End of Chemo?

ELMunque
ELMunque Member Posts: 3
in Esophageal Cancer #1

My friend will get chemo in July, his last treatment, but the cancer isn't gone. He has Stage 4 EC recurrance in his stomach, and 2 tumors on his back. The first time he had EC, he had 3/4 of his esophagus removed along with 1/4 of his stomach. The oncologist doesn't think that surgery is an option because of that, but is being optomistic. The tumors in his stomach had completely restricted the middle of his stomach, taking the option of radiation off the table as well. he has a J tube for his nutrition. He has had 5 rounds of chemo this time, 8 the last time, and the chemo is working, he is able to eat small amounts now, and doesn't throw up as often, and he goes in for a consultation for a scope on Thursday to see if putting in a stint of some sort is an option so that he can gain weight (he's down to 188 from 250). But the nurses say that he can't take chemo continuosly, he's on Taxal and Carboplatin chemotherapy, so what happens now? We haven't been able to talk to the dr, so I'm sure I will know more when I can, but I'm freaking out a little now, did we just go through everything we have been through so that he can stop chemo and get sicker? I don't understand. Are they going to change chemo treatments? So that he is still getting in and it won't start spreading again? Has anyone else been through this? Do you know what we should expect?

Comments

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #2
    Sorry to Hear Your News

    Hello,

    I was stage iii in 2008 and I had a stage iv recurrence in a lung in 2011 and was told surgery & radiation weren't options since it had metastasized.  Fortunately I tested HER2 Neu positive and was able to get herceptin along with folfox chemo.  The folfox took me within an inch of my life, but along with the herceptin I had a complete response.  I'm still getting the herceptin weekly and am still testing clean.  I'd strongly recommend finding out your friend's HER/Neu status.  I don't know what the chemo regimen is for you friend's recurrence, but I was initially offered no real hope (7-8 months and a clinical trial) and was told that my treatment was mostly pallative.  I got very lucky and I hope your friend gets similar results.

     

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

  • ELMunque
    ELMunque Member Posts: 3
    #3
    Deathorglory said:

    Sorry to Hear Your News

    Hello,

    I was stage iii in 2008 and I had a stage iv recurrence in a lung in 2011 and was told surgery & radiation weren't options since it had metastasized.  Fortunately I tested HER2 Neu positive and was able to get herceptin along with folfox chemo.  The folfox took me within an inch of my life, but along with the herceptin I had a complete response.  I'm still getting the herceptin weekly and am still testing clean.  I'd strongly recommend finding out your friend's HER/Neu status.  I don't know what the chemo regimen is for you friend's recurrence, but I was initially offered no real hope (7-8 months and a clinical trial) and was told that my treatment was mostly pallative.  I got very lucky and I hope your friend gets similar results.

     

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

    Thank you

    I have never heard of HER2 until I started reading through this site yesterday. I'm hoping I will get to talk to the Dr on Thursday and I can ask him then, I haven't been able to talk to him directly in over a month. He won't call on the phone, I have to go down there to talk to him. I have 6 kids, a deployed husband and I'm taking care of Chris, while trying to work full time which means everytime I leave work for something I have to make up that time and stay later the next day/days.

    I'm so happy I found this site, with people who have gone through what Chris is going through. You guys have made a huge difference already, just reading through posts. Giving more to research so I feel like I can help more, ask the right questions and what not. Just wanted to express my gratitude.

    Thank you. 

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