Esophageal Cancer: Surgery Or Not?

I'm a month post proton radiation now. However, I still have esophagitis and trouble with spasms from time to time. I'm still 99% on tube feeding. I'd hoped to be further along, but it is what it is. I go back in a month for followup. Best of luck with the PC. They can do a lot with it now. My stepson developed it in his mid-50s recently. His insurance wouldn't cover proton, even though there's a proton facility within a few miles of his house in Nashville...
E.

Earle
Sorry you are still on feeding tube which is no fun. I hope you start seeing improvement soon and can start eating again. I start PC radiation treatment in 6 days now.
Don

They call mine "late onset esophagitis." Actually, it started with the last four sessions. (They have five sessions, Monday-Friday, weekly.) It didn't hurt during the sessions, but it did in the evenings afterwards. I hope yours goes smoothly...

E.

Edit: It was 5.5 weeks of weekday sessions. 4-5 chemo sessions were planned, but I only made three before I had a bad allergic reaction and had to discontinue...

I would like your input on my situation. I am a 64 year old male, 2b adenocarcinoma. I have just completed my chemo and radiation, my surgery is scheduled for July 30. I question moving fwd. with the esophagectomy. I literally have zero support or care giver. My few friends are a few phone conversations and no face to face. For unknown reasons my adult children had ghosted me some time back, they know of my situation but have not acknowledged it or me in any way. I understand they have their own lives too but I have made every attempt to communicate with them to no avail. I also have 7 grand children I haven't seen in 3 years.
Honestly I feel as though I don't have much to live for due to my isolation, the surgery invasiveness, recovery, poor quality of life and a 30% chance of making it 3-5 years makes me question if its worth it. What are your thoughts?

Hi. I hope I can help you. First thing I must tell you is be positive and try to be strong. I have a great surgeon, 2 Oncologists and my GP. They along with the great nurses helped me along. It is a long road but if I can survive, you can too. There will be a lot of tests, checkups, specialists, to help you but time goes by quickly. Relaxation is a must. I had a problem with swallowing at first but with help it's better. A very important thing you MUST do is buy a WEDGE pillow. I got a good one from Amazon. If you don't have one you will aspirate while sleeping and it is not pleasant. You will be tired. I have learned to go at a slow place when working around the house then quit when I have had enough. I lost a lot of weight and it took me 2 years to gain 20 lbs. People kept telling me to eat but I ignored them. Try to eat fattening food like ice cream, fries, etc. I don't eat spices, citrus, meat (could get stuck in throat) chocolate (I eat it but I'm addicted) and so on. You'll find out eventually. I don't smoke or drink so that has helped. Here in Canada we have volunteers that drive patients to their doctors/hospitals. Try to find an organization that can help. That's all I can think of now. I had surgery in Feb. 2020 and my surgeon just told me last week that IF the cancer hasn't returned by Feb. 2026, I will be CURED! If I can do it you can too and I'll be 70 soon. Trust me. It all sounds daunting now but time does go by quickly and before you know it, you'll be doing push-ups.
If you have any questions just ask. Bye.