Dealing with palliative treatment for advanced duodenal cancer

Hiya. I'm no expert, just another person who's hubby faced this dilemma. These decisions are so difficult when you are the one making them. My husband decided he would try anything even though the chance of success was less than 50%. It was only ever going to buy him more weeks or months feeling a bit better. It was never going to be a cure, so yes it was palliative.  2 failed chemo attempts and the oncologist decided it wasn't worth trying a third as the tumours were really advanced by then.  He died 2 months after treatment stopped.

Do you have a cancer nurse to talk to? I found them helpful in explaining things in plain English. Can you find out about likely side effects and the treatment schedule? Even that can be exhausting especially if travel is involved. Do you know or even want to know what the likely progression is with treatment or without? Its so tricky to weigh it up, especially if the possible gains are minimal.

I wish you well in whatever decision your husband makes. 

Thank you so much for taking time to reply to my message and I’m so sorry that your husband died. My husband is of the same mind of yours, try anything. It’s only been six months since he was free of the cancer spreading and already there are multiple areas affected around his bowel and surrounding areas, though not to his liver or lungs at this point. 
Thank you again for reaching out it means a lot to know I’m not alone in this situation. Take care.