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Proton therapy for esophageal cancer: What are the side effects like?

Posted by donnawmsbrady @donnawmsbrady, Dec 27, 2023

My husband starts proton therapy today (after surgery). He actually was beginning to feel better, eat more, have more energy. Now he’s expecting to feel just awful again. Any thoughts… even if they confirm his fears. We’re hoping proton therapy might not be quite as hard on him as other treatments.

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RickK | @sosereal | 3 days ago
In reply to @tomhayes54 "Hi, I had 5 weeks of proton beam therapy at Mayo Rochester, Fall 2020. I got..." + (show)
@tomhayes54

Hi,
I had 5 weeks of proton beam therapy at Mayo Rochester, Fall 2020. I got a weekly infusions of Tax chemo on shotgun. I continued 'work' in my room in the downtown Marriot, during COVID (boring). I had very few health issues during this period.
* Week 3: I learned what chemo brain is. My laptop keyboard and were no longer friends. My radiology nurse clued me in on chemo brain, it is real.
* Week 5: I started to 'feel the burn' in my throat, the proton beams were working! The burn, not horrible but certainly noticeable, continued until my esophagectomy in December.

After surgery in November 2020 we were playing a different game. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Tom

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Tom. It is now April, 2025. How has things gone for you since your 2020 surgery?

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seanski | @seanski | 3 days ago

I had no side effects from Proton radiation. Chemo felt like a mild hang over for a couple days a week. As my treatment progressed, I just kept gaining weight and kept getting stronger.

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tomhayes54 | @tomhayes54 | 3 days ago

Hi,
Recap:
* Late July 2020 diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
* Right after Labor Day 2020 - started proton beams and weekly chemo, 5 weeks.
* November 2020 - esophagectomy. Complications healing(leak), delay in the healing game. On the feeding tube into May 2021.

In late 2023 we found a growth in my perinium doing CT scan monitoring every three months. We tried an ultrasound biopsy then went back with a CT biopsy and of course it was malignant. We started FOLFOX (Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5-Fu) the first of the year through November 2024. We ended the Oxaliplatin in the brew July 2024. (Oxaliplatin = neuropathy)

We detected growth in the cancerous cells in my perinium and switched to a RAMPAC (Ramucirumab (Rami) + Paclitaxel (Taxel))brew in January 2025.

I am in Grad school at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul studying Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This semester I am enrolled in two courses, completing 7 out of 10 courses in the program. Due to an aging body and chemo brain I have to work harder that the average student, but it is what it is. I am pulling decent grades. Hopefully we kick this heath thing and I go back to work with a shiny new masters degree in a hot field. If not, grad school has kept me busy and it is kind of fun.
I hope this helps.

Cheers,
Tom

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lionsfan | @lionsfan | 2 days ago

I actually started with 4 sessions of Photon therapy even though I was supposed to have Proton. Medicare denied Proton until after I contracted pericarditis after 4 sessions. I immediately started Proton therapy in my 5th session once the pericarditis settled and had zero side effects from the Proton therapy. I wish you the best. Double check your insurance.

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suensteve | @suensteve17 | 1 day ago
In reply to @gdj "You might also want to pay attention to staying hydrated. I had several infusions of fluids..." + (show)
@gdj

You might also want to pay attention to staying hydrated. I had several infusions of fluids as radiation was ending and after. That will likely help with energy among other things.

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I also had to have fluids, it was usually before each session. I dehydrate very easily so they added it to the daily session.

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