<human>: my dad has stage 4 metastatic esophegeal/gastric cancer. Diagnosed july 2010. bad road from dianosis on. has only been able to recieve 1 1/2  rounds of chemo due to complications/side effects of chemo each time. just came home 4 days ago fron 2 1/2 week hospital stay  from severe nuetropenia leading to ecoi in gut , psueomonis and a fungal infection in blood, creatinine levels went up to 2.9, then stabalized back down to 1.8 as of dishcarge. Now, ( and since hospital stay) is incontinent of urine and pretty much incontinent of very loose/ diarrhea stools. speaks of having halluciations i.e. the clock going back and forth between 3:05 and 3:12 one night every time he awoke and looked at it. Feet/legs are swelling up. Cannot or is afraid to eat anything solid--over last week, has had to pass a stool with in minutes of taking a bite.( was taking j tube feeding since january but stopped after this last hospital stay due to infection in gut and has not been able to resume because feeding they tried to give in hospital worsened the diarrhea.) Now on TPN at home. and has not eaten anything by mouth for 2 days. Told (if able to tolerate at all) that the 4th and final chemo drug available may given a < 10 % chance of living 2-3 months. So I /he knows the end is near. But, with what Ive described he current condition to be. Could it really only be weeks away? Wondering how it progresses from here on? mostly only sits getting up to go to bathroom frequently. went out of house for 1st time since hospital today and walked short distances in a few stores with a walker. Can you given any idea of what would think pronosis/time left is by symptoms?
<bot>: Hi, dear He has stage 4 cancer.  It is metastatic esophageal and gastric cancer.  So surgery is not possible.  He can not tolerate chemotherapy.  So no treatment should be given.  Moreover, he is on total parental nutrition.  Overall prognosis is very poor.  Life expectancy is very less.  Generally it is not more than 6 months.  It depends on many other factors also.  Consult your doctor and take treatment accordingly. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using Chat Doctor. Wish you a very good health.