, but has previously had bladder cancer, a quad bypass, and a knee replacement...now this.

I want the absolute best thing for him, whatever that is, and this board seems to be a good place to talk to "real people" who have been where we are, facing the same decisions.

I am an R.N., and do realize what we're dealing with, but am not as well versed in new treatments that might give my husband a longer period of feeling well.  Any insights you want to share are welcome.

We are currently in Seattle (our summer home where my husband's family lives), but will probably be returning to Texas, our permanent home. Good oncologists in Ft.Worth I'm sure, but we will be 5 hours away from M.D. Anderson.

Thoughts?

Ginger

There have been a few people in Seattle recently on the acor board with excellent results. I know they have mentioned doctors and places they have treated, and that they have had excellent care so if Seattle is more convenient and comfortable for some reason, it might not be a bad place to get care. You can also consult at a big center like MD Anderson and treat locally in many cases, so that would be another option.

We are receiving what I have considered to be excellent care at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.  We were here visiting my husband's family for the summer when this all happened.

Our permanent home is in Texas, and we haven't been home since May. I have a mother on hospice, a son going thru a serious domestic problem, and we have a 21 acre place that is severely neglected.  There are no good answers, but we feel we need to go home to take care of these other things.  That is the only reason we would change to MD Anderson. Working with them and getting local follow up seems a good plan.

We have loved our doctors here in Seattle.

Thank you for responding,

Ginger