CancerCompass message board discussion started by Judylauren on 6/23/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25318,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello,My friend Paul has Stage 4 rectal cancer with mets to the liver and sacrum, and perhaps to the lung and lymph nodes.The diagnosis was made a year ago, followed by a colostomy, an insertion of a urinary catheter, chemotherapy and one round of radiation.Presumably the chemo has had some success because the both the primary and liver tumors have reduced by about 20%. Unfortunately, the sacrum has become worse since initial presentation.   He has developed tremendous pressure in the rectal area as well as severe pain in the lower back; the combined effect has made standing, walking, and even sitting up very, very onerous chores.He is on the usual combination of morphine based therapies:the Fentonyl patch and oxicontin  (spelling?) for breakthrough pain, which have managed his pain up to a point but have done nothing to increase his mobility.Paul has an appointment at a pain management clinic that suggested during a phone conversation that nerve blocking may prove effective. However, my (admittedly puny) research efforts suggest otherwise, that his type  of cancer does not respond well to nerve blocking.Any experience in this area? If so, please advise.Thank you for reading this.Judy    Judylauren Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT