Hi Cindy. There are some positives in the information you've provided. Stage 4 is serious, but is even more serious if there is cancer in the brain, lungs and liver - which you haven't included in your list. In general a figure of 20% is given for 5-year survival of stage 4 breast cancer, but you have to think carefully about this. You can't tell whether a person will be one of the 20% or not. A friend of ours had leukemia about 10 years ago and was given a 7% chance of survival. He is still with us. Look also at Lance Armstrong. Finally, I recently met a woman at the oncology clinic who has been battling stage 4 breast cancer for SIXTEEN years. Sometimes it seems there is no rhyme or reason.   The value of statistics, to my mind, is in allowing you some hope while keeping you realistic. The doctors these days are pretty good at keeping people alive and who knows what breakthroughs will be made in the coming years?   To help your friend, I think you need to gently share information with her and to help her frame questions to ask her oncologist. If I were your friend, I would be wanting to fight cancer with every weapon at my disposal and to find the strength and courage to face whatever the future brings. You have it in your power to help her do this. Be sensitive to what she needs from you.   Best of luck to you both   Sue