The Elderly and Esophageal Cancer

ltackitt
ltackitt Member Posts: 4
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Hello I am new to this disscussion board. My dad who is 83 was diagnosed with Stage IV Esophageal Cancer in March 2017. He had trouble eating and was vomiting mucous. Went for scope and cancer was found rising from Barretts Esophogus. Several lymph nodes were involved as confirmed on pet scan. He had heartburn and ate tums like crazy for many years. He wasn;t able to have surgery due to age and other health concerns (diabetes, chronic Kidney Disease and COPD)  My dad had 5 weeks of radiation in July 2017 which shrunk the tumor so he could eat. He has chronic kidney disease so was limited on the type of chemo he could use. He started oral chemo Xeloda 1500 mg twice a day but had to cut back to 1000 mg twice a day due to sore hands. My dad has done very well with his treatment. He has had no side effects of radiation and other than the sore hands he has done well on the Xeloda. He had another pet/ct scan last week and lymph nodes/tumor have shrunk some lymph nodes were no longer lighting up that were active on the last scan. He does have one new subpleural lymph node that is showing activity so it was a mixed response to chemo. We have decided to stay on the Xeloda ....who knows maybe on the next scan the new lymph node will be gone or not as active! In the mean time he has a great quality of life and that means everything to me! I wanted to write to give others an idea of our experience with treatment. Alot of times the elderly who get cancer have many health issues and cannot tolerate the prefered treatment....but that doesn't mean they can't get the treatment their bodies can handle and live each day to the fullest! Thanks for listening.

 

 

 

Comments

  • mike_harrison392
    mike_harrison392 Member Posts: 5
    #2
    Thanks for relating your fathers' experience.

    I'm 68 years old and was diagnosed with stage 3 EC in August 2017. I have just finished 6 weeks of chemo/radiation, and have had to use a feeding tube. Must now wait about a month for another PET scan to determine if it is still in the lymph nodes. I'm looking forward to eating again. I don't know if I will get the surgery if I qualify. Risks are high for someone my age, but chances are less for it to come back. I'm married, and I'll have some difficult decisions to make. I'm encouraged and think it is wonderful that your father has a great quality of life. 

  • LorettaMarshall
    LorettaMarshall Member Posts: 662 Member
    #3
    mike_harrison392 said:

    Thanks for relating your fathers' experience.

    I'm 68 years old and was diagnosed with stage 3 EC in August 2017. I have just finished 6 weeks of chemo/radiation, and have had to use a feeding tube. Must now wait about a month for another PET scan to determine if it is still in the lymph nodes. I'm looking forward to eating again. I don't know if I will get the surgery if I qualify. Risks are high for someone my age, but chances are less for it to come back. I'm married, and I'll have some difficult decisions to make. I'm encouraged and think it is wonderful that your father has a great quality of life. 

    Mike~Best news one can hear is that they qualify for surgery!

    Hello Mike - Since when is 68 too old for an Esophagectomy.? My husband was 66 and many of Dr. James D. Luketich's patients have been in their mid-70s.  Let's pray that your scans will show that the chemo has done a good job.  Take it from me, if you qualify for an Esophagectomy, you SHOULD NEVER REFUSE IT.  My husband is now 80 and enjoying a great quality of life.  Had he chosen not to have the surgery, I would have been a widow!  Cry

    Loretta

    P.S. This picture was taken this year.  We are both smiling, because we're blessed to still have each other.  

  • ltackitt
    ltackitt Member Posts: 4
    #4
    Hi Mike, Glad to hear you

    Hi Mike, Glad to hear you have finished your treatments. After my dads radiation, he had no pain but I had to blend his food as his esophagus was still swollen for a few weeks. But it did progress to me just cutting up his food then able to eat most anything. Being able to eat makes a huge difference to your body and mind. It gave my dad confidence that the treatments were doing him good. I hope this happens for you also. My dad has had 3 pet/ct scans since he was diagnosed with this latest scan showing even distant lymph nodes that were active on last scan are no longer active. My dad was not strong enough to have chemo and radiation together which I have read works better. You are younger than my dad and have more options. If you decide to have the surgery.... everything I have read suggests that you need a surgeon with alot of experience performing this surgery...and get in the best physical shape possible. Lisa

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #5
    68 is not too old for surgery

    Mike,

    I had my esophgectomy when I was 61 and I know many patients who were in their late sixties and seventies when they had their surgery. Your overall health profile is much more important than your age. I had my surgery almost 8 years ago. In fact 8 years ago yesterday I got a call from my gastroenterologist that said "Mr. Adams your biopsies are back from your endoscopy and I am sorry to tell you, you have adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus".

    Of course I would be less than honest if I did not say that recovery from surgery was a challenge, but almost 8 years later, (I had my surgery December 3, 2009) I am still here and so far NED.

    As a fellow survivor, my advice would be to pick your surgeon with great care. Your surgeon’s skill and technique will impact not only your recovery time, but your quality of life after surgery.  Find someone who does MANY esophagectomies annually and be sure to ask about the recovery and infection record of the aftercare facility.

    Surgery is difficult, but you want to be sure you have done everything you can to improve your chances of a long term remission.

    Wishing you good results from your scan.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009
    Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009 Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Eight Year Survivor

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

  • mike_harrison392
    mike_harrison392 Member Posts: 5
    #6
    LorettaMarshall said:

    Mike~Best news one can hear is that they qualify for surgery!

    Hello Mike - Since when is 68 too old for an Esophagectomy.? My husband was 66 and many of Dr. James D. Luketich's patients have been in their mid-70s.  Let's pray that your scans will show that the chemo has done a good job.  Take it from me, if you qualify for an Esophagectomy, you SHOULD NEVER REFUSE IT.  My husband is now 80 and enjoying a great quality of life.  Had he chosen not to have the surgery, I would have been a widow!  Cry

    Loretta

    P.S. This picture was taken this year.  We are both smiling, because we're blessed to still have each other.  

    Surgery

    Thanks again. I'm planning on surgery if I qualify. Am in pretty good shape and believe I will do okay. Will be speaking with a surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville in 2 weeks. Smile

  • mike_harrison392
    mike_harrison392 Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Surgery at 68

    Thanks for the encouragement and info Paul. I will be consulting with a surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, in about 2 weeks. They are my 2nd opinion and the best in this region. I know it will be difficult, but worth it in the long run. 

    When you're at the end of your rope, Just tie a knot and hang on..!

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #8
    Surgery at 68

    Mike, my aunt was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and underwent radiation and chemo and then surgery at age 70.  She did well except had problems with eating.  Unfortunately for her it kept coming back and she passed away 5 years later.  My husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer at age 73.  He underwent radiation, chemo and then surgery and did well for a year.  Then it was found that he had a large tumor at the cervical of his esophagus.  His specialist ruled out surgery due to the previous radiation and surgery and the fact that the surgery would be in the exact same spot.  He underwent another round of radiation and chemo but unfortuately it came back and spread and at that time he declined all further treatment.  

    I realize that this is different but my mother underwent triple by-pass at age 82 and did well and she didn't really qualify for surgery due to health issues but they went ahead and did it because she elected knowing that the outcome could mean death with or without the surgery.  So surgery at any age regardless of the health issues involved can be great or bad. 

    Wishing you the best

     

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