Window for Post-op chemo

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MissusB
MissusB Member Posts: 111
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I posted several weeks ago about getting post op chemo for Bill. He was diagnosed T3N1M0 in May, did chemo and radiation and had the IL August 29th at the University of Indiana. The post op path showed 5/22 positive nodes.

At his 6-week check the oncologist didn't/wouldn't order post-op chemo citing studies that it didn't help and that is wasn't "the standard of care". Thanks to many of you on CSN, I was pointed to the NCCN Guidelines and chose to get a 2nd, 3rd and 4th opinions for Bill. Meanwhile, the clock has been ticking.

We were finally able to get in with an oncologist at Mayo late Friday (11/11) afternoon and he did order chemo that we will try to arrange to begin at home (Kansas City)this week. He did let us know that Bill would be starting much later than he would like and he usually starts patients at 5-6 weeks. Bill will be 11 weeks out tomorrow (11/14).

We had so many questions that I really didn't ask what the "window" is for post op chemo to be effective with positive nodes. Has anyone had any advice regarding the timing from their oncologists regarding the timing?

Thanks - Kim

Fiance/Caregiver to Bill
DX Adenocarcinoma - 5/20/2011 - T3N1M0
Taxol/Carbo - 6 weeks
Radiation - 28 treatments
IL - 8/29/2011

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  • Unknown
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  • MissusB
    MissusB Member Posts: 111
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    unknown said:

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    Thank you, William!
    I really appreciate your response. Your posts are always so informative and I marvel how dedicated you are to this Board long after your surgery.

    I've read that the "window" is from about 6-12 weeks post-op to be effective and I so hope this is the case. With help from others on this board, we sought four opinions until we found an oncologist at Mayo that we felt was more aggressive. We had no idea that Indiana would not call for post op-chemo at 6 weeks, and we lost more precious time waiting for appointments with two local oncologists and finally Mayo.

    The oncologist at Mayo will prescribe the chemo for an oncologist here to administer, so that is the first order of business tomorrow morning when the Cancer Center opens the doors.

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