I am very sorry to hear of your fathers poor health. From my experience all Drs in the initial stages of my diagnosis dodged becoming involved in the intricacies of the diagnosis. But Drs usually rely on a history of the patient,scans from radiologists and more accurately a biopsy dependant on size and location eg where a small sample is clipped away and analysed. I am not a Dr but that was my experience. I was told I had cancer but it turned out to be a simple benign mass but my kidney had to be removed due to the uncertainity of what the mass was and the mirroring image which could have been cancer. From what you describe It was wrong for the Dr to be as abrupt as he was. Consider a complaint if you have the energy for that. From what you describe the cancer is either spreading or is different types of cancers or can be something other than cancer. You may wish to get a 2nd opinion or wait until 2nd appointment or go to completely different hospital. I do not believe in false hope so Be prepared mentally but provide solid support for him now as he will also be from my personal experience angry upset and scared. Stages are Diagnosis, is it really cancer of they are unsure thus maybe more tests eg biopsies, then appointment usually follows relatively fast with consultant, then Treatment management plan put in place if viable, treatment will be drugs or operation followed up by post treatment and surveillance of patient. By you posting already tells me he has got a very caring family. Your fathers journey has just begun and it will be a long medical and exhausting one. Im 7 weeks post 2 operations and still knackered. My best wishes to your dad and family.