There are dozens of lymph nodes in and around the abdominal area. It is not possible to remove them all, as some are very near to arteries and vital organs.
Doctors can assess the size and location of lymph nodes, by doing various scans. Depending on the actual stage of the cancer, as in the link above, there may be a chance of lymph nodes that may contain further cancer cells. If extensive cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy cannot be given, then the doctors would focus on controlling symptoms, and trying to improve the patient's quality of life.
