Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/8/2006

Question
Hi, my name is Nora, my father has ahd stage 4 colon cancer 3 years has undergone chemo then a surgery 2 years ago to remove cancer in colon and liver, shortly after he had recurance in liver and has been on and off chemo therpy at M.D Anderson Cancer center, last week we recieved his MRI reports saying the liver tumors are shrinking a little  but there is now as spot on his lung that they have been watching since june of this year that is getting a little bigger .  I am so lost i dont understand how if the tumors in the liver are getting smaller whats this now starting in his lungs my father is only 59 years old im scared this is really bad please give me your point of view  

Answer
Dear Nora, I'm sorry to read about your father's and your problems! First of all, your father is in the best of hands as a patient of M.D. Anderson. I will have to be very frank with you. If he had a stage 4 colon cancer from the beginning and they have managed to keep him alive for 3 years they have to be as good as their reputation says! I can not deny that his prognosis in the long run is bad. That he is alive is remarkable. The daughter tumours in his liver are in a different environment than those suspected ones in his lungs, so the difference is not that strange. I'm sure his drs. will try new chemo therapy schemes. However I can not predict how successful that will be but believe me he could not get better treatment anywhere else! I do hope it will work well!