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Dad dying of esophaugus cancer

Pontlad
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Hi. I'm after some help. My dad is dying of esophaugus cancer and last couple of days he has totally gone off good not eating anything and not drinking any fluids hardly. Only source of good he is taking is a small protein like shale from pharmacy. Got the result of ct scan week thursday. Anyone else been in this situation and the outcome.  Thank you

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    Hi Pontlad,

    So sorry to read about your Dad. How long is it since he was diagnosed?

    I ask because if he was only recently diagnosed it could just be the shock of being told he has cancer that is making him unable to eat or drink. A feeling I know only too well, the news knocks everyone for six but it shows in different ways in different people. . 

    Has he been told what stage his cancer has reached and how long he might have with or without treatment? 

    Best wishes
    Dave

     

     

     

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    Hello Pontlad and thank you for your post.

    I am very sorry to hear about your dad’s situation and can understand that this is a difficult and stressful time for all the family. I am not sure as you mentioned a CT scan last week if your dad has only recently been diagnosed.

    It is natural when someone close to us is diagnosed with cancer to want to try and have a clear picture of what is likely to happen. The treatment that can be offered when someone is diagnosed with cancer depends on the grade (aggressiveness) and stage (how far the cancer has spread) of the cancer. Other factors which influence treatment decisions include a person's age, fitness level, general health and their treatment preference. There is information about all aspects of oesophageal cancer including treatment on the link here.

    Unfortunately oesophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. In this situation the aim of any treatment is to slow down the growth and keep the cancer under control, as well as controlling any symptoms and preserving a person’s quality of life (palliative treatment).

    Your dad’s specialist hospital team will give him information on outlook based on their experience and statistics if he asks for it. However, they will not be able to say exactly what will happen to him. With your dad’s permission they will also speak with the family. Outlook will also depend on response to any cancer treatment that your dad may have.

    Macmillan Cancer Support has information on their website about supporting someone with cancer. This is advice for families, friends and carers that you may find helpful. You can find this in the link here.

    I am sorry that I cannot be more specific but hope that some of this information has been useful. You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our telephone service.  The number to ring is freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    With kind regards,

    Mary

  • Hello Pontlad

    I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad, waiting for results is always a really worrying time and it's difficult to concentrate on the here and now, but unfortunately that is the best advice.  The problem is that everyone's cancer is completely unique to them, so what happens to one patient may not be what will happens to your Dad.  For example, my husband was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer in August and his treatment plan is very different to others we have spoken to.  So, no matter how hard, hang on to hear from the specialists about your lovely Dad, and in the meantime, keep talking on here..... it's a wonderful source of support.

    One of the challenges I have is keeping my husbands weight up.  His tumour has grown across the entrance to his stomach so swallowing anything other than smoothies and soups is impossible for him.  Plus he can only eat a fraction of what he used to eat.  So I need to get as many nutrients and calories into him in the smallest amount of liquified food as possible. I can give you lots of tips if you'd like (private message me) or you could speak to the oncology dietician - there are some great drinks available from them.  There is also a dedicated Oesphageal Cancer charity website (www.opa.org.uk) which has some brilliant support.  Whatever you do, as a general rule, stay away from "rogue" websites - they're often ill informed and in some cases just plain wrong.

     Please keep in touch and let us know how you and your Dad go on - we're all here to help.

    Take care

    R

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