Stage IV spread to liver

First off I'm sorry to hear about your father.  I am assuming they did a biopsy too to confirm the cancer.  The test you are talking about is a PET scan and they are generally always correct.  But basically the only thing that can really say cancer is a biopsy.  My husband was first diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent radiation, chemo and then surgery.  But a year later while undergoing a procedure, our head and neck specialist found a tumor at the cervical of his esophagus.  Surgery was ruled out due to previous radiation and surgery and the tumor was very small.  He underwent more radiation and chemo and after 3 months and a PET/CT scan was declared NED.  But less than 4 months later it was discovery by a PET/CT scan that the tumor was back at the cervical of his esophagus and there were small nodes in his right lung which proved to be cancer.  Surgery was ruled out and the only thing offered was chemo which we were told up front wouldn't cure only prolong.  My husband said enough and declined all further treatment.  Yes we got a second opinion and third opinion and all the doctors agreed.  It has been 14 months and he is doing okay but we know that he is terminal.  

Chemo can hasten and caused a lot of problems too.  I know several that couldn't take chemo at all and then again many more have no problems.  Surgery for esophageal cancer is bad.  My aunt who had never been sick in her life was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  She underwent surgery (removal of her esophagus), radiation and chemo only to have it come back and then spread to her lungs.  After fighting the good fight she also said enough and passed.  She underwent many rounds of chemo and radiation and was never able to eat normally again.   She had a feeding tube just like my husband does and he is unable to eat normally. 

This is a hard decision but it is your father's decision and you should allow him to make his own decision.  Our sons has never tried to influence their father once he said no more and that he wanted quality over quantity.  They don't like it but they respect his wishes like i do.  

Just remember that second and third opinions are great to get but in the end it is still your father's decision.  You can spend all the money you want but in the end it is still the man upstairs who will decide the outcome, not the doctors and there are many out there who will do anything and promise anything just to get their hands on the money end of it.

Wishing you and your family the best -- Sharon

Lucy, There is an EC organization in the UK, here is the link. I do not know much about them, http://www.opa.org.uk/ .  Here is their help line. 0121 704 9860 Keep asking questions on this site it has wonderful people. If you would like me to I will post your question on a few of the other EC sites.  For America, I did not go, but I have heard people comment positively on Sloan in New York, University of Pitt. MD Anderson. here is a link to some great people, they also have a hotline number (it is different in America there is no one centeral group like UK)http://www.fightec.org/.

On the personal side, my husband was 50, did chemo only, with mets to liver. As mentioned, getting treatment started quickly is a MUST.  This is a rare cancer, not all cancer medical people are versed in its treatment.

MydadGary said:

Thank you so much. We have a

Thank you so much. We have a meeting with the consultant and doctor at St Thomas's and guys in London... Iv been told this is a great hospital so I will ask all my questions.

 

Im very scared as doctor told us my dad may have 12-18months to live on an average but his been undergoing tests for over a year and nothing has been found before now. How can this be? 

 

Iv iv also contacted BMI to get a second opinion with a expert consultant. Unless anyone else can reccomend anywhere in the UK or EU?

 

My dad has started juicing which we have heard can help, any other reccomendations or advice would be greatly appreciated 

 

thanks everyone you have helped me so much finding this site xx

Hello,

I had a metastatic recurrance of EC.  That made me stage IV as well, although my met was to my lung, not liver.  I was told 7-8 months was what I could expect my life expectancy to be.  That was in 2011.  I dealt with folks at top of the line treatment centers and I have obviously beaten those projections.  I cannot overstress the importance of going to a cancer center that specializes in EC.  There's a huge difference between the Mayo Clinic and Your Local General Hospital.  I have no idea about UK hospitals, but it seems like you're working with folks that know what they're doing.  

Juicing has some strong supporters on this site.  I don't hold any alternative treatments in any great regard, although I practice a few myself (multivitamin, natural vitamin C, aspirin).  I think they're mostly of individual, anecdotal success.  If you think they'll help, and your docs say ok, have at anything you want though.  

Stage IV research will show you some pretty grim stuff, but there are plenty of folks out there that can testify that there's still hope via their own success stories.  Please consider yourselves to be among those.

Wishing you well,

Ed

I got a similar diagnosis & identical prognosis 22 months ago. Then I was shown to be Her2+ and put on Herceptin.  Currently, tha scans are clean and I'm doing great.  Am juicing, gave up meat, and taking Vit C too - all of which helps, I believe.

Make sure you get result of Her2 test.