My father is 82 and just been diagnosed with mestatic liver cancer. He has stopped eating and drinking. He may take 3 to 4 bites of food per day and maybe 8 oz of fluids. How long do you estimate he may have. No treatment options were offered because of his age and his condition.
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Liver metastasis occurs in many patients with cancer. Treatment of liver metastasis includes the following methods1. Surgery.2. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy.3. Local ablation (e.g. radiofrequency ablation).4. Adjuvant chemotherapy.5. Intra-arterial chemotherapy. Treatment for liver metastasis is often guided due to criteria evolved to administer various treatment methods. Survival in this situation depends on his general condition. If he is unable to take solids and liquids then attempts should be made to provide intravenous fluids and rules tube feeding.However, the final outcome of the situation might not end in cure; however we must fight the battle with cancer till the end. Survival in liver metastasis might be from 6 months to over a year when given chemotherapy. Even if the life of the patient can be extended by about 6 months then chemotherapy is a good option. Please do not worry.