esophageal surgery or no surgery???

mama2twingles · Regular Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 18

Hi all, my mom has been diagnosed with cancer of the ge junction and has undergone 3 rounds of chemo and is scheduled this week for a cat scan and next for another petscan to see if the tumor and lymph node have shrunk then onto what's next.. Possibly more chemo and or radiation and surgery. Has anyone opted to not have the surgery? The odds for surgery are sooo scary. My grandfather suffered terrible before he lost his battle 2 years ago after radiation (no surgery because of age and such) that we were left thinking live your best life you have left? Any thoughts? My mom is only 63 the tumor itself was stage 2 but there is a lymph node that is enlarged 2 inches that is not close to the site so they staged her 3 of 4 for treatment. None of the scans had shown it was at any other site but the distance of the lymph node was puzzling. I've been keeping an upbeat attitude for me and my mom but now with the second round of what's to come on the horizon I'm starting to go into panic mode. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Debi

Jenny King · Regular Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 27 Location: London

Hi Debi

Sorry to hear about your mum. There are lots of people on this site with plenty of experience and advice. Val (who I’m sure will get to you) has a very good experience of ‘no surgery’ and her husband is considered a miracle. Dawn (now 2years+ cancer free) and others have gone the surgery route.

In my husbands case, on early inspection (after the after PET scan) the doctors feared that the cancer had spread to the liver – this was not the case (after CT scans), and after 2 rounds of chemo he was told that there had been no change (again by the time of surgery this was not the case) So pre-surgery he was diagnosed T3N1M0 and the analysis after surgery (with only 2 rounds of chemo ECX) his tumour had shrunk and there were no infected lymph nodes! The scans all show up something different and it is difficult to say they are ‘gospel’

He has had a particularly tough time of surgery – but today he is doing fine – he is mentally very strong (and getting fitter by the day) and ready to get himself back into shape – he knows that even if this takes him a year or so – he as many more to live for.

Surgery is a big decision but I know personally, that we would not have done otherwise and today we look to the future without fear, just confidence. 6 weeks ago we were terrified of what the surgery would show up. However, Larry will not have any further chemo or radiation and our focus now is on getting our lives back together not ‘living with cancer’. Without the surgery we would still be ‘living with cancer’ and chemo for years to come (with some pretty lousy statistics to have lurking in the back of our minds). So for us, even given the post op complications, this was the right decision.

Talk with your mum and if possible her consultant, (Have a look at some other peoples experiences http://www.eccafe.org/ where there are loads of first hand stories) before taking your decision. From what you say of your mum’s initial diagnosis - this is a time to fight like hell – EC can be beaten. (From my post of the 25th June Larry’s progress “I know that panicking is a futile and exhausting folly. Knowledge, planning and focus are far more useful friends when things are going tits-up. “) Also Val can give you and your mum some really good advice on relaxing – it’s important at this time.

Post again with any questions, thoughts, fears – we’re all here to help you both through this.

Our love and thoughts go out to your mum and you – be strong and have faith (real magic).

mousa

Dear Debi,

You wrote on 23 June that a lot of your Mum's discomfort and pain had subsided after 2 cycles of chemo. That, I think, must show that the chemo is working. Let us know what the PET shows this week.

My husband had gastric cancer which had invaded up to the EG junction. He was inoperable. He had 10 IV chemos and then went onto oral Xeloda. PETs in Nov 05 and May 06 could not find any cancer. In November the oncologist said that now was the time to take the stomach out but my husband said no, he had gone through enough. He had a gastroscopy on 24th July and we are awaiting the biopsy results. I watched the procedure and know that an ulcer was found in the duodenum and the area was hard. What to do? We make a decision, we accept, we love each other, and hope for the best.

I will send you a relaxation technique I learned many years ago. Try it, am sure you will like it.

My thoughts and prayers are with your Mum and you. Walk in God's light.

Love, Val

mama2twingles · Regular Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 18

Thank you both for your info and well wishes. Jenny, you are a strong woman and I've been praying for you and your husband. Val, thanks for the relaxation techniques, I will be sure to try it and to pass it on to my mother. We won't know the true results of the tests until next week but the doctor read the catscan results and said there were dramatic improvements which is encouraging. He also mentioned surgery or no surgery briefly to my mom so now she's got alot on her mind again. We really didn't discuss that with her up until now as to keep her spirits up--one thing at a time. I hope and pray that your results will be good. My mom is a very strong woman and has kept up her spirits very well but this next round is going to be tough (radiation, surgery??). She also takes care of her mom who is 84 and a worrier and complainer which is getting on my moms nerves. She definitely needs some relaxation techniques and learning to let things go. I've been giving her books upon books to read so if anyone has any inspirational books to recommend let me know.

Thanks again to you all and Blessings to each and everyone of you!
Debi

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