Recurrence

Ernie235

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725172#Comment_1725172

Not sure how to phrase this properly, so I trust you to understand what I mean when say that I was happy(?) to hear that you'd had a recurrence as well, because it means we shared a similar diagnoses, and I can learn from your experiences.

Sadly, I am still not a candidate for surgery (laparoscopic or otherwise) and since I have already had extensive radiation, it seems that I am no longer a candidate for repeated radiation either. My only options going forward are Chemo and Immuno therapies.

I too have come to accept the inevitable, and I'm using the time I have left to gradually work through the process of making things simpler for my family when it does finally happen. I've lived a good life, lived longer than my parents and most of my siblings did (I'm the youngest and that kinda sucks), and I'm okay with joining them, whenever that time comes. My only concern is how it will come. My "big three" are Cardiac problems, COPD, and of course the Cancer. Of the three, cardiac would be the most welcome, quickest, and least painful, but I guess that choice isn't mine to make.

Thanks for sharing your story and your experience's. It helps a lot to know we're not alone in this!

Twine

Unfortunately Ernie, your pathway and mine are different so not really comparable as mine was found very early and I haven't had any chemo or other type of radiation to date. I don't know why you were not originally offered the same treatment that I was.

Ernie235

Mine was found early too, and by accident, during a test for something entirely unrelated. Surgery was put on the table, but I have cardiac and pulmonary problems that made surgery too dangerous. I had also experienced a GI bleed which added to the contraindications for surgery.

Twine

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725254#Comment_1725254

Sorry, I didn't get your earlier point that laparoscopy wasn't an option. So, our experiences differ in that way. Like I've previously said, the EMR was really minor, just a bit of sedation and pain relief. " hours later I was having coffee and biscuits, so your cardiac and pulmonary issues must be really quite serious in themselves then Ernie that EMR type removal was not offered.

Ernie235

Sounds like you took the EMR in stride and came out the other side doing extremely well. I'm truly very happy that you've had such a successful outcome and I wish you continued health!

I'd had triple bypass surgery a couple years earlier, during which I developed A-fib. A year or so later they found another blocked artery and during the endoscopic stenting procedure the catheter broke off a tiny piece of plaque, which traveled to my right retina and caused an eye stroke. That resulted in permanent partial vision loss in that eye. Then, during an attempt to place a stent in another blocked artery, I stopped breathing and had to be intubated and resuscitated.

Adding that to all my existing comorbidities, I guess the surgical team weighed everything, and simply felt I had too many things going against a safe and successful surgery and decided it was not in my best interest.

I've been reading a lot about the success of mRNA in completely eliminating esophageal cancers, and that it has now gone to human trials, so I just have to keep beating this thing each time it rears up, until the mRNA therapy becomes available! Until then, life goes on, right?

Twine

Yes Ernie, it sounds as if you've really been through the mill 🤨 And it explains your surgeons dilemma in how best to approach your treatment. As an aside, relating to the triple bypass, my father got this operation about 25 years ago (aged 69) and his surgeon gave him a sort of 12 year guarantee, providing he followed all the new rules, especially on whisky. He'd recently stopped smoking and didn't have the worst fatty diet anyway. Well, he was on Warfarin for years (rat poison he called it) among other potions and despite ignoring the advice on cutting out the Scotch, he still got 10 years. He ended up with a colostomy bag for the last year or two but considered his 'lot' as 'first-world-problems'. I'm a typical late 60's person with the usual poor eating and drinking habits of my generation but have been fortunate enough to avoid any surgical operations or diabetes, so far. This adenocarcinoma was the result of a congenital weak GI valve aggravated by my lifestyle, so I knew my risks. I'd be interested to see a link if you have one to the mRNA?

And, life does go on yes 😊

Ernie235

'Universal' cancer vaccine heading to human trials could be useful for 'all forms of cancer' | Live Science

Twine

Thanks Ernie, I find it interesting that one of the premier challenges is that proteins are often patient specific which is maybe one of the reasons why it is said that 'every patient and every cancer is different'. The mRNA drugs developed for covid vaccines were developed very fast and had great efficacy. I'd suggest that unless you are a conspiracy theorist then it is hopeful that some of these cancer killers will hit the shelves before too long.