I think the first thing I need to say is every situation is different and there is no clear cut answer on how long. My family is in the same boat. My father was diagnosed one year ago stage 4 with mets to liver. In the last couple of weeks he has just become jaundice and a CT scan revealed mets to lymph nodes and the back too. They have not found a blockage and he will have no stent right now. We too are in a panic wondering if this is the end and feel like the onc (who is very good) but is a poor comunicator in terms of what to expect. My father is in a lot of pain and we are getting him a celiac pain block this Monday. It is an awful disease and is hard to say if someone is close to the end of this. I had one person tell me his grandmother died 3 days after becoming jaundice, and another told me her mother lived two years jaundice. My feeling now is make the most with the time you do have no matter how long it may be. None of us are promised tomorrow whether we have cancer or not. Live life now to the fullest! I hope this helps in a small way, if you need any other information, I will try my best to give it. My prayers are with your family.