can somebody tell me the truth about my dad's colon cancer?

by Donna
(canada)

My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in October and has just today been to the cancer clinic.He started getting sick in June of 09 and by the time the tests were done it was in his liver and lungs and lymph nodes..today they said it was stage 4 is it possible that it is beyond that?
I guess surgery is not even an option so they will be starting him on Chemo within the next couple of weeks...How much time does he actually have?
All the forums are talking about the surgery of resections but not in this case....The docs wont tell us anything...please help!!!

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can somebody tell me the truth about my dad's colon cancer?

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Mar 07, 2010
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canadian colon cancer medical staff ?
by: Anonymous

What kind of Dr won't tell you anything.
Get another Dr.

Mar 07, 2010
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Dad's colon cancer progress
by: Donna

Dad just spent the last week in the hospital....very dehydrated and i guess the chemo wiped out his immune system...that was only his first go....

he is now considering not taking any more treatments and is quite disgusted that his next appointment with the oncologist is only 15 min....i told him that his talk with the nurses before his appointment will be a better discussion than with the doctor....

i asked if they thought dad was stage 4 when he first started to get sick and they said probably...which i thought and i know the median life expectancy is 11 months with no treatment...

so if he started to get sick in June....i figured about may...ish...and the nurse that i talked to said probably spring....

they still haven't told dad how much time..the oncologist wont give any indication.....but we have talked to dad about quality of life not quantity....and right now he agrees.......

I know that if he doesn't do anymore chemo that he will go downhill pretty fast and we are now prepared for that....this is harder than with my mom.....we found out and three weeks later she was gone.....

i have no regrets with dad....we have had a good relationship all along and we can only be there for him now until the end...just wish we lived closer but we cant change that....

Thanks for taking the time to write...and i am glad that i did my own research so that i now what is going on...because dad gets so confused
between the local doctors, the ones in the hospital and the ones at the cancer clinic...

dad said this next time in Saskatoon he will get answers and he wont let them push him around! Go Dad Go!! Just because people are older they are still somebody's husband, father, grandpa, or son and it still hurts just the same!
Thanks again

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Mar 07, 2010
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Submitted by: Donna

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Dad just spent the last week in the hospital....very dehydrated and i guess the chemo wiped out his immune system...that was only his first go.... he is now considering not taking any more treatments and is quite disgusted that his next appointment with the oncologist is only 15 min....i told him that his talk with the nurses before his appointment will be a better discussion than with the doctor.... i asked if they thought dad was stage 4 when he first started to get sick and they said probably...which i thought and i know the median life expectancy is 11 months with no treatment... so if he started to get sick in June....i figured about may...ish...and the nurse that i talked to said probably spring.... they still haven't told dad how much time..the oncologist wont give any indication.....but we have talked to dad about quality of life not quantity....and right now he agrees....... I know that if he doesn't do anymore chemo that he will go downhill pretty fast and we are now prepared for that....this is harder than with my mom.....we found out and three weeks later she was gone..... i have no regrets with dad....we have had a good relationship all along and we can only be there for him now until the end...just wish we lived closer but we cant change that.... Thanks for taking the time to write...and i am glad that i did my own research so that i now what is going on...because dad gets so confused between the local doctors, the ones in the hospital and the ones at the cancer clinic... dad said this next time in Saskatoon he will get answers and he wont let them push him around! Go Dad Go!! Just because people are older they are still somebody's husband, father, grandpa, or son and it still hurts just the same! Thanks again

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Mar 07, 2010
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stage 4 colon cancer situation
by: Anonymous

Hi Donna,

Chemo is about the best hope you have here because it has spread to the lymph nodes in other organs. Surgery will probably not help much now-
Sorry- but you asked for us to tell you the best we know honestly. We can't give you medical advice- but you should seriously consider that Dad has limited time and nobody knows how much.

You really need to push the doctors to be aggressive to deal with the disease. Let us know if they don't act like that, and find yourself another set of doctors.
I hope that helps and please let us know what happens. I hope something on our web site helps you further.
Regards
the web guys