new here. for my dad

My name is Angela and I'm 25. My poor dad has been through so much. He is 59, and six years ago he had a bad stroke that left him unable to communicate... however, he has never let that get him down, and still goes on walks, cooks, and lives a happy life. He started hurting a few months ago and we figured his reflux was acting up, as he has had it his whole life. After seeing a few doctor and trying different meds, they finally scoped him and found it Monday. Thank God I was with my mother that day. They told us non-chalantly. He had a scan done yesterday and it has not spread anywhere, yet, but the tumor in his esophagus is 7 cm. He is still able to eat. We are terrified. He is in good spirits, laughing and telling us not to worry, but it is hard. Everything I have read is horrible. I suffer from anxiety disorder and depression, so I feel like I'm going to have a breakdown. His stroke was something I could barely handle, now this?! Monday the doctor said they wouldn't operate, but now that they know it hasn't spread, they are setting him up with a cancer doctor and calling Ochsners in New Orleans. He said they will probably set up chemo and radiation in hopes it will shrink, and then do surgery.

Can people actually beat this? I read the 5 years survival rate is only 5-20 percent. I don't want him living if he is just going to suffer and not have a life. I'm on such an emotional rollercoaster. I hope coming to this site helps me.