Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/19/2007

Question
My father-n-law was recentyl told he had class iv colon cancer and was scheduled for colon surgery on Tuesday but upon receiving a blood test result from M D Anderson Cancer Center the surgeons here were not able to do the surgery because they said his cea count was just over 11,000 and that he had to go to the methodist cancer center in Dallas for the surgery. My question is how bad is it to have a count that high and what can we expect from the surgery. They've told us the cancer has spread into the liver and lymph nodes and possibly into other organs.

Answer
Such a high CEA level indicates that his cancer has spread very widely and that his total tumor volume/mass is very big! So his situation is very grave! He most probably is incurable and therapy now can only be palliative and maybe also aimed at trying to prolong his survival time somewhat. That is unfortunately all! I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!
Any therapy will also be rather complicated in this situation - especially surgery - so it is not surprising that he is referred to a special cancer surgery clinic. But unfortunately I can not see - based on these facts - any hope or possibility of a cure. And without a cure the alternative is at present only palliation and perhaps survival time prolongation.