My 33 yr old son has stage 4 esophagus Cancer

Hi all My son who is only 33 has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the esophagus and secondary liver cancer, yesterday he started chemo, the last few weeks have been an absolute nightmare! It feels like a bad dream but I can't wake up from it! He had no symptoms until march this year, he was having trouble swallowing, he went to the doctors and they gave him something for heartburn which he has never had in his whole lifetime! After another week he went back to the doctors and they said they would refer him. We waits another 2 weeks! He then had a barium swallow test, they didn't do the camera down his throat because of COVID19, they told us he had Achalasia and needed an operation, we waited another few weeks! He went in for the operation on the 25th June, on the 26th June they called us in and told us he has stage 4 cancer, it can't be cured or operated on. How on earth am I going to get through this and watch my son waste away!

  • I'm so so sorry to hear your devastating news. It's such a cruel cruel disease & so silent in many cases. Do you have support, family or friends around you? Mcmillan can also be a good support and help both you and your son. I know nobody wants to have to deal with them because it means you or someone you love is very unwell but hopefully your son will be able to get some relief from his symptoms and live comfortably.

    Sorry i can not offer more but i didnt want to just read and run. I hope someone replies soon who can offer you more specific advice or support

    Take care and be kind to yourself as it's exhausting both mentally and physically 

    Much love to your darling boy too xx

     

  • Thank you so much for taking time to read and reply to my post and for your kind words xx

  • Hi Lucy,

    Oh gosh, I'm so sorry that your son is going through this. I don't normally post, but didn't want to read and run. My Dad had this type of cancer, so I fully understand how devastating this horrible disease is, but at 33 is just so unbelievably unfair. 

    I hope the chemo has a positive effect for your son.

    S

  • Thank you so much for your reply, Simon started his first chemo session last Monday and apart from feeling very tired he seems to be doing OK, I hope with all my heart it's doing something good! Xxx

  • Wow I'm so sorry to hear this and crossing all my fingers for him.

     

    I can relate to your situation in more than one way.  For the last year I have had trouble swallowing and chalked it up to getting older (I turn 35 in October), but just over two weeks ago it got much worse and I brought up a load of blood. I am booked to go in for an Endoscopy to find out what's causing it.

     

    My biological Dad died at a young age of oesophagus cancer but they arent sure if it's lifestyle or hereditary. 

     

    My step-dad, who raised me, (59) has oesophagus cancer stage 3. Chemo didn't work and surgery was too risky. He is in high dependency at the moment as they have only just finished operating 2 days ago (after discovering that they couldn't remove the tumor). This is why I joined the forum in the first place. 

     

    The gastro doctor did tell me, for my situation, that cancer is bottom of the list of possibilities of my symptoms but have put me forward for an Urgent Endoscopy.

     

    I wish you and your son the best of luck.

  • Hi thank you for replying. Simon had no symptoms at all until March this year when he started having trouble swallowing and we have no history of this cancer. They had no idea of what it was at the local doctors.

     

    I can't imagine what you must be going through, hopefully you will have some answers soon. Keep pushing the doctors for answers. 

     

    Stay strong, good luck xxxx

  • Hello Lucy 

     

    im very sorry to hear this, I've been having trouble swallowing on my food the last couple of weeks also chocking etc so I went in for camera. I've been given nebulisers to take for a while. I had a biopsy I get my results back on Friday. I'm so scared. Did it show up straight away in the camera or did it only show in biopsy. I hope your son is still with us xx

  • Hi lucy,

    I feel deep sorrow for your son's diagnosis, I really hope he's still with us as I write this. I'm sorry if what I'm about to say upsets you or discourages you in this fight, so please don't read if you don't want to.

    I've never posted on this platform before but I couldn't pass without telling my sister's story with this cruel disease. She was 20 years old when she was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer (March 2020) after several months of heart burn and painful choking. The tests showed up to be terminal (stage 5) cancer and she was initially given 12-18 months to live. She spent her 21st birthday rushed to the hospital in severe pain, it only took 4 months for the cancer to defeat her to the point she could no longer get out of bed. The doctors told us the dreadful news that she only had a few days left, but my strong sister stayed with us for another 2 weeks. The worst day of my life was 12th August 2020 when we lost her, but I can only thank god she went peacefully after all the trauma. 

    My heart aches for you and your son. The second hardest thing after losing my sister was to watch my mam's heart break every day and it continues to do so. 
     

    Sending all my love