Colon cancer

My pappyt had a ct scan resulst from a ct scan that reads multiobulated oval mass measuring 3.8 x 3.2 cm with satellite lesions at the base of dominant mass of matastatic lesion in right lung. and the left adrenal gland demonstrates a small hypo enhaning nodular mass of 2.2 cm transverserse x 1.5 cm AP. Had colon cancer surgey 6 months ago they say it is moving through blood cells to other organs does this mean it is stage 4 another colon tumor according to ct scan that appears trying to invade the inferior duodenal wall at junction of second and third portions. I am confused and they say surgey is not a option. Blood test results showed 9 out of 10 lymnodes affcted.
Does anyone know how long he is up and going doing whatever he wants today and he says they dont know what they are talking about so we just letting him do what he wants and feels like doing.
Half

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  I'm really sorry to hear about your dad's condition.  Since he now has metastatic lesions to the lung, adrenal glands and a recurrent colon tumor invading into the duodenum, this is certainly stage 4 disease (I'm assuming that the organ of origin is the colon).  Stage 4 cancer means that the chances for cure are very slim.  The best that can be done is to control further spread of the tumor and prevent the complications of widespread cancer from happening.

Because your father's disease has already spread to other parts of the body, surgery is not a very good treatment option at this point (it's impossible to surgically remove all the metastatic lesions).  The best choice for treatment is through the use of chemotherapy, in combination with certain new agents like bevacizumab or cetuximab which enhance the potency of the chemotherapy drugs.  Surgery would still be useful if his recurrent colon tumor causes gut obstruction and needs to be removed quickly.

Your father's prognosis (how long he'll be "up and going") will depend on 1) how healthy and strong his body is right now, 2) how aggressive the tumor is (more aggressive tumors spread faster) and 3) how far he will respond to the treatment (a good response with shrinkage of most of the tumors after chemotherapy will result in a better prognosis for your dad.