so scared!!

chrissiebass
chrissiebass Member Posts: 56
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I am going with my dad to a Dr. and Radialogist appt today. Last week they did another check down his throat, because he had been so sick. His tumor has grown so much. They did not do his chemo that day. Tioday we go to see if they will evwen consider doing radiation to shrink the tumor. He has had such a good year when only given 4-6 months, but it is starting to show. He is NOT eating, I am going to see about a j-tube today, and sleeps alot. I do not think he is ready to give up, and I will never be, but it is so hard to see him in pain and sick. What is everyone's thoughts on radiation????

thanks and sorry such a jumbled mess.......

Comments

  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #2
    Definitely j-tube!
    So sorry to hear you dad's tumor has grown. Radiation could help, but I should warn you that it might make a lot of scar tissue given the size of the tumor. It would make eating even harder (and in many cases painful). Definitely check about the possibility of a j-tube. You dad needs strength and nutrition to go through this rough treatment.

    Sorry for being so straight-forward with what to expect, but you do need to be ready for that.

    Wishing you strength and your dad to get better,
    Olya
  • ifalk
    ifalk Member Posts: 29
    #3
    ArchTB said:

    Definitely j-tube!
    So sorry to hear you dad's tumor has grown. Radiation could help, but I should warn you that it might make a lot of scar tissue given the size of the tumor. It would make eating even harder (and in many cases painful). Definitely check about the possibility of a j-tube. You dad needs strength and nutrition to go through this rough treatment.

    Sorry for being so straight-forward with what to expect, but you do need to be ready for that.

    Wishing you strength and your dad to get better,
    Olya

    our situation and this is
    our situation and this is just ours, if we had it to do over again Jarrell would never have had the radiation it about done him in. He had 28 rads and was in so much pain it was sicking. Everyone reacts differently though
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #4
    Radiation and me
    Although the radiation did cause an esophageal ulcer (which has since healed) there is no question in my mind that it shrank the tumor. The endoscopy/biopsy after my first chemo/rads course showed that the tumor was 99% gone. Sadly NOT 100%, but I could swallow and eat real food again! Wahoo!

    --Jerry
  • chrissiebass
    chrissiebass Member Posts: 56
    #5
    jgwright said:

    Radiation and me
    Although the radiation did cause an esophageal ulcer (which has since healed) there is no question in my mind that it shrank the tumor. The endoscopy/biopsy after my first chemo/rads course showed that the tumor was 99% gone. Sadly NOT 100%, but I could swallow and eat real food again! Wahoo!

    --Jerry

    thanks everyone!!
    thanks everyone for your honesty and answers, it is so nice to be able to "talk" to people on here for support and honest answers.....

    thinking of everyone

    chrissie
    dad stage iv
  • Coach B
    Coach B Member Posts: 18
    #6
    jgwright said:

    Radiation and me
    Although the radiation did cause an esophageal ulcer (which has since healed) there is no question in my mind that it shrank the tumor. The endoscopy/biopsy after my first chemo/rads course showed that the tumor was 99% gone. Sadly NOT 100%, but I could swallow and eat real food again! Wahoo!

    --Jerry

    Will you be my coach?
    I am new at this Discussion Boards and i just want ot let you know i was born deaf at birth and I hope you or anyone can understand me.. I was Dx on April 5th esophagus cancer junction to my upper portion of my stomach... I have been jumping around different dr to dr for other opinions and that s crazy.... they have not label which stage I am in and I am only 46 years old and teaching and coaching high school level for 25 years and im speechless and need some help... what kind of chemo and radiation therapy such as linear accelerator (IMRT) or others? and how long? what kind of surgery transhiatal or ivor lewis etc... I need to make a decision asap this week to start before the cancer spread ... I have EC AC right at the juction of esoph and protrude to my upper portion of my stomach... I never had any symptom until the dr foud out i have low hemoglobin count at 7.0 and rightnow it upto 9.0 because I am eating lots of hamburger without transfusion... I dont knwo what to do... Ineed your story and other people as well... I have 4 children and can you help? and I appreciate if you give me any idea to prepare for the battle that I am about to face... God bless and fight backand beat the cancer.... How i got em is by acid reflux that cause me cancer wow...
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    #7
    Coach B said:

    Will you be my coach?
    I am new at this Discussion Boards and i just want ot let you know i was born deaf at birth and I hope you or anyone can understand me.. I was Dx on April 5th esophagus cancer junction to my upper portion of my stomach... I have been jumping around different dr to dr for other opinions and that s crazy.... they have not label which stage I am in and I am only 46 years old and teaching and coaching high school level for 25 years and im speechless and need some help... what kind of chemo and radiation therapy such as linear accelerator (IMRT) or others? and how long? what kind of surgery transhiatal or ivor lewis etc... I need to make a decision asap this week to start before the cancer spread ... I have EC AC right at the juction of esoph and protrude to my upper portion of my stomach... I never had any symptom until the dr foud out i have low hemoglobin count at 7.0 and rightnow it upto 9.0 because I am eating lots of hamburger without transfusion... I dont knwo what to do... Ineed your story and other people as well... I have 4 children and can you help? and I appreciate if you give me any idea to prepare for the battle that I am about to face... God bless and fight backand beat the cancer.... How i got em is by acid reflux that cause me cancer wow...

    We're Happy To Help
    Acid Reflux seems to be the culprit in so many cases. Find a Doctor who is an EXPERT in esophageal cancer. Too many oncologists are familiar with breast or lung cancer, but don't know beans about esophageal cancer. Read William's letter. He and Sherri are our experts here, and filled with accurate knowledge.

    First thing is to get properly staged. Until you know what stage you are, you cannot properly prepare to fight this thing.

    --Jerry

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