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Gastro-oesophagal Junction T4 N2 MO (options feel like a trick Question)

Shayde
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Newly diagnosed with T4 N2/3 MO gastroesophagal junction cancer. Head is literally spiralling through my "options"

(Got the results 2 weeks ago and saw the oncologist today 22nd April 2026. (It's My Life by Dr Alban was playing on the waiting room radio ironically!)

Option 1: Do nothing, don't know and don't want to know (yet) how long that means

Option 2: INTENSE chemo...surgery ("likely TOTAL gastectomy")...Chemo....and hope I survive (My particular chances have been stated as >10%)

Option 3: Palliative chemo with the hope of adding immunotherapy (new biopsy needed though as first one didn't take enough tissue. No prognosis though cos I don't want to know my current one LOL but he mentioned 'success rates' (no details obviously) but what is counted as a SUCCESS with palliative chemo?

Then they said 'It's your choice' but right now it feels like a trick question with no answer!

I didn't even get Covid, despite my entire family (all 5 of us still in the same house) getting it TWICE!

Husband wants it gone (as we all do) so wants the surgery, BUT then there's the chance it won't work or worse.

My youngest thinks palliative with immunotherapy might be the way as they seem to believe my immune system is impenetrable......despite the 3 weeks of hell I just went through AFTER the biopsy. They inserted an NG tube (which wasn't necessary I could still swallow mostly fine...some pain on random days other days no issues at all! And my immune system let me down, MAJOR throat infection, but because of the damn tube (nicknamed Starmer.... I have a dark sense of humour sorry!) nobody understood it WASN'T what I went in for so I got no treatment for it the first 2 weeks. Felt like THE worst tonsillitis EVER and I had them removed when I was 8!! Feeling much better now (and Starmer is gone, but only cos the after meeting the surgeon I'd said I didn't want the surgery option if it was just going to kill me off and he agreed which didn't help) and getting back to eating properly (lost my appetite big style) ...but now it's back to the OP (Original Problem) and Hobson's Choice. 

Sorry for the rant but like I said spiralling a bit here right now! ANY advice, experience GREATLY appreciated if you feel up to talking at all.

Thank you for reading this far!

  • Hello Shayde

    I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal junction cancer. It's understandable that this will have felt overwhelming at times. 

    I can see that  has replied to your post and has sent you a friend request to private message. Dave is a long-term survivor of oesophageal cancer, and I know he will have a lot of lived experience and advice he can share with you. I also wanted to let you know about this thread, where others have shared their experiences of oesophageal cancer. 

    If it would help to chat things through with one of our team of nurses, you're welcome to call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. I know they will be happy to listen and offer any advice, information and support they can. 

    Keep in touch and let us know what you decide Shayde; we're here for you. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Jenn

    Hi I looked at that thread you shared and there's a lot there but nobody has posted in over a year. Do you know how they all got on? I'm really confused over my 'options' which have been put to me more like alternatives to doiung nothing. When I point this out I just get sympathetic silence which isn't filling me with any confidence whatsoever. 

  • Offline in reply to Shayde

    Hi Shayde, 

    I am not sure how they have all got on on this thread but if you post a reply on the thread, hopefully some of the members on there might get a notification and it might well re-awaken the thread and fingers crossed someone will post an update on how they are now doing. It's worth a try...

    I can imagine this sympathetic silence you have been getting has made you feel ill at ease but it may just be that sometimes people don't really know what to say but try not to read too much into it if you can. 

    Best wishes, 

     Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    It turned out we misunderstood. I was told not to ask the surgeon cancer questions just surgery so when he said I give you 10% of survival We assumed he meant surviving surgery and NOBODY corrected us, or even realised we got it so wrong. I honestly thought I just had 3 ways to die! Turns out he meant 10% chance of it NOT coming back. However I've since had a second CT scan and he believes it's already shrunk, pre treatment (start on the 23rd) and has now increased my chances to 25%

    Onwards and upwards I hope!!

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