Hi Greencarpet,

So sorry to read about your diagnosis. I was given a similar diagnosis and a scary prognosis in 2013. This was an unexpected outcome and I wasn't expecting to get more than a couple of years extra due to chemo for several years. I was unwilling to plan more than a few months ahead for most of that time.

Apparently your chances of survival are increased if you are relatively young (I was 55 but most diagnoses are given to people over 70) and physically fit.

In my case, surgery and radiotherapy weren't options because the cancer had grown outwards from my gullet and around my aorta. It would be worth asking your consultant why radiotherapy has been ruled out at such an early point of your treatment. 
 

Good luck!

Dave
 

Thank you everyone for your replies. Today I met with the ENT consultant to discuss the plan for the stuff going on in my neck.

Despite what the GI consultant told me last week, the ENT consultant told me that there was a chance that the stuff in my neck could infact be swollen lymph nodes due to an infection as opposed to cancer. 3 days prior to the PET scan I had oral thrush, high temperature and stomach infection which cleared up after a course of antibiotics. This of course is all subject the biopsy results being taken from my neck but this has given me a glimmer of hope that the cancer has perhaps not spread up this far nor is it another primary cancer such as lymphoma.

It's going to be a long few weeks until I get the biopsy back but just wanted to share that I received some not so negative news for once.

That's very encouraging news Greencarpet - certainly a glimmer (maybe more) of hope there xx

That's very encouraging news Greencarpet - certainly a glimmer (maybe more) of hope there xx