Dear Mariner,

I am SOsorry to hear about your wife. I don't know if you are in UK or where you are - but I do know that in UK in situations like this the NHS just don't seem to be geared up to give answers (a friend has just been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer a year after complaining of appalling stomach pains and basically being told to stop moaning and now has 6 - 12 months apparently).

As you can get on the Web have a look for BACUP (if in UK) - your consultant should have already pointed you in this direction and in the direction of Macmillan nurses, I hope? What you need is information and there are many many sites on the web that can give you a clearer picture of this prognosis. If you are in the USA then I would say that the resources seem to be much better there than they are here.

In my friend'case, altho he is taking massive amounts of morphine he also found a QUALIFIED Medical Herbalist and whatever herbs he is being treated with has made a huge and tangible difference. I can't say that they will save his life but they are making a big difference to his quality of life. The other thing to investigate is shark oil enzyme - there is very little research on this in the UK - but, if in UK, you could speak to Helios Pharmacy Tunbridge Wells 01892 536393 and you could try (again) a qualified Homeopath - a local one here (altho' currently in Australia) is President of the national Homeopathic Assoc - and treated a friend's young daughter with a rare form of childhood lung cancer, and also helped her with the chemotherapy side-effects giving her an acknowledged extra year of life.

Altho' my Grandfather died of bowel cancer (over 40 years ago - so treatment has changed dramatically) I know very little about it (apart from the signs to look for - and for which I currently have tests for). Personally, I can also suggest that your wife is seen by a dietician and nutritionalist and if, and only if, approved, then she eats as fresh a diet as possible - raw food before she starts a meal, apples and paw-paw, etc..

I believe that whilst there's life there's hope. Trust your instincts and do not be intimidated by the medical profession. Say your prayers and stay strong - as terrible as it is for everyone around her your wife needs your strength to cope with what she's going through and also as a wife (and mother)to cope with what her family are going through on her behalf.

God bless and I hope that other people can also help more than I can..you are in my prayers.

Hille xx