Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/24/2006

Question
My father-in-law had surgery back in Jan to remove a football size tumor from his back, biopsy showed it was squamis cell and originated from the colon.  This was his second time with colon cancer also had kidney and prostate cancer 5 years ago.  He went through chemo from March until July of this year and in Aug they discovered the cancer was back and growing rapidly had spread to the abdominal region and in the lungs as well so they started him on another type of chemo however his main doctor told him that if there was anyone he wanted to see he better do it.  Within the last few weeks he has really went down, lost a lot more weight, week, increased his dose on pain patch, can't eat as everything comes back up even with medication.  He is very fatigued as can be expected.  I feel that the time is getting close to an end for him but my mother-in-law wants to believe the chemo will take care of it.  My husband doesn't know what to do but there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of before his father passes and he only wants to push it if feel the time is almost here.  We also have kids away from here and wonder if they need to come home BEFORE the holidays.  Any opinions would be appreciated.

Answer
It is impossible to accurately predict survival times, but what you have written tells me that his survival time is probably measured not in years but in months or even weeks, so what needs to be taken care of should be taken care of now before it is too late! By all means bring your children home so they have a good chance of meeting him again! Better to be on the safe side! Right?