Stage 4 Colon Cancer Prognosis

"My brother in law is 52 and had stage 4 colon cancer. It is inoperable and they cannot do a "resection" or remove any of the cancer. They opened him up in Sept and again this week. They closed him right back up and said it spread and cannot be removed. He lives in Italy and we want to go see him. I'm wondering about the average prognosis for this. If we go to see him April 1st will he still ok? How much time might he have?"

Re Zrepm's answer.....Chances of survival for 2 yrs with Stage 4 Colon cancer are zero to none!!
Personally I think April 1 would be cutting it close if not too late. If they closed him up without trying to remove it, you can bet it's right through him. Often with cancers in that area, there can be a complication of ascites (fluid build up around the internal organs).
If you are able to get away, I would try to go as soon as possible.

2008-02-23 07:25:42 by KELLY V

tinyurl.com Colorectal cancer treatment by modern medicine is chemo therapy followed by surgery to remove the section of colon that is cancerous ...

I just found out my cousins had surgery for tumor in his colon that is probably cancer and probably stage 4, they also had found spots on his liver. What is the prognosis if this is cancer and it has spread to the liver. They are already planning chemo.

Im sorry to tell you this is a death sentance my sister died of colon cancer so i do speak from expriance make the most you have of the time you have left with your cousin i am very sorry that you have to deal with something like this i know how hard it is

2006-05-26 10:08:32 by shelbys mom

From http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/25 5771-overview
The 5-year survival rates for ovarian carcinoma are as follows:
* Stage I - 73%
* Stage II - 45%
* Stage III - 21%
* Stage IV - Less than 5%
From this 1990 study http://www.springerlink.com/content/q071 u3837210328q/ - the estimated median survival times for stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma patients was ~ 20 months.

A word of caution - median survivals do not help tell us much about any one individual. Some do much better than 20 months, and some do not live as long. There is a wide variation in lengths of survivals.

There are many factors that would affect an estimation of prognosis - factors that the oncologist following this case knows and we do not. How old is she? What is her overall health status? What therapy has been tried? Is she refractory to front line chemotherapy? What is her overall health and performance status? What is the estimated bulk of her malignant disease? Has the cancer been optimally debulked surgically? Is she a candidate for aggressive surgery?

Every person is unique. We cannot predict expected times of death months ahead of time. Family members often push for a guess, and we usually wind up being wrong when we try to make long term predictions. The end is easy to see only when it is near - in the last few weeks or days.

2009-01-18 08:39:15 by motherofthree

ok how long does it take to get from stage 1 to stage 2 in colon cancer(and stage 2 to 3 and so on. There are 4 stages)? My father has stage 1 colon cancer and im wondering how long it takes to move along stages. And from what I have found if my father doesnt get the surgery then he has less than 90% chance of living for 5 more years? Is this true? What are the survival rates? It hasnt spread to other parts of the body yet, that we know of. He was diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer about 2-3 months ago. your help is appreciated.

explaination of stages:
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/colorecalc ancer/a/crcancerstages.htm

picture of stages:
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/Me dia/CDR0000415501.jpg

and the table of survival rates i found:
http://www.alternative-cancer-treatments .com/colon-cancer-prognosis.htm

are these accurate?

I don't think anyone can tell you this. Talk with the doctor.

2008-06-07 07:12:59 by ஐMario is 2 month old alreadyஐ

My mother has this and they've said chemo will not change her prognosis. If she gets the chemo, there is a 4 out of 5 chance it won't work, if she gets it there is a 1 out of 5 chance it will. It will most likely make her sick while she is on it, and if it does work it will only extend her life about 3 to 8 months if it goes into hybernation, but it will eventually return. her life expectancy is less than 6 months, chemo may only extend it a few months. If she gets radiation to the bones where she is in a lot of pain, she will feel better in a few doses, and with her pain meds she will feel pretty well for a while with almost no side effects, except fatique, but it will not extend life and she could have less than 3 months of survival. She doesn't really want the chemo, and neither does my Dad, for them quality of life is more important then length, and she doesn't want people to see her go through the chemo. Does anyone have info on this what would u do? we have second opinion friday

Sorry for your situation. The doctors are right with what they are saying if they cant locate the primary cancer they wont know what type of chemo to give your mum so it will be trial and error which i def dont recommend. Stage four cancer is incurable and almost certainly terminal. once cancer has reached the liver the life expectancy is less than a year, this happened to my Mum. Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last may. It was in her liver lung and kidney they couldn't find the primary cancer either. they eventually did and it was diagnosed ads kidney cancer, Mum pasted away 4 months from first diagnosis aged 60. i agree with your mum and dad if chemo is only going to extend her life a few months i wouldn't go thru the pain and trauma it will make her sicker than the cancer itself and will make her bed ridden. Mum went on a trail drug for 2 weeks and it was the worst thing we could have done she lost all dignity and control of her bodily functions it was terrible. definitely get your second opinion. contact me if you need support or info. xx

2008-05-14 16:03:42 by Melissa M