Connect
← Return to Squamous cell EC recurrence: Got questions about chemoradiation
Discussion
Squamous cell EC recurrence: Got questions about chemoradiation
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: May 18 8:59am | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
My husband will be starting radiation therapy (28 days) along with cisplatin and 5-FU chemo on 4/29. This is due to a recurrence of EC (stage 4 at initial diagnosis in 2018) after 4 years of remission. He did not have radiation the first time, but the doctors think this is the best chance we have for the cancer to go back into remission at this point, so we have agreed to proceed. This will be his fourth different chemo combination and we were told there are only so many available to try. Immunotherapy may be an option as well.Radiation is a mystery to me at this point. I feel like we have a good idea of what to expect with the chemo side effects, but adding in the radiation this time is such a concern to me, even though I agree it's probably for the best. He has had a heart attack in the past and has severe heart muscle damage and coronary artery disease. The tumor is in the distal esophagus, near the heart. I worry about further damage or other cardiac complications.What were the side effects you experienced? When did they begin in your treatment? Any suggestions? He had, among other problems, terrible mouth and throat sores the first time with just the chemo. I wonder if this will be a more difficult regimen for him to tolerate...are the side effects heightened by doing both chemo and radiation therapy together? Has anyone had heart complications during or following treatment?I've been reading everything I can find, talking to our providers, etc but I think hearing about real life experiences would help me to prepare for the start of his treatment.Thanks for sharing any words of wisdom.
Replies to "My husband will be starting radiation therapy (28 days) along with cisplatin and 5-FU chemo on..."
I'm sorry you can't get paid time off for a situation like this. I/We were fortunate that at the point is was discovered in me we were retired and my wife had wonderful insurance benefits for having been a public school teacher for many years in upstate New York (Rochester area). We were very fortunate in many ways. I can only
wish and hope for you that things work out. Stay strong and believe!
Happy Friday to everyone. My husband's treatment plan has been finalized for his recurrent ESCC. He's going to have radiation Monday through Friday and chemo once a week for six weeks with immunotherapy possibly afterwards. The combo is carboplatin and taxol. When he was initially dx in 2018 he had 2.5 years of chemo including having to wear the pump for 2 days (a different combination). No pump this time!
I'm worried about the radiation (he didn't have it the first time), and also have no clue about the immunotherapy. I'm hoping he'll be able to tolerate this better than the first go round where he had 3 changes to the regimen. He's in great spirits, six weeks is so much better because there's a light at the end of the tunnel!
Has anyone been on this regimen? How did you do?
Hope you are all doing well. Prayers for everyone Thanks for being here.
Lynn
Connect
I don't know where you live but if you can find a PROTON radiation treatment facility near you that would be my
advice at this point. The reason I say that is that I was treated every day for 6 weeks in Knoxville, Tn. where there was 1 of only 40 of these centers in the country. What it does is target the cancer where the tumor is and stops without passing through the body (as PHOTON radiation does) which means it does not harm other organs. The facility in Knoxville had patients coming from quite a ways away and they would rent a place for the week, be treated and return home for the weekend. It is more expensive but if you have decent insurance most of or all of it may be covered. They will also work with you on financing. It worked for me(I am now 76) and the two pet scans I have had were both clear. I wish you all the best as it is a very scary thing to deal with!