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What Is The Survival Rate Of Colon Cancer ?
My mother-in-law has stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to her liver and pelvis. She has undergone chemo for 2 years and done very well. The chemo has stopped working and she is now in the hospital with an infection and sepsis . Her tumors have blocked her kidney from draining and now has a nephrostomy bag. The cancer seems to be progressing fast. What are the chances of her surviving for another 3 months in this condition?
Thu, 16 Jun 2011
User's Response
Dr. Shariff,
Emergency Medicine Specialist's Response
Emergency Medicine Specialist's Response
Hi, Welcome to Healthcare Magic Forum.
Very unfortunate to hear regarding your mother-in-law.
As per what you have described above, she has a highly-invasive and metastatic tumor. Metastasis is spread of tumor cells to nearby / distant organs through blood or lymph. And the setting in of sepsis along with multi-organ damage is all the more worse. Studies have shown that for such wide spread tumors the average 5 year survival rate is approx 5%. It is very difficult to accurately tell you her chances of survival over the next 3 months. It is advisable to admit her in a facility that provides palliative care / end of life care, as per her oncologists advise.
Very unfortunate to hear regarding your mother-in-law.
As per what you have described above, she has a highly-invasive and metastatic tumor. Metastasis is spread of tumor cells to nearby / distant organs through blood or lymph. And the setting in of sepsis along with multi-organ damage is all the more worse. Studies have shown that for such wide spread tumors the average 5 year survival rate is approx 5%. It is very difficult to accurately tell you her chances of survival over the next 3 months. It is advisable to admit her in a facility that provides palliative care / end of life care, as per her oncologists advise.
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