My newly dx's dad is on the cusp of Stage 3/4. Regional lymph nodes are huge and "look like they wan

DanaMB3
DanaMB3 Member Posts: 98
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello again.

(My dads info - Adenocarcinom at the GE junction, also located in regional lymph nodes)

My dad's PET Scan showed no distant metestatic disease but the onc. said he is very concerned about the size of the regional lymph nodes - that they are "so large they look like they want to spread". He is suggesting we start agressive chemo the 1st week of January.

We don't feel comfortable waiting that long - though, of course all of these docs are off next week with the holiday. Do we rush the decision with which chemo to do (and we are still waiting on the HER2 test results) and move forward with whatever doctor is working next week - or wait for him to him back from vacation (he leaves Friday, back Jan 3rd)? Not one bit happy with this timing.

Thanks in advance

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
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  • DanaMB3
    DanaMB3 Member Posts: 98
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thank you
    Right now we are at the mercy of scheduling. He cannot get on the surgeons schedule to get the port implanted until 12/30. As it stands right now he will receive his first chemo treatment January 3rd. I pray this is not waiting too long. We have shared our feelings on this fear or waiting with the doctor and he feels Jan 3rd is not "too long" to wait.
    Doc said he wants to do agressive chemo and not radiation yet to attack the cells.

    Thanks for your suggestions and support.


    **Also - he wants to treat him with Folfox - any insight into that chemo?
  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    #5
    DanaMB3 said:

    Thank you
    Right now we are at the mercy of scheduling. He cannot get on the surgeons schedule to get the port implanted until 12/30. As it stands right now he will receive his first chemo treatment January 3rd. I pray this is not waiting too long. We have shared our feelings on this fear or waiting with the doctor and he feels Jan 3rd is not "too long" to wait.
    Doc said he wants to do agressive chemo and not radiation yet to attack the cells.

    Thanks for your suggestions and support.


    **Also - he wants to treat him with Folfox - any insight into that chemo?

    radiation
    My husband has stage III ec with four lymph node involvement. We were told that the protocol for the cancer was two chemotherapy treatments of 5fu for four days 24/7 as well as Cisplatin the first day of the 5fu treatment four weeks apart. Jim had his petscan and the doctors are extremely happy with the results of the 27 treatments of IMRT Radiation and chemotherapy that were done at the same time. His tumor and lymph nodes have shrunk at least 70% and he is having surgery January 5th. They think that the treatment was so effective there may be no tumor or cancer.

    Don't be afraid to question the doctors. It is very common to do radiation and chemotherapy.

    Linda
  • ChiefTom
    ChiefTom Member Posts: 15
    #6
    DanaMB3 said:

    Thank you
    Right now we are at the mercy of scheduling. He cannot get on the surgeons schedule to get the port implanted until 12/30. As it stands right now he will receive his first chemo treatment January 3rd. I pray this is not waiting too long. We have shared our feelings on this fear or waiting with the doctor and he feels Jan 3rd is not "too long" to wait.
    Doc said he wants to do agressive chemo and not radiation yet to attack the cells.

    Thanks for your suggestions and support.


    **Also - he wants to treat him with Folfox - any insight into that chemo?

    I felt the same way when my
    I felt the same way when my husband was getting started. He actually had his first chemo treatment through an IV in his arm, since he didn't have the lifeport inserted yet. Would that be an option for your father?
  • ChiefTom
    ChiefTom Member Posts: 15
    #7
    linda1120 said:

    radiation
    My husband has stage III ec with four lymph node involvement. We were told that the protocol for the cancer was two chemotherapy treatments of 5fu for four days 24/7 as well as Cisplatin the first day of the 5fu treatment four weeks apart. Jim had his petscan and the doctors are extremely happy with the results of the 27 treatments of IMRT Radiation and chemotherapy that were done at the same time. His tumor and lymph nodes have shrunk at least 70% and he is having surgery January 5th. They think that the treatment was so effective there may be no tumor or cancer.

    Don't be afraid to question the doctors. It is very common to do radiation and chemotherapy.

    Linda

    Linda,
    That is an excellent
    Linda,
    That is an excellent report. We are praying for wonderful results from the surgery, as well.

    God Bless,
    Liz & family
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #8
    DanaMB3 said:

    Thank you
    Right now we are at the mercy of scheduling. He cannot get on the surgeons schedule to get the port implanted until 12/30. As it stands right now he will receive his first chemo treatment January 3rd. I pray this is not waiting too long. We have shared our feelings on this fear or waiting with the doctor and he feels Jan 3rd is not "too long" to wait.
    Doc said he wants to do agressive chemo and not radiation yet to attack the cells.

    Thanks for your suggestions and support.


    **Also - he wants to treat him with Folfox - any insight into that chemo?

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • DanaMB3
    DanaMB3 Member Posts: 98
    #9
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thank you William
    I will read the info you provided on the chemo and side effects.

    I hear your concern on the lack of radiation and am not going to let that question go unanswered with the onc. I am comforted in that we do have a 2nd opnion consultation set for Wednesday 12/29 with the head of the EC Department at the Univserity of Chicago (ranked as the top hosp for EC in Chicago) and she has a reputation for being agressive.
    Jan/Orion TJ's husband sees her. I guess at this point we wait for that appointment and see what she says - does she agree with the 1st onc or not.

    Thanks so much for your thoughts and info. Will keep you guys posted.
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #10
    DanaMB3 said:

    Thank you William
    I will read the info you provided on the chemo and side effects.

    I hear your concern on the lack of radiation and am not going to let that question go unanswered with the onc. I am comforted in that we do have a 2nd opnion consultation set for Wednesday 12/29 with the head of the EC Department at the Univserity of Chicago (ranked as the top hosp for EC in Chicago) and she has a reputation for being agressive.
    Jan/Orion TJ's husband sees her. I guess at this point we wait for that appointment and see what she says - does she agree with the 1st onc or not.

    Thanks so much for your thoughts and info. Will keep you guys posted.

    Hi, I beleive I'm the only
    Hi, I beleive I'm the only one on this site that didn't have radiation. I was diagnosed in Nov '07, stage 3 with 3 positive lymph nodes. I had four rounds of chemo, followed by surgery in May '08. I have had good test results so far. I found out my dr. had done a research on benefits of radiation on ec patients and felt like it wasn't neccerarily helpful. I asked him why I didn't have it, the last time I saw him, and he said he didn't think I needed it.
    Keep us posted on your 2nd oppinon.
    Have a merry christmas,
    Sandra
  • DanaMB3
    DanaMB3 Member Posts: 98
    #11
    sandy1943 said:

    Hi, I beleive I'm the only
    Hi, I beleive I'm the only one on this site that didn't have radiation. I was diagnosed in Nov '07, stage 3 with 3 positive lymph nodes. I had four rounds of chemo, followed by surgery in May '08. I have had good test results so far. I found out my dr. had done a research on benefits of radiation on ec patients and felt like it wasn't neccerarily helpful. I asked him why I didn't have it, the last time I saw him, and he said he didn't think I needed it.
    Keep us posted on your 2nd oppinon.
    Have a merry christmas,
    Sandra

    Thank you Sandra
    I appreciate your input and am encouraged by your results. Thanks for commenting, have Merry Christmas as well!

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