Adenocarcinoma, stage 4, local metastatic.

Prayers for your dad. I am stage 4 ec also. I pray that the scan is ned. I am currently getting chemo/immunotherapy. My 3rd infusion is nov 2. I have fatigue and weight loss. . As per my oncologist, I can’t get an esophagectomy. I’m am currently have infusion for small spot on liver which could not be biopsied and also a node below kidney. My esophagus and stomach were biopsied are ned. 🙏

I was diagnosed about the same as your dad at age 74. Surgery 7.11.22. My primary advice is to get as much exercise as tolerable both pre-op and post-op. It’s about the only thing that you can control anyway and I feel it made a big difference. Good news is that your mind will pretty much forget all the discomfort. Best wishes to him! -Steve

@ajbambe, should surgery be recommended for your dad, you may be interested in this related discussion:
- A New Direction: Transthoracic esophagectomy (Ivor Lewis)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/a-new-direction/

May I ask, what did you learn after the PET scan?

My sister just diagnosed with EC, lower esophagus/ top of the stomach and we're awaiting PET scan. CT scan shows "suspicious" lesion on the liver and suspicious lymph nodes in the stomach. She is unable to swallow anything but thin liquids and is having difficulty doing anything but planning her funeral. As I read the posts of people with similar conditions I am somewhat heartened, though I know we have to wait until PET scan provides staging information. Onc surgeon said definitely not a stage 1, since she's so symptomatic. I don't feel there's time for a 2nd opinion, since the disease is progressing so fast. She'll will probably end up having a feeding tube until/unless they get the tumor reduced. Anything encouraging I can tell her at this stage, from people who know would be most appreciated.

Aimeeuvk,
Very sorry to hear about your sister. I was diagnosed with stage 4 February 2021. It metastasized to lung, liver and abdominal lymph nodes. I’ve received chemo and immunotherapy and am currently pausing treatment as the original tumor was gone after about 6 months of treatment and the lungs are clear and the liver thing may have just been an artifact, not cancer. The abdominal lymph nodes have greatly reduced but they are monitoring as scans have been stable for a year. There are many stage 4s that are outliving old statistics, so ignore the statistics. Was there any bio marker testing? I know a couple stage 4s that are still around even 5 and 7 years after diagnosis. Immunotherapy has been a game changer for this diagnosis. Wish your sister all the best in this journey.
Rachel

So encouraging. Thank you Rachel! My sister has been in the medical field for 40 years as a respiratory therapist, so she has seen much and I'm having difficulty keeping her optimistic. What medical facility are you working with?

@aimeevuk, how is your sister doing? Does she have a confirmed diagnosis and staging now?

My husband began experiencing swallowing issues in Feb 2023. Endoscopy, CT, PET at end of July resulted in Stage 4 diagnosis. Adenocarcinoma HER2+.
Eating only liquids from July onward.
Began FOLFOX chemo & Immunotherapy (and hydrogen inhalation at home) Sept 8. By 2nd week of October, he began to eat ANYTHING, with caution, but with no pain. He had been having pain since Feb.

No scans yet, so we don’t know how his metastatic areas are faring , but we know there’s been some improvement.

Stage 4. At UCD Sacramento . Waiting on a surgery today or tomorrow for feeding tube before chemo can begin in 2 weeks. No info yet on her2 or pdl1 .

Stay strong. I’m hearing many encouraging stories. Best of luck to you.. sending prayers and hugs your way.