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Immunotherapy for terminal cancer

Kayleigh03
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Hi, I am new here but desperate for some advice from people who have experienced similar please.

my grandma was diagnosed with esophagus cancer 6 months ago. She underwent radiotherapy and some chemotherapy although that had to stop after a few sessions due to how unwell it made her.

she has just got the results for all the post treatment scans and tests and the cancer has spread aggressively. She still has it in her esophagus plus the top of her spine, her hip and the lymph nodes in her stomach. Consultant has given her 6 months at very best to live but has offered immunotherapy treatment to try and prolong her life a bit more. He said statistics are, it’s successful in only around 20% of people in her situation and he can’t gaurantee how much more time it will even give her if any at all.

has anyone had this or knows anyone in similar position and can give us some advice/ more information based off real experience please? 
I aren’t posting this looking for just positive feedback I would like to hear the full truth. Thankyou in advance 

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    Meant to add. She had to stop the chemo 5 weeks before it was due to finish as she got chemo induced colitis and her bowel is still affected now although not as bad.

  • Hello Kayleigh

    Your grandma has advanced metastatic cancer having had previous treatment with Chemotherapy and radiotherapy the only option left is palliative immunotherapy. While this can extend life, the main reason is to improve the quality of life and it is reasonably well tolerated with fewer side effects. I have been having immunotherapy for the last 18 months and have a fairly good life, it has slowed the progression of metastatic cancer and I suspect given me a longer life. Not everyone reacts the same and each cancer is as individual as the person with it. Your grandma should give it a try and if she cannot tolerate it she can discontinue taking it. While oncologists can give a guestimate on survival nobody can "give you" x months. The best thing you can do for your grandma is just spent some time with her, which will do her more good than any medicine can.

    Ed

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