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Newly diagnosed esophageal cancer. I have a lot of questions.
My husband is 62 and in good health. A month ago he was short of breath. They checked his heart and it was good. His bloodwork showed anemia. We have seen gastroenterologist who found the tumor (6cm) arising from 10cm of Barrett's. CT scan showed nothing. No nodes, lesion or Mets. We went to get EUS at Mayo feeling somewhat confident. That didn't last long. The gastroenterologist at Mayo found what appeared to be 5 nodes involved. He goes back tomorrow for PET scan and I am terrified. We have had nothing but bad news. Has anyone experienced this crazy Rollercoaster of good news bad news and how did you do?
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We had a phone call with the surgeon last Friday. He said probably chemotherapy and then surgery. He would not discuss the FISH report. It's not in the chart. The nurse said the oncologist will go over that with us.
Now I am terrified of this FISH report. The surgeon said he was a candidate for immunotherapy. I hope the dreaded FISH report doesn't say the opposite.
Has anyone else been frustrated that they don't post results to the portal and refuse to discuss them?
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1 ReactionI wouldn't swear the FISH report. It is simple... your cancer is evaluated a few ways that will determine what treatments could be most effective. Usually we are evaluated by EUS, biopsies, and scans. Our initial staging is considered "clinical"... and so, if you are given an actual staging (many are not) it will have a little "c" in front... like for me, I was cT3N1M0. But what really matters is spread. If the solid esophageal tumor is truly confined to the esophagus... that's a good start. Because now surgery will most likely come into play. If there is already metastasis to distant lymph nodes, bones, or organs... then being declared stage 4 makes surgery much less likely. But remember... tumor biology showing HER2-Positivity, or high PDL1 values, or Claudin 18.2 positivity... are double edged swords. It may mean your cancer might be more responsive to certain immunotherapies... but it also means your cancer is more aggressive and faster growing.
What's important is to get chemo and radiation going soon... to begin kicking the crap out of your cancer... and get it ready for removal. Surgery is the thing that is most considered a chance at a cure. What is used in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings will vary depending on what is seen upon dx... and in post-op pathology.
I'll also visit you with a private message... to talk more immunotherapy.
Gary
Stage one at the junction with the stomach. Surgeon is calling this wee for concent for surgery. No chemo or radiation.