question regarding time

Marianne313
Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi, I'm also on the colon cancer board because my aunt has colon cancer. My question concerns esophageal cancer, because my cousin has stage 3 esophageal cancer.

Do Dr.s give you a "time frame"? With my aunt they told her 6 months if she does NO treatment but she has stage 4 colon cancer, her son has stage 3 esophageal. He has been in and out of the hospital for various problems related to the cancer, the most recent is pneumonia and complications from pneumonia. I know, I'm giving alot of information for a simple question.

Thanks alot for any input. I appreciate it.

Marianne

Comments

  • hopper52
    hopper52 Member Posts: 108
    #2
    You'll Be Hearing From Folks
    Marianne,

    I'm sure you'll be hearing from a lot of folks, especially a Mr Marshall who is a 9 year survivor of stage three. From what I've gathered from this site, unless it's stage 4 there's a chance at long term survival. You need to provide some more information for us to be of more help. What exactly is the stage? I am T3N0M0 which technically is stage II but they won't know lymph node involvement with certainty until after my surgery.

    Has your cousin had/or is having chemo/radiation? If so what drugs. Are his current complications due to the chemo/radiation?

    Did the doctors tell him he's a candidate for surgery?

    What is his stage T=tumor N=lymph node involvement M=metastasis (has it spread to other organs.......obviously not or he would be stage 4)

    The important think to know is that time is of the essence. This cancer can spread really quickly so he needs to take action now....It's also very important to get a second opinion once he is staged. This is not a one-size fits all cancer.

    If he's a surgical candidate, try to locate a major cancer center that does the MIE (minimally invasive surgery).

    I know this doesn't totally answer your question, but like I said, there are others here that will definitely give you more information than I've been able to provide.

    Good luck

    Michael Daniels
    Brandon, Florida
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Marianne313
    Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
    #4
    hopper52 said:

    You'll Be Hearing From Folks
    Marianne,

    I'm sure you'll be hearing from a lot of folks, especially a Mr Marshall who is a 9 year survivor of stage three. From what I've gathered from this site, unless it's stage 4 there's a chance at long term survival. You need to provide some more information for us to be of more help. What exactly is the stage? I am T3N0M0 which technically is stage II but they won't know lymph node involvement with certainty until after my surgery.

    Has your cousin had/or is having chemo/radiation? If so what drugs. Are his current complications due to the chemo/radiation?

    Did the doctors tell him he's a candidate for surgery?

    What is his stage T=tumor N=lymph node involvement M=metastasis (has it spread to other organs.......obviously not or he would be stage 4)

    The important think to know is that time is of the essence. This cancer can spread really quickly so he needs to take action now....It's also very important to get a second opinion once he is staged. This is not a one-size fits all cancer.

    If he's a surgical candidate, try to locate a major cancer center that does the MIE (minimally invasive surgery).

    I know this doesn't totally answer your question, but like I said, there are others here that will definitely give you more information than I've been able to provide.

    Good luck

    Michael Daniels
    Brandon, Florida

    Hi Michael
    I appreciate all of your information. I'm not sure about anything to do with his cancer since his wife doesn't really "share" any information freely. I'm not even sure she knows!
    I know it's stage 3 and I know he's had surgery (to what depth I have no idea). He's in the hospital now recovering from pneumonia. He looks bad. He's 50 and looks 70 easy. I'm not sure if it's spread. He's been getting chemo since mid to end February of this year (I know that only because his mom (my aunt) went into the hospital on 2/23/11 and was found to have stage 4 colon cancer, she told me then that "Chuck" is getting chemo but she wasn't sure if he started yet or not. I'm sure the hospital won't tell me anything though since I'm just a cousin. If my aunt feels up to it though, I'll see if she wants to call and ask the nurse on duty for his room and then I'll write more, but that won't be til next week probably, since I'm at her home most of the time (missing lots of work but she needs someone with her---she's 81).

    Thank you so much for responding, while it doesn't answer my question specifically, it did answer my question---and I appreciate that, (knowing stage 3 can survive years). Thank you....this relieves some stress. :)

    Marianne
  • Marianne313
    Marianne313 Member Posts: 124
    #5
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hello William
    Thank you for the additional information, if you see my response to Michael, above, I had posted that around the same time you were posting. :) I'd like to add that my cousin does have a port in, I know this due to my aunt mentioning that "chuck" has one in, when she got hers put in on the 8th of June this year.

    I saw this in your profile: "I can I am now into my 8th year of survival and still cancer free. I have just had a checkup with my oncologist here in Norfolk, VA. - But statistics indicate that Stage III EC patients usually suffer a recurrence within 5 years in another major organ. Less than 13% will live 5 years after diagnosis. So be true to yourself and others. Be open and honest and prepare for what may come."

    What do you think you've done or are doing to help you be part of the 13% (or less) that live past 5 years?

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