Stage 4 cancer is also known as the last stage of cancer. It is the most advanced stage of cancer. It is identified when cancer cells spread away from the original tumour site to other body parts. Stage 4 cancer is also called last-stage cancer and metastatic cancer.

Some people with last-stage cancer can live for years, but the prognosis often is not good. Therefore, the primary purpose of treatment is not to cure cancer but to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. The treatment focuses on extending survival time and increasing the quality of life of cancer patients.

Read on to learn more about last-stage cancer, if it is curable or not, and how to manage it if you or a loved one is diagnosed with last-stage cancer.

The last stage of cancer is not curable. It shortens someone's life expectancy. However, with proper treatment, the patient's quality of life can be improved. The curability of last-stage cancer depends on several factors, including:

• the type of cancer he has
• his overall health
• whether he has any other health conditions
• whether he has any other comorbidity

Are there any treatments for last-stage cancer?

Personal choice

While doctors recommend various treatments as per the health condition of a person who has cancer, it often comes down to personal preference. Some patients with last-stage cancer do not want to continue the treatment. The side effects of the treatment are always unbearable. For example, some patients might find that the side effects of radiation or chemotherapy are not worth the potential increase in life expectancy.

Clinical trials

Other patients with last-stage cancer may choose to participate in experimental clinical trials. The treatment and procedures used in clinical trials likely won't help in curing last-stage cancer. These treatments contribute to the medical fraternity's understanding of cancer treatment. They can eventually help future generations of cancer patients. This can be the most impactful way for a cancer patient to ensure their final days have a lasting impact.

Alternative treatments

Alternative treatments can help cancer patients manage pain and health issues significantly. Many people with last-stage cancer prefer to opt for alternative cancer treatment in the last stage of cancer. Ayurveda, medical cannabis, anti-cancer diet, and curcumin are some of the most impactful alternative treatments for the last stage of cancer. It helps alleviate pain and discomfort while also potentially reducing stress, depression, and insomnia.

Is there hope for stage IV cancer patients?

Advances in medicine, especially in cancer research and technology in the last two decades, have shown that there is hope for the future. Each year, new data emerges that is ever-expanding and helping to provide patients with some positive feedback on life. However, like any further information, it is essential to evaluate it judiciously and be realistic about what is possible.

It is also essential to learn that there is still life after a cancer diagnosis, even in the last stage.

Conclusion

The prognosis for last-stage cancer, often described in terms of survival rate, is not good. However, it varies from one type of cancer to another. The purpose of treatment at this stage is not to cure cancer but to ease symptoms, improve quality of life, and try to stop it from progressing. Survival rates for some cancers are low, but they are improving. For instance, compared to breast cancer average last-stage survival statistics of the 1980s, those after 2010 nearly doubled. In the coming future, with the advancement in technology and medicine, we can expect better results.