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Father had recent diagnosis of Oesophageal Cancer

Ward19
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My Father was diagnosed with Distal Oesophageal cancer (Adenocarcinoma, Stage 4) in Nov 2018, unfortunately the Cancer has been deemed inoperable due to lymph nodal metastasis (Aortic & Retro-peritoneal). Official cancer staging - T4/N2/M1, Grade 3.
I was just offering to share my story/ experiences so far with others that may have had loved ones diagnosed with a similar diagnosis & maybe offer some hope/ positive thoughts through difficult times. I have't seen many recent updates online so thought it may be beneficial to others. Regards, Ward19.

Before Father starting chemotherapy he was consuming liquids only.

Journey so far...

1. Completed x6 EOX chemotherapy - Was able to eat everything after 1st chemo

2. x2 CT scans - Latest showed no evidence of METS, Oesophagus remains thickened but no active Cancer (stable)

2. Started clinical trial (PLATFORM) 

3. Started immunotherapy IV - Anti P- L1 (Durvalumab (MEDI4736)) every 2 weeks, CT every 13 weeks  

4. Recently had a CT 13 weeks post starting immuno - Disease remains stable, however some swallowing problems starting to appear again & excessive frothy sputum.

5. For Endoscopy WB 08/07/2019.

  • Offline in reply to Nanny12345

    Evening,

     

    Sorry to hear this. My father was given a short prognosis & is still fighting 2 years on, despite being stage 4. Palliative is a scary word, but trust me it's not the end there and then. 

     

    The next steps will be meeting an oncologist & finding out if your brother is HER-2 positive or negative, which will guide treatment options. Some people don't like to ask, but i wanted to know all the details of my father's illness - it's graded as T = stage of tumour, N = number of nodes infected, M = metastasis or not. This is good to know as you will know how effective treatment has been at a later date. 

     

    Find out the treatment options & enquire about a clinical trial with your Brother's Oncologist. Immunotherapy is probably the most promising treatment at the moment (my father had this).

     

    If you are unhappy the treatment options offered, you can get a 2nd opinion to be sure nothing more can be done, through the GP. 

     

    Due to COVID-19, when your brother is going through chemo he will need to isolate as you probably well know- due to a weakened immune system.

     

     

    Regards,

     

     

    J.

     

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Ward19

    Thank you J for the reply , so considerate of you and has given me hope. . The info is very useful

    and gives me hope .  The more I learn the better I can support him  

    regards 

    sharon 

  • Offline in reply to Nanny12345

    My husband was diagnosed with the same cancer but stage 4 at age 43, with numerous tumors in the liver already and we were told palliative care only, but if he was stage 2-3 I would have expected more then that I think! He passed away in April after fighting it for 11 months and having palliative chemo, shrunk it to start but came back unfortunately and took over. Can you seek a private opinion ( you will need all his test results and scans,), and then if they suggest more try and push for it thru public? Or another opinion thru a different hospital? One thing we learned was dont take anything at face value, we were misinformed about a treatment that would have most likely given him another 1-3 years, but by the time we found out and started it he was near the end and it did nothing. You need to look into everything and fight for him,  he won't have the strength to do it for himself and will probably be inclined to just accept what the dr has said but my advice would be keep looking!

  • Offline in reply to plebbs

    Bless u and I'm sorry for your loss lives are precious and precious to us personally when it is someone we love.  If nothing else. So than you, you may have just saved 1 soul, ,take it from me I will leave no stone unturned now and then at least I can feel I tried my best for him.  Were there is darkness there is light .. where there is grief there is love Thank u

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