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Squamous cell EC recurrence: Got questions about chemoradiation
Hello, this is my first real post here, although I did reply to someone else's and related parts of our story. I'll try to give you the cliff notes here in case you already read it. My 61 year old husband was dx initially in 2018 with stage 4 EC. Not a surgical candidate. He did 2.5 years of chemo and has been in remission since mid-2020. Fast forward to last month, he was found to have a recurrence on routine surveillance endoscopy. He's had all the tests, etc and today we found out that the cytology from the peritoneal washings they did are negative for malignant cells! This is being staged as 3. Radiation will be able to be given this go-round (didn't have it the first time). The simulation is tomorrow morning. First chemo will be 4/30. We are ready to go.
I'm scared all over again now that we're about to start. The chemo is going to be aggressive again, but after all he went through last time it was worth it. 4 years of remission! They gave him a prognosis of months to a year when he was initially dx. He blew that out of the water. I believe he will do it again.
It's important for me to share good news for a change over this past month. Thanks so much and prayers for healing ❤️
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@kellygil64, I thought I would check in. Did you choose to seek a second opinion? How are you doing?
Hi Colleen-so kind of you to check in-- this group has some really amazing folks.. I tried to seek a second opinion at Mayo but got super discouraged that 10 days after my initial request for an appointment, I got a schedule which would have had me come for more tests on June 12 (repeat the EGD and trying for an EUS even though it wasn't successful on my test here due to the stricture) and no meeting with a medical professional until June 20. That's 5 more weeks out just for a consultation appointment, with any treatment presumably even further out. I understand scheduling is challenging especially with a highly respected center like Mayo, but I honestly don't think that psychologically I can handle a wait that long. I'm not sleeping well and can feel my body tight with stress every day. This thing is getting to me, mentally. I met with a medical oncologist here in Rochester, NY (Wilmot Cancer Center) who is excellent, we clicked immediately. He spent all the time I wanted explaining the pros and cons, is very supportive of a second opinion and offered to help me get an earlier appointment for a second opinion on the surgery from a different cancer center (Cleveland Clinic or Sloan-Kettering). In the meantime, we decided to go ahead with the chemo/radiation therapy; I'm scheduled to get the port on May 30. I realize that the surgery may be in my future but feel that this route gives me the chance for the best possible outcome. There are still so many unknowns, which is distressing but I feel better at least having a solid plan in place. Thanks again for checking in on me---