Hi April,

I'm in a similar position to your friend, I was given a stage 4 diagnosis in October 2013, though with adenocarcinoma, rather than squamous cell. . I was put on the EOX chemo regime, which gave me the outcome I was hoping for. I've known other people with OC to be on the ECX regime. It would be worth asking the oncologist why he or she has opted for the regime your friend is on, I think it is the most effective regime for squamous cell type OC. There's probably a good reason, but it is worth asking.

The hardest thing to get your head around is the fact that if discovered at too late a stage it is an incurable condition. It can be controlled to some extent using chemo and the symptoms can be relieved. I'm still learning to live with it and to enjoy what time I have as best as I can.

Best wishes

Dave

Ps , you've probably seen it but, if not, there's a list of chemos used for OC at www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../chemotherapy-drugs-for-oesophageal-cancer

Hello Dave

It is the hardest thing to get your head round - you are right. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it.

I want  to help him enjoy things as best he can. I will do that for as long as I can. He seems very low now, very low but he is only a week from a chemo session so he might perk up. I

I got him out for a short trip in the car to the sea, just for an hour or so a couple of weeks ago, and other times I've got him out to a nice country park quite nearby. Otherwise all he sees is his flat, the immediate outside of that when he goes for a walk and the inside of cabs and hospitals.

I hope you are having some good times Dave. So kind of you to reply.  I'll ask the consultant again about the chemo but last time he did say he was on the best one. Your reply has been helpful, thanks.