My mother is 77 and very ill. She is barely able to
walk and has been a heavy smoker all her life. Recently she was diagnosed with
colon cancer that has spread to the liver. Her surgeon recommends surgery. I am
not sure what to do.
The first thing is you need to get is a second opinion. Any
surgeon who wants to operate on stage 4-colon cancer sick frail patient has
very little clinical judgment. Colon cancer surgery in older age groups has its
benefits but surgery is also of high risk. The general rule of surgery is that
patients who are deemed to be at high risk for surgery need surgical clearance
from other specialists. Finally, surgery for stage 4-colon cancer is never done
as life expectancy is very poor and there is no chance of cure. Removing a mass from the liver is no piece of cake. With the quality of some surgeons we have, death is a high probability.
The best advice
is to seek another medical opinion and still not undergo surgery – as surgery
will not benefit your mother. Please dump this stupid doctor-there is something
known as palliative care and this is what your mother needs.
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