That is my understanding as well. Not that there are not exceptions and a few that have had success fighting stage IV. My tumor was large and I have read of people with a tumor 1/2 the size of mine with stage IV. That and the part in my report that found live cancer cells in 9 lymph nodes I think that it is most likely that my cancer is stage IV. They just did not look really hard enough, or the cancer is so small it was not showing up yet on the test I have had.

I think age and health has a lot to do with things also. Someone younger and in really good health can tolerate stronger chemo. Older and people with poor health that cannot tolerate chemo strong enough to affect the cancer nor be able to get trial medication are at lower cure rates also.

This is an older thread, and I have learned a bit since I started it. All that I have written above is about me. My cancer tumor being so large and the 9 lymph nodes with live cancer cells indicate to me my cancer has spread. And my poor health and chronic pain make it really impossible for me to tolerate chemo strong enough to be effective. That is why I have decided on palliative care.

I am feeling pretty good for now. I do not know how long it will last. It hurts so much I just cannot do treatment. I am headed to the dog park and out to run errands as soon as I meet with the Palliative care people. We are different and I am not recommending anyone do the same as me. It is just what I need to do for me.

Best of luck to everyone.

I live below the poverty level because I am on Disability from TBI. I had a heart attack last year. I also have epilepsy and vision impairment. In Canada, genetic testing costs $$$. It is only for the privileged. I get 1500/month to live on from the gov. ie Canadian dollars. The Canadian gov wants the Disabled to die because they don't pay tax and the gov doesn't want to pay for them. Some live on the street and die on the street (I am not talking about drug addicts).