Esophageal Dilation or Stent?

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chrissiebass
chrissiebass Member Posts: 56
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I have read the difference between the two, but if someone who has had this or a caregiver who has experience with one of these could tell me, how do you decide which would be better?

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • Unknown
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    #3
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  • LeeinLondon
    LeeinLondon Member Posts: 103
    #4
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    feeding tube
    I for one am very thankful for my JG tube. I've reached the point where I'm choking a little on liquids and eat very little solid food. I would be in far worse shape without the tube!
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #5
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    Esophageal stretch
    When we went in to MD Anderson to have a feeding tube inserted the gastro doctor told us that Rickie's GE juction was extremely restricted and that the esophagus had hardened and thickened thus making it difficult for food to pass through. He told us the options were to have it stretched or to place a stent, however the stent produced many problems on it's own. He favored the stretch which we had done with good results. After several months Rickie started having difficulty getting food down again and he had our gastro doctor here at home do a stretch. That was not a good thing. He has not dealt with EC but one other case, and stretched the esophagus too much which caused bleeding and a hospital stay. Since then we have spoken to a retired thoracic surgeon who said he use to do them all the time and that the key was to have it done every month or so before it constricted again to where it was so tight. It is important to get it done by someone who does them on a regular basis on EC patients. For the next one I am hoping we can go back to Houston where they are more experienced.
  • chrissiebass
    chrissiebass Member Posts: 56
    #6
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    cher76 said:

    Esophageal stretch
    When we went in to MD Anderson to have a feeding tube inserted the gastro doctor told us that Rickie's GE juction was extremely restricted and that the esophagus had hardened and thickened thus making it difficult for food to pass through. He told us the options were to have it stretched or to place a stent, however the stent produced many problems on it's own. He favored the stretch which we had done with good results. After several months Rickie started having difficulty getting food down again and he had our gastro doctor here at home do a stretch. That was not a good thing. He has not dealt with EC but one other case, and stretched the esophagus too much which caused bleeding and a hospital stay. Since then we have spoken to a retired thoracic surgeon who said he use to do them all the time and that the key was to have it done every month or so before it constricted again to where it was so tight. It is important to get it done by someone who does them on a regular basis on EC patients. For the next one I am hoping we can go back to Houston where they are more experienced.

    thanks everyone!!

    My Dad is having problems swallowing, as my mom describes it, he stops eating and kind of grabs his chest. She also is struggling with health issues, and is so overwhelmed by all this, sometimes she forgets to mention things to the Dr. He has an appt. tomm. and I am going to go (he is letting me!!) I do ask him questions, but he gets upset with me. He has just recently started to feel the effects of the cancer i think. He is still taking his Chemo, and has not had any side effects from it, YEAH!!!But they are going away on Saturday up north for 2 weeks, and I worry about his food getting caught while he is so far away from the Dr. But it is there anniversary and I want them to ENJOY themselves!! He did ask for a CT scan tomm. also because he hasnt had one done since he was 1st diagnosed, and I know that scares him because when he was first diagnosed he didn't have any symptoms. Sorry for rambling on, just haven't wrote in a long time, but read this sight everyday.

    thanks again for the advice
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #7
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    chrissiebass said:

    thanks everyone!!

    My Dad is having problems swallowing, as my mom describes it, he stops eating and kind of grabs his chest. She also is struggling with health issues, and is so overwhelmed by all this, sometimes she forgets to mention things to the Dr. He has an appt. tomm. and I am going to go (he is letting me!!) I do ask him questions, but he gets upset with me. He has just recently started to feel the effects of the cancer i think. He is still taking his Chemo, and has not had any side effects from it, YEAH!!!But they are going away on Saturday up north for 2 weeks, and I worry about his food getting caught while he is so far away from the Dr. But it is there anniversary and I want them to ENJOY themselves!! He did ask for a CT scan tomm. also because he hasnt had one done since he was 1st diagnosed, and I know that scares him because when he was first diagnosed he didn't have any symptoms. Sorry for rambling on, just haven't wrote in a long time, but read this sight everyday.

    thanks again for the advice

    Welcome
    Hi Chrissie and welcome to you and your dad and mom. I was a caregiver for my dad. He passed from EC in March 2010. He did have a stent put in his esophagus and his liver bile duct, when it spread to his liver. My dad did well with his stents. So, what works for one may not work for the other. Hoping your dad and mom have a wonderful Anniv. Just tell him to eat slowly, bite size pieces, or liquids. A lot of small meals throughout the day will be best. Hang in there, we are here for you. We have all been where you are. Lean on us!
    Tina in Va

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