surgery 4/2/2012, then chemo, then rad, pet shows 8mm growth

billyd
billyd Member Posts: 5
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Went thruogh the hell of surgery then 6 weeks chemo, then 25 radiations given a month to heal from rad but got more sore as time went on.Dr did pet scan before we start my second round of chemo. Told me he was puzzled pet showed an 8 mm growth that was not on the scan in april but on my back rib. So wed we did a biopsy before we start any more chemo. Gave me 4 weeks to heal after rad 6 weeks out still feels like i got kicked in the ribs. Sometimes feel a pressure in my throat any of this normal or is there a normal. Go to dr mon for results of biopsy.

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #2
    This does not sound "normal"
    I am not sure if the word "normal" applies to anything related to esophageal cancer but your journey with treatment and your symptoms do not sound "typical" of other survivors that have posted here. I hope you get good news on Monday. We will be thinking of your and sending positive thoughts your way.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Three year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • billyd
    billyd Member Posts: 5
    #3
    got results on biopsy positve for esophageal cancer in my back
    Dr called on mon morn told us not to bother coming all the way to syracuse biopsy came back positive for esophagal cancer in my back. Woke me up from dead sleep caught me off guard . She said when i wake up if i have questions call back so i called and asked what is next they said usually they will just try to shrink the tumor and then try to contrl it from spreading to other organs with chemo. My kids are talking cancer centers of america in chicago or sloan kettering in nyc anybody have expierence with them. I have an appointment with the people in syracuse on tues morn at 8am need to tell them if i am going somewhere else for a 2nd opinion. This was like a slap in the face i have been through so much now. We talked with cancer centers of america wont accet my ins in phili pa but will accept it in chicago , sloan kettering will take the ins. anybody got any ideas.
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #4
    billyd said:

    got results on biopsy positve for esophageal cancer in my back
    Dr called on mon morn told us not to bother coming all the way to syracuse biopsy came back positive for esophagal cancer in my back. Woke me up from dead sleep caught me off guard . She said when i wake up if i have questions call back so i called and asked what is next they said usually they will just try to shrink the tumor and then try to contrl it from spreading to other organs with chemo. My kids are talking cancer centers of america in chicago or sloan kettering in nyc anybody have expierence with them. I have an appointment with the people in syracuse on tues morn at 8am need to tell them if i am going somewhere else for a 2nd opinion. This was like a slap in the face i have been through so much now. We talked with cancer centers of america wont accet my ins in phili pa but will accept it in chicago , sloan kettering will take the ins. anybody got any ideas.

    Sloan Kettering has an excellent reputation
    I have no personal experience, but I know from my time on the board here, that Sloan Kettering has an excellent reputation of dealing with esophageal cancer. I have heard both positive and negative things about Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Some people feel that CTCA has an excellent "whole person" approach to treating cancer, some people feel they are very financially motivated. Based on that, I would think you may get a more "objective" opinion at Sloan Kettering.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Three year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • Amjosmom
    Amjosmom Member Posts: 212
    #5
    paul61 said:

    Sloan Kettering has an excellent reputation
    I have no personal experience, but I know from my time on the board here, that Sloan Kettering has an excellent reputation of dealing with esophageal cancer. I have heard both positive and negative things about Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Some people feel that CTCA has an excellent "whole person" approach to treating cancer, some people feel they are very financially motivated. Based on that, I would think you may get a more "objective" opinion at Sloan Kettering.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Three year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    From Cindy ...
    Sloan has an excellent Esophageal Cancer Treatment program and is closer to you than Chicago http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/adult/esophageal . One of the better oncologists is Dr, DAvid Ilson, although I have never met him personally. My personal experience was with Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD and I would not recommend her – my father was 78 at the time of the diagnosis and she talked him out of surgery at the first appointment (this is after we had already seen the surgeon up to that point my dad had been committed to the surgery because he had been told that was the only way to have a chance for a cure (by several different doctors as Sloan was the second opinion). But she said at “his age” she wouldn’t recommend the surgery and her advice was no to clinical trials etc. Anyway I have spoken to others who have had other oncologists at Sloan who have worked with them.

    Personally, if you could I would go to Pittsburgh and the UPMC and at a minimum get a consultation with Dr. Michael Gibson. http://www.upmccancercenter.com/search/page_physbio.cfm?id=30509 . Dr. Gibson wa a caring, honest and pragmatic doctor. By the time my dad saw him he was Stage IV with mets to the liver – he had participated in a clinical trial at MD Anderson so he was not eligible for any of the other trials even though we were fairly sure he got the placebo. Dr. Gibson was amazing and helped us — but cautioned that when the treatment wasn’t working or the side effects were worse than the cancer that we would have to talk.

    Good luck and keep the faith. You can have many good days ahead to cherish with your family and friends.

    Best, Cindy

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