Newly diagnosed with oesophageal cancer - prognosis less than a year

My dad had just been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer which after pet scan showed it has spread to lymph nodes and possibly prostate (needs further investigation). Told operation isn’t an option and oncologist may decide against chemo. Prognosis is less than a year with chemo adding 3 months. Is this worth it if he is given the choice of chemo? He’s so down and has started counting down the days. He’s 75 and otherwise in good health. Does anyone have any advice on how to keep his spirits up? 

Parents
  • Sorry I don’t have any advice but just wanted to say my 80 year old husband had his stomach out last Jan, we was told at the start before they knew if it had spread or not that he wouldn’t be having chemo as the hospital doesn’t give it to over 75s, they said that they had found older people don’t do so well with it. I also know 2 other people who had Oesophagus cancer not having chemo at the same hospital. For 80 he’s fairly fit so that didn’t have anything to do with not having chemo. Good luck to your dad xx

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  • Sorry I don’t have any advice but just wanted to say my 80 year old husband had his stomach out last Jan, we was told at the start before they knew if it had spread or not that he wouldn’t be having chemo as the hospital doesn’t give it to over 75s, they said that they had found older people don’t do so well with it. I also know 2 other people who had Oesophagus cancer not having chemo at the same hospital. For 80 he’s fairly fit so that didn’t have anything to do with not having chemo. Good luck to your dad xx

Children