Life Expectancy being diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma consistent with Colorectal Primary

My mom who is 76 has just been diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma, consitent with colorectal primary cancer. She has not had a colonoscopy in 20 years. In the beginning of March she wasn't feeling good, feeling very tired and weak, thought she was just coming down with something, one day as she got in the car and put her seat belt on, she got a sharp pain on the right side, she felt the area and realized that there was a lump of some kind there. Still not knowing what it was she went to the emergency room thinking she was having a gall bladder attack as all the symptons appeared to be having one.  After the ultrasound results came back, she was told that she has a tumor on the liver which is very large and that is was cancer.  They admitted her to do more testing.  A CT scan was done and a liver biopsy. The biopsy confirmed cancer and the tumor is 4.1 x 5.5 x 3.1 cm. Multiple lesions in the liver, there is some sludge in the gall bladder, chest x-rays found 5 nodules 6mm, 4mm,5mm,5mm,8mm non calcified nodules, the blood test show pancreas levels high, liver tests high. After discharge from the hospital we went to see the oncologist and we were told that she has stage 4 cancer and being that it's so advanced that chemo wouldn't help as there is no cure for the cancer at this stage.

   But if she chooses chemo it could slow down the rate of the cancer but again would not cure it, therefore he said at this point it would just make her sick from the chemo. In order to give chemo being that Colorectal Primary is where the cancer originated she would need a colonscopy to confirm it.  We asked the doctor being that it is so advanced, how much time she had left, we were told 2 to 3 months with or without chemo treatment.  So my question is this, based on this information, is there anyone who knows of someone that has this type of cancer and how long did they live with or without chemo.  Of course we are all hoping for the best, but given the information we have we know that this is going to have a sad outcome, but we the family would like to know if maybe the life expectancy varies, and how does a doctor know how much longer a person will live with this kind of cancer? 

Any answer would be greatly appreciated.

Hello,

Cancer is non-curable.  We can prolong our love ones but no drugs / surgeries out there can say for sure it is a permanent cure.  Sadly enough, they can return at any time. 

However, pls dont give up, you can try some of the Oral Drugs to maintain her daily lifestyles.

My mom has been mis-diagnosis of Small Cell LC and then now after a lot of research, we believe it could be the Adenocarcin NSCLC instead.  We are waiting for pathologist to read the info again. 

God bless.

Victoria

Please get a 2nd opinion from an NCI cancer hospital. 

Sadly to say that on March 26, 2009 my mom passed away.  She was diagnosed on March 10, 2009.  After visiting the oncologist as I stated in my first post, we came home and immediately had hospice come to the home.  My mom didn't want to die, and thought that maybe the chemo would help, but I had a talk with her as she wanted to know what was happening, and I told her that the chemo would only prolong it and make her feel sick.  She accepted the fact that she had cancer and that it was running rampant thoughout her body. We did not tell her how long she would have.  My mom passed away without fear and went peacefully and fast.  I miss my mom terribly and only wish now that she would have taken care of herself instead of her always worrying about my dad who is in better health than any of us at age 78.  My mom is in a better place and free of pain now.  It is so important that everyone go for routine checkups and colonscopies.  I have my first colonscopy coming up July. Cancer is such a silent disease and I stress that everyone who has a history of it in the family go to the doctors for CHECKUPS.