New Diagnosis--How advisable is a stent prior to the treatment?

malloryc17

Hi,

My fiancé has diagnosed with late-stage esophageal cancer. We don't know much yet and the treatment hasn't started.

Now, they tried to dilate his esophagus during the scoping but, as he was conscious, the pain was almost unbearable.

Now they want to put a stent in, but we're worried it'll lead to constant pain. Isn't this too early? He does fine with semi-solid food. He is not on any painkillers. And the dilation was brutal.

Any advice or insight? Why do they want it if he can stilll eat almost fine? Are feeding tubes any gentler?

Many thanks.

paul61

I would try to avoid a stent if possible

Mallory,

In the five years I have been participating on this forum I have seen several patients get stents placed and very few good outcomes. Stents have a history, of pain issues, falling into the stomach as treatment proceeds and the tumor shrinks, and bleeding when the tumor grows around them.

If I were in his situation I would try to subsist on liquid foods via mouth until treatment shrinks the tumor. If that was not working I would consider a “j-tube” feeding approach prior to considering a stent.

You said “late stage” cancer but you were not specific about staging so it is difficult to suggest what treatment outcomes may be and how long it may take before your fiancé may be able to return to normal nutrition approaches.

I am a bit surprised they are doing endoscopic procedures without sedation, does your fiancé have other medical issues that preclude a normal sedated approach?

If it were me I would be wary of stents.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

 

malloryc17

paul61 said:

I would try to avoid a stent if possible

Mallory,

In the five years I have been participating on this forum I have seen several patients get stents placed and very few good outcomes. Stents have a history, of pain issues, falling into the stomach as treatment proceeds and the tumor shrinks, and bleeding when the tumor grows around them.

If I were in his situation I would try to subsist on liquid foods via mouth until treatment shrinks the tumor. If that was not working I would consider a “j-tube” feeding approach prior to considering a stent.

You said “late stage” cancer but you were not specific about staging so it is difficult to suggest what treatment outcomes may be and how long it may take before your fiancé may be able to return to normal nutrition approaches.

I am a bit surprised they are doing endoscopic procedures without sedation, does your fiancé have other medical issues that preclude a normal sedated approach?

If it were me I would be wary of stents.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

 

Thank you.
He was sedated for

Thank you.

He was sedated for the scoping, but conscious for the biopsy. We don't know if the sedation wore out or if it was intentional.

We don't know the tage yet. The main tumor is in his esophagus but there's another one, smaller, in his lung. Nothing else. But not knowing the stage... a stent sure seems rushed.

Would you mind PM-ing me? I have so many questiions and I'm new to Cancerville. And the time is not on our side.

What are the advantages of j-tube, if I may ask?

 

 

slpmom

malloryc17 said:

Thank you.
He was sedated for

Thank you.

He was sedated for the scoping, but conscious for the biopsy. We don't know if the sedation wore out or if it was intentional.

We don't know the tage yet. The main tumor is in his esophagus but there's another one, smaller, in his lung. Nothing else. But not knowing the stage... a stent sure seems rushed.

Would you mind PM-ing me? I have so many questiions and I'm new to Cancerville. And the time is not on our side.

What are the advantages of j-tube, if I may ask?

 

 

My husband had to have a

My husband had to have a j-tube put in when he was undergoing chemo and radiation because he had a bad reaction to the treatment and end up so sick he could not keep anything down - after 9 days with no food, we opted for the j-tube. Its not a huge deal - but it is a little uncomfortable my husband says. They give you pain killers because the area is tender. Its a tube that is inserted right into the upper intestine and sticks out of your body and then you pump in stuff that looks like "boost" or "ensure". Once your fiancee starts chemo, the tumor in his esophagus will shrink - literally within a week or two and he will find swallowing easier. But when the radiation gets going it will become sore and inflamed and he may find eating difficult again. This is why the J-tube helps. Its a back up system. You can still eat by mouth if you are able to. I now know wayyyy more than I ever wanted to know about j-tubes....