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Looking for others' experiences with Esophageal Cancer treatments
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Sep 9, 2023 | Replies (98)Comment receiving replies
@pj03, I know you were writing to @lori57216, but I thought I'd jump in with my dad's experience. When he was diagnosed (colon cancer), they did some preliminary testing to check his heart before surgery. This is routine. Luckily they did because they found a problem, something genetic that he had had since birth and didn't know. It didn't prevent him from having surgery in his case, but they were equipped to monitor closely.
There is a special discipline called cardio-oncology. Mayo Clinic offers expertise in addressing heart problems (called cardio-oncology), potential or current issues. The Cardio-Oncology Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/cardio-oncology-clinic/overview/ovc-20442193) evaluates people prior to cancer treatment and patients who have experienced side effects due their treatment.
It sounds like you are in good hands with a cardiologist as part of your team coordinating with the surgeon.
I'll also add that not everyone with esophageal cancer has surgery as part of their treatment plan. @dsh33782, for example didn't have surgery, just radiation and chemotherapy (I think).
Is your husband working with a rehab specialist or PT to help him regain strength?
Replies to "@pj03, I know you were writing to @lori57216, but I thought I'd jump in with my..."
Lori
I had radiation and chemo treatment for esophageal cancer tumor. After 28 days for chemo and radiation the tumor was gone and CT scans have remained clear of esophageal cansor and no remaining lymph node activity.
However the CT scans have shown that there is a growing mass on left kidney so I am having biopsy on 8/14.
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Hi Connie, thank you so much and please feel free to chime in anytime. We will find out tomorrow if the surgeon at UCLA will be willing to do the surgery or prefer my husband to get cardiac care first. We are in a window of time for his esophagectomy. My husband still cannot swallow due to the pain of a dead radiated tumor in his esophagus. It needs to come out. We would much rather not have to have the surgery, but because he cannot swallow and the tumor is still there, it is recommended to have a surgery. So we will find out what she feels the next step would be. UCLA might have a cardio oncology specialty I guess and we’ll find out tomorrow if they’re appropriate for him.
He hasn’t been doing any physical therapy or seeing anyone for that, however, he is challenging himself now to try to build his stamina. I am a nurse – encouraging him to do so because this will be a very difficult surgery. If he hast to get heart stents then we will follow with that. He needs to keep his stamina up and his tube feeding going .
Thank you!