Hope Please?

Thanks for the reassurance.
I still would love to hear one great story of cure?

The only hope I can give is that one person is never a statistic. You never know what life brings just from a doctor's spreadsheet.

You are most fortunate in one regard, even if it doesn't seem so now.

You still have time with your father, and he with you. If in fact he is at the end stage, your father has time to say his goodbyes to those he loves. And you get to say goodbye to him in your own way and your own time.

That's a gift.

Twenty-five years ago this week, I dropped my father off at the airport (he was a helicopter pilot) and our last words were angry words about something not important at all. A week later, he crashed. I never got to say goodbye, and our last words were said in anger.

If this is his time to go, you have a chance to let him know how much he means to you. In the big scheme of life and death, that's not a bad way to go.

Emily,
My Dad also has stage 4 BC recently metastisized to lymph nodes. He is right now in clinical remission.In our case this means the tumors are there but they have shrunk and aren't growing. They aren't even palpable anylonger either. He has a bit more chemo to go. He was diagnosed initially with BC stage 2B I believe it was he had chemo and also had his bladder removed and has a neobladder. He is currently being treated with Gemzar and Carboplat. (he had Gemzar and Cisplat. the initial time.) I've been worried about him but he really is doing fairly well. He goes to work most days and isn't in bed sick at this point. He is tired a lot but most of his symptoms seem to be chemo induced. We have been told the stats as well they are scarey but we just keep hoping for the best and we take it day by day. I don't live near by but we speak each day. My Dad makes it pretty easy for all of us since he is extremely realistic we are all cautiously optimistic is probably the best way to put it.Some days I worry more than others. Today is a good day I am hopeful and Dad is feeling well. I am happy you are hear and speaking up I hope this board can give you some support.
Beth

My dad has had bladder cancer since 2003. It start as superficial/localized - he has undergone many treatments -- such as BCG, Intravesicular Chemotherapy & Cisplatin/Gemzar IV Chemotherapy.
December '06 we were told he was cancer free, then a couple months ago he began urinating blood and invasive cancer was back. For the first time the cancer was in the muscle; however, the CT Scan showed nothing outside the bladder.
He underwent radical cysectomy. There was cancer in the bladder, in the prostate and in 7/14 pelvic lymph nodes removed. 4/7 lymph nodes had extranodal involvement. On the pre-op CT Scan 6 weeks ago there were no visible involved lymph nodes. According to the surgeon the disease did appear to be confined to the pelvic abdomen with no evidence of disease in kidneys/liver/etc or above the abdomen (aortic bifurcation)... and no visible disease upon surgery or CT Scan outside that area. He removed all visible disease during the surgery. We will start IV chemo in approximately 3 weeks.
This is the first time I've paid attention to the statistics for Stage 4 disease, because this is the first time we've been in this category. The statistics and stories are all very scary.
I would love just one story of hope? Cure?
Thank you!