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Esophageal cancer metastasized and spreading quickly
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Nov 5, 2023 | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
Your post has been very helpful. My husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal cancer last Nov. 28, 2022. It had spread to his lymph nodes and a lesion on his right hip bone. He underwent 10 radiation treatments and is taking chemo/Oxiplatin/Immunotherapy. Unfortunately we do not live close to a Mayo Clinic, but just know your post has given me so much hope. I plan on speaking to his Oncologist re. Keytruda and Folfox just to see I this is an option.
Currently he cannot eat any solid food, only Ensures. We are supposed to see the GI provider this week to see if a stint can be place or what our options are bf we settle on a feeding tube. Since November he is down 100 lbs and continues to lose weight every 2 weeks when he has his treatment.
Thank you again for your post, the Oncologist told us he had 12 months to live back in Nov. So you can understand how this weighs on his mind. Thank you again and best of luck to you, OH and my husband is 58 yes young.
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I am glad that I was able to provide you with some hope regarding you husband's on going battles with the beast. You don't need to live close to a Mayo clinic to recieve state of the art care. I am not aware of your location, but I'll bet that there are several excellent regional cancer centers near you that may be associated with regional academic medical centers or larger hospital systems. These may offer the same treatments and diagnostic workups that are offered by the Mayo Clinics. I urge you and your husband to take
ownership of his care and investigate all avaiable options in your local area. As to your husband's eating and nutitional difficulties I would strongly suggest that he have a G-tube placed rather than a stent. Stints are highly problematic. They often slip out of position and have to be removed, may cause tears in the esophagus, become overgrown with reactive fibrotic or tumor tissue and may cause continued pain and discomfort in the chest. A G-tube would allow him to avoid the pain, discomfort and complications associated with stenting. Also, you will be able to easily administer high calorie nutrition and supplements, maintain proper hydration and administer medications through the tube either by bolus injection with 60 cc syringes or feed bags connected to an external pump. I've had one in place for more than 2 years and I've been able to regain and maintain my weight (157 lbs) as well as recover a bit of muscle mass. I wish you both the best of luck in your journey with cancer.