Of course, the news of the diagnosis of stage four cancer is a great shock to the patient and his family, as this means that the disease has spread to various organs of the body, making the treatment journey more complex. Despite the challenges that accompany this diagnosis, in recent years medical progress has provided new treatment options to improve the quality of life and prolong the life of many patients. Follow with us this article as we will shed light on the latest treatment methods available at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, in addition to explaining the importance of psychological support for patients at this stage. 

What is stage 4 cancer?

The fourth stage of cancer represents the advanced stage of the disease, where the cancer spreads from its original location to various organs of the body, which is called the metastasis process. 

Treatment of stage 4 cancer becomes complex, but it remains primarily aimed at prolonging the patient’s life, alleviating symptoms, and improving his quality of life.  

How to determine stage 4 cancer

The fourth stage of cancer is determined through a series of medical examinations and evaluations that show the extent to which the cancer has spread beyond its original site to other organs. The most prominent main methods of diagnosis include the following:

• Evaluation of clinical symptoms, as symptoms of stage four cancer include persistent pain in the bones, epileptic seizures if the tumor has spread to the brain, yellowing of the skin if the liver is affected, and shortness of breath if it has spread to the lungs.
• Blood tests and tumor markers. Some cancers secrete special proteins in the blood, such as prostate or ovarian cancer, and these proteins increase if they spread.
• Diagnostic tests, such as CT scan to detect the spread of the tumor in different parts of the body, or MRI to diagnose the spread of the tumor to the brain or spinal cord, as well as bone scans.
• Biopsies, where samples of suspicious tissue are taken for analysis under a microscope and to confirm the spread of the original tumor. 

Methods of treating stage four cancer

It is difficult to achieve complete recovery in the fourth stage of cancer due to the spread of the tumor to the rest of the body, but there are many treatment options whose primary goal is to prolong the patient’s life, relieve symptoms, and improve his quality of life. The most prominent treatment methods used at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital include the following:  

• Chemotherapy aims to destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells or slow their growth, and is given systemically intravenously or orally.
• Radiation therapy, such as Gamma Knife and Cyber ​​Knife, which target the tumor with high precision. Radiation therapy aims to destroy cancer cells in specific areas of the body using high-energy rays, and is used to relieve symptoms such as pain or bleeding resulting from the tumor, especially in cases of cancer spreading to the bones or brain.
• Immunotherapy aims to activate the patient's immune system to attack cancer cells, such as immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs, and dendritic cell therapy to train the patient's immune cells to recognize the tumor. 
• Targeted therapy aims to attack specific genetic mutations or proteins in cancer cells, and is less harmful to healthy cells compared to chemotherapy, such as sorafenib to treat liver cancer, and trastuzumab to treat metastatic breast cancer. 
• Hormone therapy aims to deprive cancer cells of the hormones they need to grow. Hormone therapy is effective in cases of hormone-dependent prostate and breast cancers. 
• Palliative surgery aims to relieve symptoms such as obstruction or bleeding, and does not aim to completely remove the tumor, as is the case in installing stents to open a blockage in the stomach or esophagus, or partial removal of the tumor to reduce pressure on nearby organs.
• Palliative treatments aim to improve the patient's quality of life through psychological support and relieve physical symptoms such as pain, and include painkillers, supportive nutrition, and psychotherapy programs.
• Hyperthermic chemotherapy is one of the advanced techniques in treating cancer, especially advanced abdominal cancers, where the abdominal cavity is bathed with hot chemical drugs to kill remaining cancer cells. 
• Chemoembolization technique: This technique is used for liver cancers, where chemical drugs are injected directly into the artery feeding the tumor.  

Learn about: Stage IV liver cancer Symptoms, treatment methods and expectations

Ways to support someone with stage 4 cancer

Of course, the question of how to support a stage 4 cancer patient is a common question for families and friends of cancer patients. When a loved one is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, his life and the lives of those around him turn into a journey full of challenges.

The correct support makes a big difference in the patient’s quality of life, both psychologically and physically. The most effective ways to provide assistance to a cancer patient in the fourth stage include the following:  

• Psychological and emotional support, by listening to the cancer patient’s fears without judging or preaching, encouraging him to express his feelings freely and encouraging him to cry or get angry if he needs to, being sincerely beside the patient and making him feel safe, protecting him from social exhaustion and many visits that may tire him out, and organizing visits according to his energy.
• Physical and practical support, helping the cancer patient in the fourth stage with his daily tasks such as preparing healthy meals, arranging medical appointments or transportation, cleaning the house or buying medicines, encouraging him to tolerate and adapt to the side effects of treatment such as hair loss, encouraging him to do light movement such as short walks or stretching exercises to improve his mood and reduce muscle pain. 
• Monitor symptoms, record any new symptoms  and report them to your doctor, monitor medication intake and arrange medications in organized containers to avoid forgetting doses.
• Encouraging the cancer patient to join support groups for cancer patients, and to communicate with his close friends to visit him periodically.  

Book your consultation now at Oncology center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

Frequently asked questions 

How long does a cancer patient remain in stage four?

How long a patient with stage IV cancer survives depends on several complex factors, including:

• Type of cancer: A patient with metastatic prostate cancer may live more than five years, while the average survival of a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer is three to six months.
• Sites of spread: Cancer spreading to the bones is better than spreading to the liver or lungs, while cancer spreading to the brain requires urgent radiation treatment.
• The body's response to treatment. It was found that the highest response is to immunotherapy, as 20% of patients respond well to immunotherapy. 

The American Cancer Society's general statistics for 2023 indicate 5-year survival rates for some cancers, as in the case of the survival rate for metastatic breast cancer reaching 28%, while the survival rate for metastatic colon cancer reaches 14%, while in metastatic lung cancer it reaches 6% and in metastatic prostate cancer it reaches 30%. 

What are the levels of cancer risk?

In general, the severity of cancer is classified into grades based on several factors, the most important of which are the stage and histological grade, in addition to the type and location of the tumor, to include the following:

Classification according to stage, which is determined using the international TNM system, and includes:

• Stage 0, very low risk, is a non-invasive, localized cancer. 
• Stage I, low risk, is a small, limited tumor that has not spread. 
• Stage II, intermediate risk, is a large tumor that has begun to invade nearby tissue.
• Stage III, high-risk, is a large tumor that has spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs.
• Stage IV, very high risk, is a large tumor that has spread to distant organs. 

Severity classification based on histological grade, which measures the extent to which cancer cells differ from normal cells under the microscope, and includes: 

• G1, low risk, tumor cells are almost normal and slow growing.
• G2, the cancer cells are moderately abnormal  which is the intermediate risk grade.
• G3, high risk, cancer cells are highly abnormal and rapidly growing.
• G4, the risk is very high and the cancer cells are undifferentiated and very aggressive. 

What is the fastest type of cancer that kills?

The most lethal types of cancer are those characterized by rapid spread and high aggressiveness, in addition to very low survival rates, especially if diagnosed in late stages, as is the case in:

• Pancreatic cancer does not show clear symptoms until its late stages, and is difficult to remove surgically due to its anatomical location and proximity to vital organs. In addition, it has a high resistance to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy.
• Small cell lung cancer is characterized by its rapid spread to the brain, liver, and bones.
• Liver cancer, due to its lack of early symptoms and late diagnosis, has limited treatment options.
• High-grade brain cancer is characterized by rapid growth and spread and is difficult to treat. 
• Advanced esophageal cancer.  

In conclusion, despite the great challenges represented by the fourth stage of cancer, thanks to modern medical developments, there is still hope. This stage is also a test of patience and strength for the patient and his family, as well as health care providers who make great efforts to provide the best possible treatment.  

In this context, Al Mousa Specialist Hospital stands out as one of the leading medical centers that provides comprehensive care for cancer patients, through the latest treatment protocols. The hospital also provides psychological and social support to patients and their families, making the treatment journey less burdensome and more humane.  

Sources 

Understanding Stage 4 Cancer – Healthline

What is the outlook for stage 4 cancer? – medicalnewstoday