Esophageal Cancer - no surgery??

MelissaM · New User Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

My 60 year old father was diagnosed with Stage IVa esophageal cancer in April. What a shock to our family - he never had a symptom, just started vomitting blood one day, rushed to the ER and found to have a large mass in his esophageal gastic junction. Further scans found a local lymph node also involved. So far, he has undergone 3 rounds of chemo and 5 weeks of radiation. At the start of it all, he was not considered for surgery, now he is. His October scans show no sign of the tumor and the biopsy of the area came back negative - all is great news, right!

Last week my father decided against the surgery - he is petrified of going under the knife. The statistics for remision in those without surgery are low, but I'm trying to find others who might be in our situation. If there is anyone that can provide some guidance or comments - any assistance would be helpful. Thanks!

Melissa
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Melissa

sheridan · New User Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Toronto

Hi Melissa,

My husband and I have met with a surgeon in the past but my husband is not a candidate for surgery.

I can tell you, however, what he told us...The surgery is very very MAJOR surgery. There is a chance of fatailty during surgery. Recoup time is very long and unpleasant.

It can be hard to hear when patients choose not to do what seems the most logical for us. My grandmother opted out of all treatment for her cancer as she felt okay and didnt want to suffer the side effects of any treatments.

My experience is that I need to trust my loved ones decision to do what is right for them. This can be very difficult sometimes.

Hugs to you and always hear to chat or just listen.
Sheri
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Sheri - I Believe!

jaharlal basu · New User Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

I'm 60 yrs. old. In January 2005, immediately after I was diagnosed with Esophagol cancer extending into the stomach, I underwent an esophago-gastrectomy surgery. The biopsy report, showed, metastisis of the lymph nodes in the peri-gastric and peri-esophagal regions- stage 3.
I underwent 4 cycles of chemo post-surgery.
I have not faced any problems arising out of the surgery and only temporary side-effects during the chemo.
I'm going through periodic CT/PET scans.
the surgery and chemos were all at Lilavati Hospital at Mumbai.

mama2twingles · Regular Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 18

Hi Melissa, I'm in a similar situation with my mom who is 64. Because the cancer had spread to a distant lymph node our original surgeon said in his opinion she was not a candidate for surgery but he would see after treatment. She had chemo and radiation. The surgeon removed the lymph nodes at the celiac axis which the biopsy showed were "mostly" dead from the chemo, and they did not see anything else when they looked around. The esoph tumor is "gone" and biopsy neg. The surgeon let us know that there is a chance that the tumor is still there not visible and more internal and that since they lymph nodes were still "some" active that there could be active cancer in her system. All the docs spoke and spoke with Sloan Kettering and they feel there are no statistics that show more radiation and or chemo to help the outcome. So it definitely is a luck of the draw as we sit and wait. We could consult another surgeon but my mom isn't in favor of the surgery and I'm not completely sold on it either. A good friend of mines father died as a result of the surgery the week my mom was diagnosed so..... I know they don't all turn out that way but for quality of life purposes we're not doing any further treatment and enjoying every day with the hopes that we're the small statistics that the cancer doesn't return. My hope is that you have the same. I read in a book to remember that someone has survived every type of cancer at every stage! Blessings to you and yours, Debi

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