Elderly Response to Radiation & Chemo

Posted by johns2ndkid @johns2ndkid, May 18 7:46am

Hello, my father is in his mid-80s and was diagnosed with EC (likely stage 3+) in April2026. He and my mother are snowbirds in a major metropolitan area and have thankfully decided to stay over the summer for his treatment. He has opted not to have surgery due to the high risk of complications and his age, combined with the fact that the oldest patient the surgeon had attended was 80. Instead, he will have chemo & radiation. Radiation starts in a week, chemo in 2 weeks. He had quintuple bypass 5 years ago, but is otherwise a healthy and active 86 yr old.
Have you received treatment as a senior (75+) or supported a senior who has? What was your experience with side effects? What advice do you have for managing them? Was your care team inquiring regularly about side effects or did you have to bring them up yourself?
My father is one who doesn't like to seek medical help (he had dysphagia for 9 months before going in to the doctor) and I'm concerned he will downplay or ignore the side effects of treatment that might be able to be treated.

My siblings and I live in another state and I'm concerned about my parent's ability to manage all this by themselves (my mother has limited mobility would not be able to help him physically if he needs it). They haven't asked for help even though it has been offered repeatedly. Did you require or want assistance? In hindsight, what would have been helpful support from others? How have you supported a patient from a distance and were there challenges?

I also read on this forum about a weekly zoom support group for EC but the post was from last year. Can anyone tell me if that is still available?

Thank you for your insight and support, and I wish the best for you or your loved one on the healing journey.

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

Lynn | @cometsmom | May 19 5:19am

Hi,

I'll try to post the link to the Zoom meetings: If it lights up blue, it should work. Otherwise I know someone else will probably be along who knows better than I! The meetings are Wednesday nights from 6-8pm EST and Sunday mornings 9-11:00am EST. We have a great group of people who can help answer your questions and offer support, many of whom have experience with the concerns you've raised. We've had people who have had the surgery in their 80s and done incredibly well. It sounds like your dad has heart issues as well? That definitely adds challenges. There are folks from all over the world who participate. It's helped me so much to deal with things.

My husband has EC. He's only 63, but sounds like your dad. He didn't go to see his PCP until after about 6 months of symptoms had begun and gotten worse and by then the tumor was advanced. He too never complains about not feeling well and has found himself in the hospital several times over the past couple of years because he's ignored symptoms.

My parents are both 88, no major illnesses thank goodness, but they too refuse any type of help. Dad still does the yard work, snow blowing, etc. We have offered a cleaning service, landscaping, etc but they are not interested. My sister and I both live about 5 mins from them so our situation seems much more manageable than what you're going through. My brother lives in Virginia, about 9 hours from us here in Connecticut, so he can't help much.

I'm sure others will be along with more relatable information for you. In the meantime, take care. Hope to see you on a Zoom call.

Lynn
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4550284795

klondikedarol | @klondikedarol | May 20 9:06am

Just wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with EC in January of 2023 at my age of 85. I too opted not to have surgery on the advise of the attending oncologist and surgeon. I started on a once a week Chemo and 5 days a week radiation that was originally scheduled for 6 weeks. After the 3rd chemo treatment they determined that chemo had dropped my platelet count so low that they were forced to discontinue it. They extended the radiation period for an additional week ( 7 weeks ) for a total of 35 radiation treatments. After week 3 when chemo was stopped, I also began inhling Hydrogen 3 to 4 hours daily while at home. Initially I actually inhaled the Hydrogen overnight while I slept the first week, then began inhaling it while watching TV every afternoon or evening. To make a very long story much shorter, I personally removed the feeding tube that had been installed through my nose and into my stomach in mid August of 2023 and slowly started consuming real food once again. When I first went to the ER in January of 2023 the tumor was so large that It was totally blocking the junction of the esophagus and stomach. It had gotten to the point that I could no longer swallow water.

Next month will be 3 years that I have been Cance Free. The combination of Radiation and Hydrogen inhalation, along with the very limited Chemo are the reasons why. As with every Cancer survivor, there are countless details to each one's particular story. Most of which I am more than willing to share if the interest is there. Now at age 88, the arthritis in my fingers on most, but not all days, limits my abilities at my keyboard. So I will gladly respond on my "Good Arthritis" days. BTW I received my Chemo and Radiation at Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire Wisconsin.
Darol

earle | @earle | May 20 9:25am

I was 85 and also forewent the surgery, mainly because of age, but my tumor was confined to my esophagus and my lymph nodes were clear. I also had to terminate chemo after three treatments. My kidney values shot sky-high and my blood pressure dropped to 80s over 40s. I was pronounced NED in my esophagus. I finished up last May 15. In October, PET detected a nodule in my upper left lung lobe. They don't think it's metastasis, because that would be very rare. It may be a lung cancer, accidentally caught early or a number of other things. Nevertheless, it has to be treated. I'm having it treated locally on a TrueBeam machine, which has sub-millimeter accuracy (it's only about a half inch in diameter). That's five treatments over a week, extremely high dosages. I opted for MD Anderson for the proton treatment, although I've been to Rochester Mayo's for another condition. I had help. We rented an apartment and my wife was with me and my daughter temporarily relocated from California. I could have made it without help, but the help was awfully nice. I had a hip which was in terminal shape and I was confined to a wheelchair when out. I had the hip replaced in mid December. That's my tale. I'll be happy to share details..

heyjude5864 | @heyjude5864 | May 22 9:04am

I am in the same boat as your father. Not a candidate for surgery but I'm slightly younger. Stage 3.
I'd like to say that my cancer center has a great supportive care team. They are very pro-active and address any concerns I have. People that work with cancer patients are very special people so I'm pretty sure your father will like the people he meets.
Please tell him he's in my prayers.