Hi all,

I have been reading through the forums but haven't really found what i'm searching for...

My dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and told there were no operations/treatments available to him as the cancer has spread to parts of his abdomin and lungs.

My family were destroyed by this sudden news. My dad is 78 and has always kept good health, a bricklayer by trade, he was active and didn't drink excessivly or smoke. His diet has always been a bit questionable  but blood pressure etc. always fine. 

They offered my dad palliative chemotherapy and he has agreed to take this over the next 3 or 4 months. It is two different chemo drugs. He has just finished his first go and apart from being very tired/lethargic and going back to bed in the afternoons, it hasn't seemed to been too severe (touch wood). His next (second treatment of twelve) is on Friday. 

As a family, we are really concerned about the risk of infections now. We are taking lots of precautions and we are trying to get my dad to stay indoors, not do much until the end of the treatment in March/April. This is about three months from now.

My question is for anyone who has experience of this. Are we doing the right thing? Is my dad better to try the chemo and hope for some extended time and good quality living or should he sack the chemo and live out whatever time he may have left? If the chemo is a success, what would that mean? What is the success of it going well? Could he still be here in 2/3 years having had a good quality of life? 

I realise no-one knows these answers but if anyone has any direct experiences of this type, it might make us all able to make more informed choices and decisions on what we should do next.

As a point, my dad didnt really want to take chemo due to side effects etc, but it seems to have been kind on him so far. I feel if the side effects were worse, he would decide against any more. Would this be wise? Again, if anyone has experience of this, no matter how much I might not want to hear it, I would be really grateful to you.

Thanks,

Brian.