← Return to Esopagectomy cancelled

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Esopagectomy cancelled

Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 12 5:11pm | Replies (9)

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@colleenyoung

@maryfordmillard, I can hardly imagine how difficult this must be for you and your husband. To be prepared for surgey only to have it cancelled, is a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. While accepting this turn of events feels like a set back, your team has likely paused surgery because of the spot on the lung and ensure that surgery remains the best treatment and survival option. It's so important to have all the diagnostic information to determine the best treatment for each individual.

Some esophageal cancer patients never have surgery, like @margski @grandmacranky @dsh33782 @jrkbls @56899t52 and others.

Please let your Mayo team know about your letdown and how you are feeling devastated and discarded. Those are completely understandable reactions. I'm confident that they will take the time to explain why, for your husband's best chances, surgery has been postponed or a new course of treatment may be preferable.

For my part, I want to acknowledge what a curve ball you've been thrown and it's hard to see the wisdom in this right now. It sucks!

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Replies to "@maryfordmillard, I can hardly imagine how difficult this must be for you and your husband. To..."

At the time, we were confused and scared we were making the right decision. As time has passed over 1-1/2 years since they cancelled surgery, it was a blessing we have been able to avoid what would have been a life changing surgery. It will be a year in January that he stopped the immunotherapy and we were told the immunotherapy would be in his system for around a year. So we are a little nervous when his PET scan in Sept showed two lymph nodes that may be cancerous (to small to tell if cancer or the scan lines making it look like cancer may be there), they are continuing to watch him closely. He is getting blood drawn today and we will get those results next week to see if his signatory test remains zero. They did an endoscopy last week and the biopsies they took from the tumor area and other spots in his esophagus remain clean of any cancer cells. They will perform another PET scan in December or January to keep a close watch. This whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster. We try to live every day as positive as possible and with the strength of prayer, family and friends, we are feeling blessed every day.