Update on my brothers long wait

jcdeaver

I wrote awhile ago about my brothers long wait for biopsy results. His biopsy was done on June 3rd and the results finally came back on June 25th. This long wait was not easy, his pain and nausea levels were increasing and the doctor couldn’t get a handle on them. We ended up taking him to the E.R. on Friday, June 25th for the pain and nausea. He had a 100.5 temperature so they admitted him to test for infection and to get a handle on his symptoms. They did a blood test and a CAT scan that night to either find or rule out any infection. The CAT scan showed the tumor being 9.0cm tumor. The CAT scan that was done a month earlier showed the tumor at 5.5cm.
The test results just happen to come back that same day. The diagnosis is Carcinoma of the Gastro-Esophageal Junction, stage 4. They told us on Saturday morning, June 25th. We met with Dr. Schaeder on Monday and he told us his plan of action. Surgery is not an option. He will be getting a chemo regiment of DCF, Docetaxel, Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil. He stayed in the hospital and received chemo for 5 days and was sent home on Sunday, July 4th for a two week rest then back to the hospital for 5 more days of inpatient chemo then they will do a CAT scan.
We did get a second opinion on Monday after we saw his Oncologist. We tried to get a second opinion prior to that at John Hopkins but they didn’t want to see him without the results. I’m not real happy with his doctor because he is not real informative and we don’t know all the right question to ask but the doctor we saw for the second opinion, Dr. Padgett at Good Samaritan, was very informative and we learned a lot more talking with him. He explained to us that the tumor was an ulcerated tumor that is around the esophagus right at the junction and the esophagus actually goes thru the tumor. We were glad to hear that he agreed with the chemo regiment and that he needed it ASAP. If we have to we will transfer him to another hospital but at this point we are committed to the treatment already started at this hospital.
When this chemo regiment is complete and they do the CAT scan we will see how it has affected the cancer and find out what his doctor’s next action will be. I do have it set up to see a doctor at Hopkins to review his case at that point and will have Dr. Padgett review it as well. I think at that point we will have the most critical decisions to make.
Joe has been given, Compazine for nausa and Zofran for break thru nausa, Fentanyl patch for pain and Diladid for break thru pain. He is also taken Magnesium Oxide for acid, Cipro anti biodic, Mycelex for sores in his mouth and Ativan as an anti-depressant.
If anyone can help with advise or has had experience with this type of situation please let me know.
God bless you all.

Donna70

just don't know what to say
Hi,
I am the one who has Dr. Schraeder as my onc dr and I am so sorry you have been thru the mill waiting for results. I just can't fathom him not explaining everything to you all. I am sure when you were told it was Stage IV the shock alone did not make coming up with questions easy. All I can tell you is that Dr. Schraeder is spoken of highly by the nurses and everyone I encountered at the hospital. Never heard a negative comment about him. If the Mycelex does not clear the oral ulcers ask for Acyclovir liquid, I never got them again when I was on it. Your brother and all of you sure have been thru a lot. Please read the posts from other people who have battled Stage IV with spread and are still here to talk about it. Sherri's husband Jim has been thru a lot and is still out there taking the treatments and working. It sounds like it was the right thing to get second opinions then you know you are on the right track with treatment. As good as Hopkins is, some have not been helped there. My prayers will be with your brother and all of you his family. Sorry it has not been a better outcome. take care,
Donna70