My husband has been diagnosed with stage iv esophagel and stomach cancer . He has had surgery to remove the large mass in his stomach. He also had metastatic cancer in the liver and lymph nodes. He has undergone 7 treatment of chemo and he is getting worse(sicker) with each treatment. I know his prognosis is not good. He now whats to stop treatment and just live his life without being so sick. About how much time does he have in your estimation?
When treating the stage IV cancer patient, the aim of the treatment will be different from the stage cancer. The aim of the treatment is tried to decrease his sufferings from the disease and disease caused problems. This approach is called palliative treatment. There is always debate when to stop the treatment and leave him without any cancer treatment. Carcinoma esophagus is different from the cancers of the other areas. The starvation will take upper hand and most of the patients will suffer because of this one than the cancer itself.  As Physician I will not give any treatment which will give him more harm than help. Giving more chemotherapy, now will come under this category. It is fact that our aim now is to give more comfort to him by looking after his food intake, and also to see how he should be comfortable in all aspects. If his general condition is good, the survival may be months, otherwise in weeks. To me, it is reasonable to tell you to be strong and to prepare yourself for the worst thing within short period. I am sorry to be like this. You and physician aim at present is to give possible comfort, less pain to him until he stays with us.