Chemo every two weeks for the rest of my life?!?

Dear Maraca, I too was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer. Also, I am going through treatment every two weeks for however long my body can tolerate it. The cancer started in the esophagus and spread into the bones. I have had two radiation treatments. The first targeted a spot on the back of the neck and the right iliac. The second attacked a spot on the left iliac. Completed the first round of chemo of which there were 12 of them. I started the immunotherapy in December. My body has so far tolerated the treatments. I have received a lot of support from friends, family, church, and even strangers! My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe later this year. Don’t give up hope.
Sincerely,
Doug B.

Please keep faith and be defiant to cancer, do your best to stay strong when strong feels distant. I am also Stage 4 esophagus, with my cancer also located in the lower part of esophagus. My cancer also affected lymph nodes all over my stomach but I didn't have it travel to other parts of my body. My oncologist has me on Folfox (probably spelled wrong) and Keytruda, I have had over 12 chemo treatment 3hrs chair 48hrs take home bubble and approx 6 Keytruda treatments. I literally just got back from getting a second opinion from MD Anderson in Houston, it was a wonderful experience, everyone their was so nice and very detailed with their explanations. I am fortunate that I have done real well on my treatment regiment most people would never guess that I have cancer. Im a a bit less energetic and due some memory and speech issues along with neuropathy but Im still active. I went their hoping for the magic cure but was pleasantly advised that what my local oncologist has done for me has had amazing physical response and that they would not recommend any changes to my treatment at this time. Please stay positive, I went from liquid diet to eating normal from loosing weight to maintaining weight. Good luck and prayers on your journey, I think it was Mark Twain who wrote worrying is like paying a bill you don't owe.

@jimurphy1947 atgardencitybeach
Thanks Jim!

You brim with optimism, which is super. I am happy now that the months long radiation on my esophagus, ending in late November, resulted in nuking away my 5 cm tumor there entirely. The Petscan this month showed it's all GONE.
So now, hopefully the Opdivo immunotherapy that starts next will tackle the cohort set of cancer spots in bone, liver, and lymphs.
It's great to be eating solid food after four months of just mush, but chemo with Folfox same as you get does curb the appetite. Keytruda is also an immunotherapy drug, right? Please report how it's working on your metastases and main tumor.
Did you get the esophageal tumor radiated? It worked so well on mine, also squamous cell and low set near the stomach.
I am not too worried, thanks Mr. Clemens (he's listed on my family tree, "also known as Mark Twain").
Since getting this dark diagnosis it seems like every new day arrives gifts wrapped in space and time.
All best wishes,
Marcia

@jimurphy1947 atgardencitybeach
Thanks Jim!

You brim with optimism, which is super. I am happy now that the months long radiation on my esophagus, ending in late November, resulted in nuking away my 5 cm tumor there entirely. The Petscan this month showed it's all GONE.
So now, hopefully the Opdivo immunotherapy that starts next will tackle the cohort set of cancer spots in bone, liver, and lymphs.
It's great to be eating solid food after four months of just mush, but chemo with Folfox same as you get does curb the appetite. Keytruda is also an immunotherapy drug, right? Please report how it's working on your metastases and main tumor.
Did you get the esophageal tumor radiated? It worked so well on mine, also squamous cell and low set near the stomach.
I am not too worried, thanks Mr. Clemens (he's listed on my family tree, "also known as Mark Twain").
Since getting this dark diagnosis it seems like every new day arrives gifts wrapped in space and time.
All best wishes,
Marcia

@maraca Yes Keytruda is also an Immune therapy, when I was I first diagnosed the radiation doctor told me I had to much disease throughout my abdomen so I was not a candidate for radiation, but my tumor shrunk fairly quickly after a few chemo. There was another immune therapy they tried on me which is more targeted to my disease VyIoy, I had tested positive for the gene for that treatment but it was very hard on me and I requested to go back to the Keytruda since I was doing so well, I was the guy going to chemo on my motorcycle and doing the stairs where with the other treatment I slept for 3 days straight and then struggled with walking and general life for about two weeks after.

@jimatgardencitybeach
Hey Jim,
Stay on that motorcycle if you can. It seems our kind of lower set EC navigates to the abdomen lymph nodes, as yours has, and mine (I think.) It's good to hear you do well on the Keytruda plus Folfox. I am still waiting to start Kosovo immunotherapy on January 26, plus Folfox. Missed out on 2 weeks of any chemo just now due to a scheduling snafu and hope the cancer isn't going wild in the interim. I am very tired physically so keep wondering if it's the cancer wearing me down as I can't blame the chemotherapy just now.
I hope the lapse in treatment doesn't set me back is all.
Thanks for being so positive minded, Jim.
Marcia

@jimatgardencitybeach
Hey Jim,
Stay on that motorcycle if you can. It seems our kind of lower set EC navigates to the abdomen lymph nodes, as yours has, and mine (I think.) It's good to hear you do well on the Keytruda plus Folfox. I am still waiting to start Kosovo immunotherapy on January 26, plus Folfox. Missed out on 2 weeks of any chemo just now due to a scheduling snafu and hope the cancer isn't going wild in the interim. I am very tired physically so keep wondering if it's the cancer wearing me down as I can't blame the chemotherapy just now.
I hope the lapse in treatment doesn't set me back is all.
Thanks for being so positive minded, Jim.
Marcia