A close family member was recently diagnosed with cancer which has metastasised (if that's the word) into malignancy in the lymph nodes and lymph system and also peritoneal. They are unsure of the location of the primary cancer but it's either bile duct or gall bladder (or I think possibly pancreas?) he only went into hospital about three weeks ago as had had tummy pains for months, and following ct scans and biopsies that's what they've now said. They saw the oncologist last Thursday and the primary cancer is incurable but they plan to treat the secondary cancer with chemo, over about 6-8 weeks.
However they've said they can't give a prognosis. They've said they can give more of a prognosis when he's had his chemo. From my perspective I think he needs to know some sort of prognosis to make a decision about the chemo. For example if the side effects are awful and it 'only' prolongs his life by a couple of months he may decide against it.
This is totally new to our family, and it is all a bit overwhelming.
I thought you could at least have a prognosis if they know you have primary and secondary cancer?