See you can sometimes have surgrey with iv !

json_2011
json_2011 Member Posts: 100
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I was very agravated to have my hopes sort of dashed ealier this month. A few people said that there is no surgrey for us stage iv's and can only have palliative care. Know you need to tell the other people what you said the same thing to , that maybey there is a chance - of surgrey next time.....


Thankyou

Jason

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #3
    Jason,I hope the post from
    Jason,

    I hope the post from Hooker isn't what you were refering to when you posted that StageIVbs can have surgery.

    Hooker did not have espohageal cancer - either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Hooker had a Neuroendocrine tumor, which are cells that produce and secrete regulatory hormones and are present throughout the nervous and endocrine/hormonal systems. As neuroendocrine cells are distributed widely throughout the body, tumours of these cells can occur at many sites and especially like the liver. This type of tumor is not Esophageal Cancer.

    The treatment, prognosis and cancer for a neuroendocrine carcinoma is very different from EC and indeed although rare has a much higher survival rate and a totally different treatment protocol and objective than EC.

    And yes there are potential pallative surgeries for Stage IVbs and other treatments to the organs where the EC has spread to other organs, like Theraspheres for liver tumors, but the National Cancer Institute and the medical profession does not recommend the removal of the espohagous for EC once the cancer has metatisized to another organ.

    Believe me I wish it did. I am not trying to dash your hopes - and my father lived much longer than the doctors thought. My father started as a Stage III with the option of surgery available. During his treatment there were some complications and before he could get the surgery the cancer spread to his liver and he was not longer a surgical candidate. We spared no effort or expense to get him the best medical care available and went to Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson and UPMC to obtain treatment and medical advice. He did participate in clinical trials at both MD Anderson and UPMC and had some good results. He lived for almost two years from his diagnosis and we were blessed with some very good times. But once the cancer spread we knew that surgery to remove the esophagous was no longer an option. And we always prayed for a miracle that he would be completely healed.

    I continue to work with many others for more awareness and research to find better treatments and hopefully one day a cure to this cancer. And I never let an opportunity pass to tell someone not to ignore heartburn symptoms and take over the counter meds without speaking to their doctor and asking for a baseline scope. But we can't work for a better tomorrow without understanding and accepting what is available to our loved ones today.

    Best,
    Cindy
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #4
    unclaw2002 said:

    Jason,I hope the post from
    Jason,

    I hope the post from Hooker isn't what you were refering to when you posted that StageIVbs can have surgery.

    Hooker did not have espohageal cancer - either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Hooker had a Neuroendocrine tumor, which are cells that produce and secrete regulatory hormones and are present throughout the nervous and endocrine/hormonal systems. As neuroendocrine cells are distributed widely throughout the body, tumours of these cells can occur at many sites and especially like the liver. This type of tumor is not Esophageal Cancer.

    The treatment, prognosis and cancer for a neuroendocrine carcinoma is very different from EC and indeed although rare has a much higher survival rate and a totally different treatment protocol and objective than EC.

    And yes there are potential pallative surgeries for Stage IVbs and other treatments to the organs where the EC has spread to other organs, like Theraspheres for liver tumors, but the National Cancer Institute and the medical profession does not recommend the removal of the espohagous for EC once the cancer has metatisized to another organ.

    Believe me I wish it did. I am not trying to dash your hopes - and my father lived much longer than the doctors thought. My father started as a Stage III with the option of surgery available. During his treatment there were some complications and before he could get the surgery the cancer spread to his liver and he was not longer a surgical candidate. We spared no effort or expense to get him the best medical care available and went to Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson and UPMC to obtain treatment and medical advice. He did participate in clinical trials at both MD Anderson and UPMC and had some good results. He lived for almost two years from his diagnosis and we were blessed with some very good times. But once the cancer spread we knew that surgery to remove the esophagous was no longer an option. And we always prayed for a miracle that he would be completely healed.

    I continue to work with many others for more awareness and research to find better treatments and hopefully one day a cure to this cancer. And I never let an opportunity pass to tell someone not to ignore heartburn symptoms and take over the counter meds without speaking to their doctor and asking for a baseline scope. But we can't work for a better tomorrow without understanding and accepting what is available to our loved ones today.

    Best,
    Cindy

    Cindy
    Thanks for the clarification on Hooker's case. I also was a bit confused when I read the wonderful news that surgery was done. I have done extensive research, and I sadly do know that stage iv's are not operable. Of course there was the spark of hope, that there was some miracle cure..... no such luck! I'm glad you clarified for all of us, because, unfortunately false hope is not a good thing.

    Jason, sorry we've burst your bubble, but surgery is just not going to be an option for your mom. You can hope for good results from the chemo, and perhaps several more years of quality life. That, to me anyways would be a blessing. Take care.
    Chantal
  • json_2011
    json_2011 Member Posts: 100
    #5
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    i was just thinking maybe!!!
    Well Mothers ec has spread to nearby nodes , but to no other organs. I was hopeing that this would all be over with oneday. from what im hearing now it will be , just not the way i wanted. I am leaving my home hear in N. G.A. next week and spending all my time with her. Thankyou for clarifying of what i thought - what might have been. We do have alot of prayers with us .I will keep ya'll posted .




    Jason
  • json_2011
    json_2011 Member Posts: 100
    #6
    unclaw2002 said:

    Jason,I hope the post from
    Jason,

    I hope the post from Hooker isn't what you were refering to when you posted that StageIVbs can have surgery.

    Hooker did not have espohageal cancer - either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Hooker had a Neuroendocrine tumor, which are cells that produce and secrete regulatory hormones and are present throughout the nervous and endocrine/hormonal systems. As neuroendocrine cells are distributed widely throughout the body, tumours of these cells can occur at many sites and especially like the liver. This type of tumor is not Esophageal Cancer.

    The treatment, prognosis and cancer for a neuroendocrine carcinoma is very different from EC and indeed although rare has a much higher survival rate and a totally different treatment protocol and objective than EC.

    And yes there are potential pallative surgeries for Stage IVbs and other treatments to the organs where the EC has spread to other organs, like Theraspheres for liver tumors, but the National Cancer Institute and the medical profession does not recommend the removal of the espohagous for EC once the cancer has metatisized to another organ.

    Believe me I wish it did. I am not trying to dash your hopes - and my father lived much longer than the doctors thought. My father started as a Stage III with the option of surgery available. During his treatment there were some complications and before he could get the surgery the cancer spread to his liver and he was not longer a surgical candidate. We spared no effort or expense to get him the best medical care available and went to Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson and UPMC to obtain treatment and medical advice. He did participate in clinical trials at both MD Anderson and UPMC and had some good results. He lived for almost two years from his diagnosis and we were blessed with some very good times. But once the cancer spread we knew that surgery to remove the esophagous was no longer an option. And we always prayed for a miracle that he would be completely healed.

    I continue to work with many others for more awareness and research to find better treatments and hopefully one day a cure to this cancer. And I never let an opportunity pass to tell someone not to ignore heartburn symptoms and take over the counter meds without speaking to their doctor and asking for a baseline scope. But we can't work for a better tomorrow without understanding and accepting what is available to our loved ones today.

    Best,
    Cindy

    thanks Cindy
    If you dont know the full story , my mother gave me a kidney in 07 for me to keep living. We have very speacial bond of love. It breaks my heart to hear these things. The cancer has not spread to anywhere but to an area around the colarbone and nearby nodes. That was my thiking of maybe? But anyway nobody is promised tommorrow , and i am going to spend all the time i can with her. I am moveing down next week to help out . I will keep you posted as i wish you can help us out in anyway you can think of.
  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #7
    json_2011 said:

    i was just thinking maybe!!!
    Well Mothers ec has spread to nearby nodes , but to no other organs. I was hopeing that this would all be over with oneday. from what im hearing now it will be , just not the way i wanted. I am leaving my home hear in N. G.A. next week and spending all my time with her. Thankyou for clarifying of what i thought - what might have been. We do have alot of prayers with us .I will keep ya'll posted .




    Jason

    Not sure the staging is right
    Jason, you've confused me. If your mom has no mets to organs and the cancer has spread to lymph nodes only, she might be stage 3 or stage 4a. In this case surgery is possible. My husband had stage 3 with some lymph nodes involvement, went through chemo+ radiation and had an MIE on May 17th. He is doing fine and slowly getting back to normal.

    Olya
  • megmacmd
    megmacmd Member Posts: 85
    #8
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    surgery for stage IV
    I think you summed it up beautifully. I was told I was stage 3 but am really stage 4 with nodes in my perihilar and pelvic region. As a doctor myself I did alll the research and was told having the surgery would not prolong my life it would eventually reoccur as it is already hiding somewhere just not detected. I have been very fortunate I was told in march I had 6-9 months after 9 round of flofox my biopsy showed no cancer in my esophagus my Cat scan showwed improvement in perihilar nodes and I have my PET Scan next week I have continued to work full time I have had a great summer and who knows how long this will stay at bay but in the meantime my quality of life has been 100% except for not always feeling great and no taste or appetitie from the chemo but I am relieved not to face surgery because I know it is not a cure when there are pockets other places to rear its ugly head I just take each day as it comes and hope for the best which I have surely had they say I have responded dramatically to the chemo with few to minor side effects so life goes on for now and I intend to enjoy every moment and dont want to spend any more time in the hopital than I already do as a neonatal hospitalist(which is fun time) Anyway thats just my opinion and perspective as I see and understand it Meg

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