My father was diagnosed with stage IV EC over the weekend. He has a tumor in his brain, mets to his lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes. Fortunately the tumor in his brain is not currently causing any problems.
The doctors started the first of 15 radiation treatments today. He is receiving radiation on both his head and esophagus. The doctors feel that at this point chemo may not be worth the try. My father is 65 and already quite weak. He has suffered several heart attacks and has not taken care of himself, smoking and drinking. They said 6-12 months which seems to be a pretty standard prognosis.
We brough him home to our house last night. It is very surreal because he just appears to be a weak, ill, older man. The cancer doesn't seem to have taken control as of yet, but I know from a friend who only made it 4 months with stage IV metastatic skin cancer that things can progress very rapibly.
We just don't know what to prepare ourselves for and whether or not our home is the best place for him.
Looking forward to talking to others going through this.
Ken