I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I am 29 years old myself, and I couldn't imagine what he is going through. I understand your "rage at the world" it just isn't fair. My husband and I were prepared that someday we would lose our parents, but not now, we are too young. We are expecting our second child, and now it is becoming a race to make sure she see's her new grandchild.
Her melanoma had metastases to the brain as well, and she also has it on the lower part of her spine. This was originally found because she had neurological symptoms about a month ago which took her to the emergency room. They found the brain tumor there, and they removed it that evening. But the pet scans they just did revealed the spots on her spine. Then the doctor told her it was only a matter of months.
Thank you for the website. I will continue to do research and hope for the best, at this point it is all I can do. Plus, I have to be positive for her and my husband so that they don't think it is hopeless. But when I am alone, I definitely lose it.