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Cancer Surgery (Expert Forum)
Clarification needed-curative or palliative?
Answered by
Denise L. Johnson, M.D. - breast cancer, Cancer Surgery, Cancer Imaging
Stanford University School of Medicine
Redwood City - CA
Questions in the Cancer Surgery forum are answered by Dr. Denise L. Johnson of Stanford University School of Medicine. Topics covered include surgery for all types of cancers.
Clarification needed-curative or palliative?
by Cthycarlson, Apr 25, 2008 07:44AM
My father will have surgery next week to remove two tumors from his liver. My question-will this be curative or palliative. His docter was vague. My father was diagnosed with colon cancer 16 months ago, had laparoscopic surgery to remove tumor and part of his colon and was diagnosed last week with metastasis to his liver. There doesn't appear to be cancer anywhere else, after his pet and mri scans but they'll know more when they operate.
I just want to know what is the goal here-to buy him as much time as possible and if so, how much are we talking about or could this even potentially be cured? Thank you.
I just want to know what is the goal here-to buy him as much time as possible and if so, how much are we talking about or could this even potentially be cured? Thank you.
Diagnosis: Type of Cancer?
:
Metastatic colon cancer
Date of Diagnosis
:
April 16, 2008
Type of Surgery
:
Resection/cryosurgery
Stage/Size of Tumor
:
2 tumors, 3x5 cm, other is smaller
Location of Tumor(s)
:
liver
Age of Patient/Pre or Post Menopause?
:
64
Sex of Patient:
:
Male
General Geographic Location
:
California
Have you received hormone replacement therapy?
:
No
Please list all of your current medications:
:
Not sure
Please describe your alcohol and/or smoking history:
:
Smoked 40+ years, qyit 2 years ago
Alcohol, 2-3 drinks/day
Alcohol, 2-3 drinks/day
Doctor's Answer
This is second hand info from my sister since I am overseas, so I am trying to make sense of it.
My questions are:
1. Could there be metastases that he could not see and the scans did not pick up?
2. What does he mean by tolerate, will this chemo be a different kind and very hard on my father, harder than the first round he did a year and a half ago?
3. If they got everything out, how does this bode for my father? Could he theoretically be cured? The 7 cm tumor grew very quickly, within 4 months, that is considered aggressive, the doctor said. Is it possible for them to catch early tumors quickly and remove them?
Thank you so much.