Esophageal Cancer: Anyone else?

Hi my 77 year old mum was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few months ago after over a year of vague symptoms and losing 30kg in weight. Because she has AF and she's not terribly mobile the surgeon would not consider an operation or chemo so her only option was radiotherapy. She was offered two weeks but once we'd seen the oncologist, she was offered five weeks to try and hit the tumour hard (tumour and two lymph nodes involved). She's three weeks after her radiation now and is on the mend, eating well, no pain, gaining weight. Question is, the oncologist said she's hoping the cancer will be in her words "gone". Mum has been told the radiotherapy was only palliative care and given a timeframe by the surgeon of 6-12 months so that's what we were working on but have since been told by the oncologist that time frame was ONLY if mum had no treatment at all. We're so disappointed by the information the surgeon gave us as it was devastating for her to hear. Oncologist says she has patients similar age to mum who she's been seeing for over two years post radiotherapy. We are confused really. I feel in my mind that Mum's diagnosis is terminal but I guess no one has a crystal ball, oncologist included. We get to see her again in three weeks for a check up and perhaps an endoscope to see what's going on down there but mum isn't due for a CT scan till December (supposedly when she was meant to be succumbing to her cancer!).... I guess I was hoping for some advice or if someone has a similar story? I'm concerned radiotherapy will just kill the cancer for a while and then it will return and mum's only option will be a stent and palliative care. It's a cruel disease but I've been heartened reading these posts. We are in New Zealand. Thanks in advance.

Hi my 77 year old mum was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few months ago after over a year of vague symptoms and losing 30kg in weight. Because she has AF and she's not terribly mobile the surgeon would not consider an operation or chemo so her only option was radiotherapy. She was offered two weeks but once we'd seen the oncologist, she was offered five weeks to try and hit the tumour hard (tumour and two lymph nodes involved). She's three weeks after her radiation now and is on the mend, eating well, no pain, gaining weight. Question is, the oncologist said she's hoping the cancer will be in her words "gone". Mum has been told the radiotherapy was only palliative care and given a timeframe by the surgeon of 6-12 months so that's what we were working on but have since been told by the oncologist that time frame was ONLY if mum had no treatment at all. We're so disappointed by the information the surgeon gave us as it was devastating for her to hear. Oncologist says she has patients similar age to mum who she's been seeing for over two years post radiotherapy. We are confused really. I feel in my mind that Mum's diagnosis is terminal but I guess no one has a crystal ball, oncologist included. We get to see her again in three weeks for a check up and perhaps an endoscope to see what's going on down there but mum isn't due for a CT scan till December (supposedly when she was meant to be succumbing to her cancer!).... I guess I was hoping for some advice or if someone has a similar story? I'm concerned radiotherapy will just kill the cancer for a while and then it will return and mum's only option will be a stent and palliative care. It's a cruel disease but I've been heartened reading these posts. We are in New Zealand. Thanks in advance.

Hi my 77 year old mum was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few months ago after over a year of vague symptoms and losing 30kg in weight. Because she has AF and she's not terribly mobile the surgeon would not consider an operation or chemo so her only option was radiotherapy. She was offered two weeks but once we'd seen the oncologist, she was offered five weeks to try and hit the tumour hard (tumour and two lymph nodes involved). She's three weeks after her radiation now and is on the mend, eating well, no pain, gaining weight. Question is, the oncologist said she's hoping the cancer will be in her words "gone". Mum has been told the radiotherapy was only palliative care and given a timeframe by the surgeon of 6-12 months so that's what we were working on but have since been told by the oncologist that time frame was ONLY if mum had no treatment at all. We're so disappointed by the information the surgeon gave us as it was devastating for her to hear. Oncologist says she has patients similar age to mum who she's been seeing for over two years post radiotherapy. We are confused really. I feel in my mind that Mum's diagnosis is terminal but I guess no one has a crystal ball, oncologist included. We get to see her again in three weeks for a check up and perhaps an endoscope to see what's going on down there but mum isn't due for a CT scan till December (supposedly when she was meant to be succumbing to her cancer!).... I guess I was hoping for some advice or if someone has a similar story? I'm concerned radiotherapy will just kill the cancer for a while and then it will return and mum's only option will be a stent and palliative care. It's a cruel disease but I've been heartened reading these posts. We are in New Zealand. Thanks in advance.

Sherry
I've had 28 weeks of radiation and chemo to treat esophageal cancer tumor and it has worked. The last several scans have shown the tumor is now gone and the lymph nodes are back to normal. It was not a easy trip with lots of side affects plus need to use feeding tube for a while. I'd be happy to try and answer questions?

Hi my 77 year old mum was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few months ago after over a year of vague symptoms and losing 30kg in weight. Because she has AF and she's not terribly mobile the surgeon would not consider an operation or chemo so her only option was radiotherapy. She was offered two weeks but once we'd seen the oncologist, she was offered five weeks to try and hit the tumour hard (tumour and two lymph nodes involved). She's three weeks after her radiation now and is on the mend, eating well, no pain, gaining weight. Question is, the oncologist said she's hoping the cancer will be in her words "gone". Mum has been told the radiotherapy was only palliative care and given a timeframe by the surgeon of 6-12 months so that's what we were working on but have since been told by the oncologist that time frame was ONLY if mum had no treatment at all. We're so disappointed by the information the surgeon gave us as it was devastating for her to hear. Oncologist says she has patients similar age to mum who she's been seeing for over two years post radiotherapy. We are confused really. I feel in my mind that Mum's diagnosis is terminal but I guess no one has a crystal ball, oncologist included. We get to see her again in three weeks for a check up and perhaps an endoscope to see what's going on down there but mum isn't due for a CT scan till December (supposedly when she was meant to be succumbing to her cancer!).... I guess I was hoping for some advice or if someone has a similar story? I'm concerned radiotherapy will just kill the cancer for a while and then it will return and mum's only option will be a stent and palliative care. It's a cruel disease but I've been heartened reading these posts. We are in New Zealand. Thanks in advance.

Hello! My mom (75) was diagnosed with squamous cell esophageal cancer yesterday. I’m trying to gain as much information as I can so that I’m better able to help her and my father thru this. Difficulty swallowing, nausea & vomiting led to a brief stay in the hospital and an endoscopy, biopsy and here we are… she’s not a candidate for surgery, so it sounds like chemo and radiation are the tentative plan, but meeting with oncologist isn’t happening for another week or so. The urgency seems to be getting her on a feeding tube as soon as possible.
Any advice or information would be so appreciated. Thank you ♥️

Haven’t met with the speech therapist yet but found exercises on YouTube that are helping. My problem I think is I try to eat to fast before food gets cold. I hate eating cold food. It just takes so long chewing the food up small enough to swallow. But I’m learning 😂

Mike, have you had your appointment with the speech pathologist? How are you doing?