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

Posted by maraca @maraca, Nov 8, 2025

Hi,
I got a Stage 4 squamous cell esophageal cancer diagnosis on October 2. The tumor is near my stomach and cannot be removed surgically, while the cancer has migrated to my shoulder bone, a lymph node in my neck, and a spot on my liver. My MD told me just yesterday that I will have to undergo chemotherapy for about 48 hours per session once every two weeks for the rest of my life, however long it may last.
He says the cancer will resurgence if they let up at all on the chemotherapy. I am in shock. In two weeks I will have finished five weeks of daily radiation and the chemotherapy sessions will ensue.

Has anyone else been told they must have chemotherapy every two weeks for the rest of their life? Can such a treatment program even be tolerable? Please reply if you have any thoughts or advice.
Thanks,
One sad lady!

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billnclaire47 | @billnclaire47 | 3 hours ago
In reply to @maraca "@billnclaire47 Hi Claire, This is a really sweet not! Thank you. Sorry about your husband having..." + (show)
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@billnclaire47
Hi Claire,
This is a really sweet not! Thank you. Sorry about your husband having this same cancer and not eating it drinking since September 9. If he refused both surgery and radiation, why was that? I couldn't have surgery due to metastases but 28 days of radiation completely got rid of my 5cm tumor and eating has been normal for me since.
Yes, I have the take-home chemo ball and return it after two days. I am getting used to thus routine a bit now, plus they started me on immunotherapy as well just today.
Radiation totally got rid of my tumor, and maybe could work for your husband?
Now I'm just hoping to arrest the spread in the metastases.
Does your husband have stage 4? I hope the scan shows nothing but good news.
Marcia

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@maraca
Hi, Marcia. Yes, his cancer is stage 4 with Mets to trachea, lung and behind his peritoneal cavity. He refused radiation due to family members fareing poorly from it and surgery due to things his Dr. Told him about the possible outcomes for his age (74). I think it may have been a god call on his part. He has had 4 hospitalizations since starting chemo...2 for infected colon and sepsis and 2 for GI bleed. He wants to try proton radiation at MD Anderson if he is a candidate. That is his next step! We are hoping the tumors are gone. Im glad youre getting used to the take-home chemo bag. Your journey sounds very hopeful to me. Its a blessing that you can still eat. It is very isolating to be denied food and fluids by mouth. But we have adjusted. Im happy for you that you were spared that. Blessings!

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