1. < Esophageal Cancer
Profile picture for cottonsunflower

What happens during radiation for esophageal cancer?

Posted by cottonsunflower @cottonsunflower, Mar 9 2:00pm

My husband has stage 3 esophageal cancer diagnosed December of 2023. He began chemo in January of 2024 getting that treatment every other week for over 2 years now. Well now the cancer is slowing growing and affecting his swallowing. Food is getting stuck causing him to throw it back up. The doctor has decided to do radiation for the first time. I was wondering about what happens during radiation. Will his throat swell? I heard it would and there would be scaring. The doctor has mentioned this as well but I am a little worried about it closing up all the way! He said he would have to be on liquids eventually. I see a lot of your stories are chemo and radiation together and I was just wanting to hear about it first hand from someone going through it. Thank you for any insight you can give. he starts on March 23rd.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Esophageal Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for earle
earle | @earle | Apr 26 8:59am
In reply to @earle "@supportivewife I'm glad your husband made it through the treatment. I did not have the esophagectomy...." + (show)
Profile picture for earle @earle

@supportivewife I'm glad your husband made it through the treatment. I did not have the esophagectomy. However, I had to grit my teeth for the last four sessions, at night after the treatment, even with pain pills. I feel like I developed most of the scar tissue/stenosis I've had sense at that point. The largest segment of dropouts they have from treatment is esophagitis. Some throats apparently just won't take it...

Jump to this post

@earle Sorry for the auto sub of "sense" for "since." I can easily believe the dropout from esophagitis. Mine also continued for months, with stricture and spasms, after completion, leading to much more tube feeding than I anticipated. BTW, I've also attended Mayo's for another condition, so I don't feel a total stranger, posting about MDA cancer treatment. I think comparisons are helpful...

REPLY
Profile picture for symmesm
symmesm | @symmesm | May 5 11:15am
In reply to @lionsfan "I had chemo/radiation in August of 2024. I went to Mayo Clinic because of their expertise,..." + (show)
Profile picture for lionsfan @lionsfan

I had chemo/radiation in August of 2024. I went to Mayo Clinic because of their expertise, high volume and the proton beam radiation facilities. Medicare had pre-approved proton beam radiation, but then called the day before the start of my treatment and said they would only cover photon beam radiation. Rather than delaying treatment, I started photon beam treatment for four sessions before contracting pericarditis and spending 5 days in the hospital for treatment. By then, our appeals to Medicare for proton treatment were approved. I had 20 plus sessions of proton treatment and very little side effects (some fatigue). My tumor was essentially gone by September, but I went forward with Mayo's recommended treatment protocol and had an esophagectomy on November 1st, 2024. I'm currently cancer free after 16 months since surgery. Moral to the story is photon is older technology and not nearly as precise as proton beam. Best to you and your husband.

Jump to this post

@lionsfan Great info. Can I ask if it was difficult getting accepted as a patient into Mayo Clinic?
My city doesn't have the resources they do, and would be curious to know of your experience.
Did you have to get a hotel room for several weeks during treatment, travel back and forth, or do you live there?
Thank you!

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for symmesm
symmesm | @symmesm | May 5 11:20am
In reply to @cottonsunflower "Update: Well, today is day 19 of the 27 radiation treatments for my husband. He had..." + (show)
Profile picture for cottonsunflower @cottonsunflower

Update: Well, today is day 19 of the 27 radiation treatments for my husband. He had a rough week with a lot of nausea and throwing up. He lost 13 pounds this week and 43 for the last 4 weeks. He feels that the tumor is shrinking but between the nausea from the heavy chemo and the pain from the radiation, he just has a hard time eating. Just another week and a half of the radiation and Monday should be his last massive chemo treatment. Then he should go back to his usual chemo routine without radiation. He has nausea meds from the oncologist but he has trouble keeping them down. He also has pills for the pain but they knock him out. The liquid one he got from the radiation doctor looses it potency by the time it gets down the esophagus to where it is needed. It's just kind of a catch 22 any which way he goes. We are praying and just trying to make it through this hoping for a good outcome on the other end. I appreciate you all commenting and giving me support during this time. It helps getting all of the information I can.

Jump to this post

@cottonsunflower Best of luck - sounds like you're a great support and advocate for him....I am blessed with the same with my wife!

REPLY
Profile picture for cottonsunflower
cottonsunflower | @cottonsunflower | May 5 12:03pm

Thank you, it helps to have that support system.

REPLY
Profile picture for lionsfan
lionsfan | @lionsfan | May 5 5:27pm
In reply to @symmesm "@lionsfan Great info. Can I ask if it was difficult getting accepted as a patient into..." + (show)
Profile picture for symmesm @symmesm

@lionsfan Great info. Can I ask if it was difficult getting accepted as a patient into Mayo Clinic?
My city doesn't have the resources they do, and would be curious to know of your experience.
Did you have to get a hotel room for several weeks during treatment, travel back and forth, or do you live there?
Thank you!

Jump to this post

@symmesm
I was very fortunate to get into Mayo Clinic. In my case, they responded very quickly when I applied for treatment. My insurance, Medicare Advantage with United Healthcare. During my first visit, I picked up a brochure on Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, provides free housing during long term cancer treatment. My wife and I are an hour and a half from Mayo Rochester and we're accepted to Hope Lodge for a 35 day stay at no charge. We did make a $500 voluntary donation though. You stay in a private room, but share kitchen and eating areas with other patients. They also have TV and quiet areas there. Check out the website for more information. Best of luck to you.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for symmesm
symmesm | @symmesm | May 5 7:07pm
In reply to @lionsfan "@symmesm I was very fortunate to get into Mayo Clinic. In my case, they responded very..." + (show)
Profile picture for lionsfan @lionsfan

@symmesm
I was very fortunate to get into Mayo Clinic. In my case, they responded very quickly when I applied for treatment. My insurance, Medicare Advantage with United Healthcare. During my first visit, I picked up a brochure on Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, provides free housing during long term cancer treatment. My wife and I are an hour and a half from Mayo Rochester and we're accepted to Hope Lodge for a 35 day stay at no charge. We did make a $500 voluntary donation though. You stay in a private room, but share kitchen and eating areas with other patients. They also have TV and quiet areas there. Check out the website for more information. Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

@lionsfan That is great to know, thank you!
It would be a ways off in the future for me ((fortunately), but good to have this knowledge beforehand.
Best to you!

REPLY
Profile picture for doglover888
doglover888 | @doglover888 | May 6 2:41am

Just a quick remark. Cancer is an awful disease. Stress because of the unknown, loss of sleep, the waiting, etc. Many patients have to deal with insurance companies, government, waiting for treatments during this terrible time. Surely the American government can come up with a health program where all procedures are covered through a national health program. I had esophageal cancer and went through all the tests, radiation, surgery, chemo, 7 weeks in ICU, etc. I was just told by my surgeon that I am cured. Bernie Sanders visited Canada to meet with people who administer our program but I don't know the outcome. Hopefully once this trying time is over, your government can come up with a program.

REPLY
Profile picture for derekb
derekb | @derekb | May 6 7:47am
In reply to @symmesm "@lionsfan Great info. Can I ask if it was difficult getting accepted as a patient into..." + (show)
Profile picture for symmesm @symmesm

@lionsfan Great info. Can I ask if it was difficult getting accepted as a patient into Mayo Clinic?
My city doesn't have the resources they do, and would be curious to know of your experience.
Did you have to get a hotel room for several weeks during treatment, travel back and forth, or do you live there?
Thank you!

Jump to this post

@symmesm My local doc fumbled the referral for my GI issues to a larger specialist. Out of frustration we reached out to Mayo Jacksonville even though we live 500+ miles away. The process was smoother and quicker than if we had stayed local, and the care was exceptional. There are on-campus resources like Hope Lodge which offer residence for 30 cancer patients requiring treatment. Mayo has on-staff social workers who will work with you on placement, etc. You should at least check it out.

REPLY
Profile picture for cottonsunflower
cottonsunflower | @cottonsunflower | May 6 8:07am

Well, today is his last radiation treatment. I am hoping they will return to his usual chemo after this so the nausea will subside. Hoping for positive progress moving forward.

REPLY
Profile picture for earle
earle | @earle | May 7 10:11am

I had esophagitis pain at night for the last four sessions. I developed a "sunburned" patch on my chest where most of the radiation entered. Other than than, I didn't really have any side effects...

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.