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Cancer of the oesophagus and stomach & lymph nodes

Rick19690
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Hello all

My dad was diagnosed with the above in July last year.

Just wanted to know if anyone has experience of this and what the end will be like.

My mum especially finds it difficult to confront this. Wondered if there was any support out there, such as counselling.

Thanks

Richard

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    Hi Richard,

    I have a very similar diagnosis, so I may have some insight. There are so many variable though, age and whether there are any other serious illnesses present have a big impact.

    Has your Dad been offered any treatment? I was unable to have surgery or radiotherapy due to the position of my primary cancer, though I did go through chemo which was worthwhile in my case.

    I'm assuming you're in the UK. MacMillans have a presence in most towns and will be able to point you towards local services such as counselling. Your Dad's GP and community nurse will also be able to direct you to local services.

    How this all ends again varies so much from patient to patient. I lost my Mum to a combination of bowel and breast cancer (unusually she had two primaries). Her wishes were to spend her final weeks at home, which she did, with fantastic support from my Dad, MacMillan, Marie Curie, her GP and the community nursing team. Others prefer to end their days in a hospice. With the right drugs and support  there shouldn't be too much pain towards the end.

    I try not to think too far ahead, I've been living with stage 4 cancer for four years now and so far I've been lucky. 

    Best wishes to you and your Dad.

    Dave

  • Offline in reply to davek
    Hi Dave thanks so much for your reply and I hope you have a long and good quality of life for as long as possible. If you don't mind I'll reply more fully later this evening as cooking tea for mum and dad at moment Best regards Richard
  • Offline in reply to davek
    Hi Dave Yes dad was diagnosed in July last year, and has been on a palliative level of chemotherapy on and off ever since. Off due to infections and digestive problems, not sure why he wasn't offered radiotherapy, probably because diagnosis was terminal. Immediate impact of chemotherapy was that dad could eat almost properly with care. Its effect seem to have plateaued now though, and currently off them again as on steroids. Hopefully go back on it next Wednesday, after he visits the oncology department. He's home now but really struggling with eating, and relying much on high calorie puddings etc. He's getting support from MacMillan. Carers etc. Also he's beginning to face the inevitable, mum isn't but I've just found out the local day hospice offers counselling. Whether he's home which we'd all prefer, hospice or hospital I just want him not to suffer & to be peaceful. Hard times, & proving exceptionally hard to talk about it frankly except with my sister who's a nurse. Very best wishes to you and again thank you for your words and interest. Richard
  • Offline in reply to Rick19690

    Hi Richard,

    It sounds like you and your family are doing everything that could be asked of you. I hope your Mum is able to get some support from the counselling.

    We all come to reach an acceptance of such situations in our own time. It is especially awkward when family members are each at different stages. 

    Best wishes

    Dave

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