Hello and thanks for your post

You've been through a lot recently and I can imagine you're feeling frustrated and stressed- it's not easy looking after a relative with illness and little information to be had.

From what you say, it sounds like your father was diagnosed with a colon cancer with possible spread to the liver and lungs. Once a cancer has spread to another part of the body, this would be seen as a stage 4 cancer, meaning that the cancer is not curable.

However, it's not easy to talk about prognosis in any detail, as it's very difficult to predict what may happen in the next few months.Everyone is very different.

Usually, how long someone may have left to live, will depend on spread of disease,response to any treatment and their overall general health.You may want to read more about this here 

It's not really possible for anyone not involved with your father's case to comment.

You could try getting an appointment with your father's doctors saying you have power of attorney over his health and bringing the signed document with you. Although generally speaking , this would only kick in if your father no longer had any capacity to make decisions.

You could contact PALS (patient and liaison advisory service) here  to help you with arranging a discussion with the doctors.

I am assuming that a palliative care team is now involved in helping to look after your dad's symptoms.If not, you can talk to the GP to try and arrange this.They would then be also able to discuss with you how they think your father is doing, as well as providing you with some support.

It's sometimes easier talking to someone over the phone on subjects like this, so please do give us a ring. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

I hope get some more information soon

All the best

Wanda

Thank you for your reply.

Things became very complicated as Dad was relaying information and although he definitely has capacity he does struggle firstly with accents, secondly he doesn't have any interest in health discussion. And gets dilerium very quickly.

He messaged me to say he was medically fit for discharge and used those words and as he had surgery I knew I would need time to get a team of support for home so got in touch with a carehome who were prepared to help but this is 4000 a month!

It also turned out Dad wasn't fit for discharge it was Dad being Dadso I had sourced the place secured it and the hospital were not happy unbeknown to me.Dad had had a short stay at this carehome I thought it would be a nicer environment and familiar.

The day of discharge the nurse from the carehome asked to see his abdominal wound and I stayed in and it's completely broken down gaping and yes gaping the size of a melon and you can see the muscle dissolvable suts so when I saw that I realised he really should be in hospital but it was too late to back track.

This was all due tno teams speaking to me post surgery as I would have been able to get Dad to stay. 

I am currently liasing through Pals though thank you. 

I obviously understand Dad can't eat very much he feels uncomfortable and nutritionally he is not getting the calories in to heal his heel pressure sore, let alone an abdominal wound, rear pressure sore, his Albumin was and is consistently low and he's aneamic but he's already had 2 transfusions. as far as I am aware there is no treatment he had a course of Flucoxicilin 6 weeks for heel as infected again. But nothing for cancer. 

Its just been constant for Dad, me as I worry more than him my husband and daughter as we moved in with him to help. 

I do appreciate there isn't a crystal ball his overall health is poor, hypothyroidism as well as all the sores, inappetance, urine wise it's like rusty tin and dark but he only had 50% kidney function at Christmas, he goes from low output for weeks and then high.

i guess being a RVN I am aware of anuria, inappetence, nutrition needed, it's really hard as a little knowledge is a frustrating thing but human wise ...

thank you for taking the time to respond.