Esophageal cancer treatment: Anyone have good experiences to share?

Stage 4 and hope to stop it from growing.Doctor said 1in20 get it to start to reduce in size.
Three months later it not only stopped but it was half the original size
Three later again it was half
Last scan and it was gone
Biopsy (20)of the esophagus were negative
Doctors than prescribed 23 radiation treatments with 5more chemo infusions
August is my next scan and hopefully with prayers and Great Doctors at UNC this will be positive for me and negative for canser
The call this a miracle and I agreed
JUST PRAY not with your mouth but with your heart

Hi Ernest,

This Wednesday at my 2nd oncologist appointment is when I learn just how uphill a battle I’m facing. Sunday( tomorrow))
I go for thoracic MRI my pain mgt doc ordered because my pain has been through the roof making her suspect coincidental pain coming from degen disk. Monday AM I’m having a port put in and Wednesday is oncologist to learn type, stage, lymph node, organ involvement and initial treatment path. Won’t be surprised if I receive first treatment same day as appointment. VERY alarmed at inability to get nutrition. Can’t manage more than couple teaspoons of HM soup like lentil, and while it’s never happened with soda, I’ll have times where even liquid won’t go down and I have to regurge it up. The esophageal obstruction seems to lock up periodically where even liquid won’t pass through. When it happens it’s most unsettling. Things do seem to be going downhill and I’ll be glad to actually begin treatment. I can discuss feeding tube or stent placement with my oncologist when I see him Wednesday.

Hey Relic. Hope you dont mind me calling you relic. I just shorten the names I see to address whomever. But yes, I am on my last chemo treatment and I'll finish radiation, the week after next. What I can tell you is that each case is different, but we have much in common as well. The good news is that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence like it was years ago. So many advancements have been made in the fight and cure for cancer. I was surprised to come to know how many people that I know are cancer survivors. Once I started telling people about my cancer it's as though people were hiding the fact from me. So keep your chin up, shoulders back and let's push right on through to victory. Praying for you brother.

Just back from 2nd endo doc got the additional samples he needs and in the findings he there is a substantial tumor in the mid esophagus mostly obstructing ( did dilation to 15 mm but noted no change). Tomorrow is PET scan which will reveal if it has breached the esophagus and metastasized to lymph nodes and neighboring organs Fingers and toes crossed.

Hi folks, I’m a brand newbie. Getting my 2nd endoscopy in 2 weeks as the first found a number of biopsy samples with “unusual “ cells, some normal , and one specific sample with malignant cells he believes to be adenocarcinoma cells
( because I have Barrett’s. ) in the middle of the esophagus. The oncologist he referred me to wanted more samples- some to be tested genetically for future immuno - therapy. I go for a PET scan Thursday and together with the results of the .2nd endoscopy he can determine the type and stage. I’m preparing myself for it being later stage with possible Mets because my symptoms of food not passing through and very severe back, rib and retro-sternum pain could be from other affected organs. Also getting an MRI Sunday because my pain management doc thinks the pain might be coming from unrelated thoracic spine degeneration. I’ve had this pain since January when I first saw my doctor over it which became a full cardiac work up then pulmonologist, then orthopedic and by March I’m having swallowing problems so I go to gastroenterologist who orders barium swallow and endoscopy but moved up the first endoscopy after seeing how narrow my esophagus was. The pain is outrageous and I’ve gone from 137 lbs to 122 lbs in past month. So I expect to getting a port put in and undergoing chemo within a week or so - pending the results of the 2nd endoscopy and PET scan. I’m interested in any comments I might get on my case as I’ve best tried to describe it. Thanks.
Bob

Thank you. Take care

Hey Don. Yes. Weird, sort of. I know not to end a sentence with a preposition, but we're all friends here. No judging. 😆 No more constipation, I had diarrhea for a couples of days though. Bought myself some Depends. I'd rather wear a diaper than go through that agony again. But that seems to be in check a well. Thanks for sharing.

Stage 3.

Thanks Don 👍. All encouragement helps. Especially the success stories. And I also know that some aren't going to end up with a clean bill of health. Some will succumb to their illness, but , and it may seem odd or even ridiculous, but people also need to know how to die with dignity. Please don't hear me as being cruel or insensitive, but that is a thing. I really don't know how that goes, but I know that there are people who don't want to go through anymore. But for now, let's just celebrate the good stories and cross that other bridge when we get to it. Be blessed my friend.

Thank you Lynn for sharing. I had started reading a book in which the doctor eluded to holistic healing even before I was diagnosed. She condoned it , but was still strong on conventional methodology. I still have to get back in the book, although I do remember her,
the auther, speaking about some spiritual practices that I don't subscribe to. I omit the practices aforementioned as to not offend any who may practice these religions. I judge no one. My God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, He's the one I serve. Sorry, I digress. So I didn't have time to look into holistic healing before I started treatments, but I'm still interested in know more about it. Maybe you can tell me more, or should I say tell us more. Again, thanks for sharing. Bless you 🙏