Advice! How long to wait?

DubCoop28
DubCoop28 Member Posts: 2
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello All -

My father was diagnosed with EC last Thursday, 8/4/2011. On Friday, 8/5/11, he had a CT Scan and a PET scan on Sunday, 8/7/11. The results of the two scans were shared with us on Monday and Tuesday - the local surgeon (who performed the endoscopy/biopsy) said the scans looked 'great' and that the cancer was localized to the esophagus and the blood work was also fine.

We have since been referred to The James, which is part of the OSU Medical Center in Columbus, OH, for a consultation with a surgical oncologist. This consult is scheduled for Friday, 8/19/11. What I'm wondering now is if waiting a week for the appointment is too long? It also sounds like others with EC already know the staging of the cancer, or is that what you find out with the surgeon?

Any insight would be great.

Thanks,
-DubCoop28

Comments

  • hopper52
    hopper52 Member Posts: 108
    #2
    Sorry to Hear
    Sorry to hear of your father's diagnosis but from the brief info you shared it sounds as if they may have caught it early (good thing). They may have not provided a stage and are waiting for the oncologist to advise you. As far as a week's wait I don't think it's excessive. I was diagnosed on April 7th when then endoscope revealed cancer. I was advised by the gastroenterologist that I had cancer and had a PET and CT scheduled for the following week, after which I met with the surgeon. They advised me of the stage (in my case T3N0M0 - Stage IIA) after the PET and CT. I didn't start my chemo and radiation treatments until the 3rd week in May. I finished treatment on Jul 6th and am scheduled for a CT and another appointment with the surgeon next week.

    If you could provide more information such as any symptoms your father was having I'm sure there are many on this site that will provide you with a wealth of information.

    Good luck.....your father will be in my prayers

    Michael Daniels (T3N0M0)
    Brandon, FL
  • DubCoop28
    DubCoop28 Member Posts: 2
    #3
    hopper52 said:

    Sorry to Hear
    Sorry to hear of your father's diagnosis but from the brief info you shared it sounds as if they may have caught it early (good thing). They may have not provided a stage and are waiting for the oncologist to advise you. As far as a week's wait I don't think it's excessive. I was diagnosed on April 7th when then endoscope revealed cancer. I was advised by the gastroenterologist that I had cancer and had a PET and CT scheduled for the following week, after which I met with the surgeon. They advised me of the stage (in my case T3N0M0 - Stage IIA) after the PET and CT. I didn't start my chemo and radiation treatments until the 3rd week in May. I finished treatment on Jul 6th and am scheduled for a CT and another appointment with the surgeon next week.

    If you could provide more information such as any symptoms your father was having I'm sure there are many on this site that will provide you with a wealth of information.

    Good luck.....your father will be in my prayers

    Michael Daniels (T3N0M0)
    Brandon, FL

    Thank you for the response,
    Thank you for the response, Michael.

    My father was having difficulties swallowing food (he would have violent hiccups - to the point of vomitting at times), which led to a visit with his primary care physician. Eventually he was referred to a gastro surgeon, who performed an endoscopy to stretch the esophageal wall (was supposed to help with the swallowing.) While the surgeon was in there, he took the routine biopsies - I think he was as surprised as we were that the cells were cancerous. Even after the endoscopy, he's still having trouble swallowing certain foods.

    I suppose I'm wondring if my father will go through chemo/radiation before any surgery takes place; for some reason I was thinking the surgery would be first. I'm sure this is a question the surgeon will answer at our consultation - the waiting is the hard part.

    -DubCoop28
  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    #4
    DubCoop28 said:

    Thank you for the response,
    Thank you for the response, Michael.

    My father was having difficulties swallowing food (he would have violent hiccups - to the point of vomitting at times), which led to a visit with his primary care physician. Eventually he was referred to a gastro surgeon, who performed an endoscopy to stretch the esophageal wall (was supposed to help with the swallowing.) While the surgeon was in there, he took the routine biopsies - I think he was as surprised as we were that the cells were cancerous. Even after the endoscopy, he's still having trouble swallowing certain foods.

    I suppose I'm wondring if my father will go through chemo/radiation before any surgery takes place; for some reason I was thinking the surgery would be first. I'm sure this is a question the surgeon will answer at our consultation - the waiting is the hard part.

    -DubCoop28

    EC Treatment is first
    I know how frustrating the waiting is. I too thought they should have done surgery first, but with EC chemo and radiation are normally done first and then surgery. Be sure and research and get a second opinion. There is a MIE (minimally invasive surgery) available at most major cancer hospitals. The surgery is so much easier on the body and the healing is faster than the very invasive open surgeries. The Marshall's will give you all of the information on the different surgeries, with links to the information you need. It is wonderful that your father's cancer is contained in the esophagus.

    I wish you and your family the best in your battle with EC. Keep us all informed.

    Linda

    Jim diagnosed 9/2010
    T3N1M0
    MIE OHSU Portland, Oregon
    Dr. James Dolan 1/5/2011
    NED! 6 mo ck
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #5
    DubCoop28 said:

    Thank you for the response,
    Thank you for the response, Michael.

    My father was having difficulties swallowing food (he would have violent hiccups - to the point of vomitting at times), which led to a visit with his primary care physician. Eventually he was referred to a gastro surgeon, who performed an endoscopy to stretch the esophageal wall (was supposed to help with the swallowing.) While the surgeon was in there, he took the routine biopsies - I think he was as surprised as we were that the cells were cancerous. Even after the endoscopy, he's still having trouble swallowing certain foods.

    I suppose I'm wondring if my father will go through chemo/radiation before any surgery takes place; for some reason I was thinking the surgery would be first. I'm sure this is a question the surgeon will answer at our consultation - the waiting is the hard part.

    -DubCoop28

    We thought surgery 1st also
    Hello DubCoop!

    Glad you found this board - so sorry that you had to come find it. EC is an awful beast that has brought a bunch of lovely caring people together.

    We, like you, thought that surgery followed by chemo/rad was the normal progression of things. Our surgeon told us that chemo/rad is done BEFORE surgery because they don't want to radiate the healthy tissues that surgery moves into the places where the cancer had been. They like to "kill" the cancer before going in and moving the healthy tissues about.

    Made sense once doc explained it, but I sure wouldn't have come up with that.

    Best of luck to your father and our prayers! I'm in full agreement with you (as I'm sure are many others on the boards) - the waiting IS the hardest part.

    Terry
    wife of Nick, Stage3

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