Esohogectamy and cancer returned

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rodrigsu
rodrigsu Member Posts: 4
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Hello. My dad had a complete esophogectamy 3 years ago. Had 100 lymph nodes tested after surgery and showed nothing. So did not receive any Chemo/radiation after surgery. He has been doing great for 3 years. December of 2014 he had a CT scan. Nothing showed. Lately he has not been feeling well so had a complete work up including a PET scan. Showed 3 lesions on his liver and on his omentum. He has been told this all stems from his Esophageial cancer. It has come back. He has been told surgery is not an option. They have put him on Cisplatin infusion once a week and Xeloda pills every day. He has basically been told he has 6-9 months to live. Shorter if he stops chemo. His doctor did tell him that if the tumors can shrink surgery "may" be an option at that point. But there still is no cure.  I know chemo will be rough, today was his first infusion. It really comes down to quality of life. I am trying to see a glimmer of hope. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this? Thanks for anything you can share.

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  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #2
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    Similar Situation

    Hello,

    I was/am in a similar situation to your dad.  In 2008, I was diagnosed with stage III EC.  I had chemo/radiation, then an esophajectomy, then some bonus chemo.  I had a "complete respoonse"; there was no trace of any remaining cancer.  

    In 2011, I had a recurrence of the EC in my lung.  I was given a similar prognosis to your father's--seven or eight months to live.  Seven months seems like forever after the Super Bowl when I'm waiting for the next football season to start, but it's sure not very long in this context.  Because it had metastasized, I was told that surgery and radiation weren't options and that chemo and perhaps a clinical trial was all that could be done.  Fortunately, I tested HER positive and herceptin had just been approved a few months prior for metastatic EC, so I bypassed the clinical trial and went on folfox and herceptin.  I had a remarkably good response to my treatment and had another "complete response".  After six months of the folfox and herceptin, there was no evidence of cancer anywhere.  

    I just had my latest scan in April and I'm still testing clean three years later.  I still get herceptin weekly to hopefully ward off another recurrence.   Whether or not it is effective isn't known, I'm sort of the test case, but something is working, so I'll take it.  I wish I could assure you that it always works out like this, but it doesn't.  I am, however, living proof that it CAN work out like this and I hope your dad has similar results from his treatment.  

     

    All the Best,

    Ed

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #3
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    Your Dad

    Hello

    I am so sorry to hear of your recent news concerning your dad. My dad passed from EC/liver cancer in 2010. The chemo your dad is getting now

    is what is called palliative care. That means it will keep him going, possible shrinking the tumors, but his quality of life will decline. It is not a cure.  I watched

    this with my dad. He too took xeloda oral meds. Let your dad make the choices now. Let him be in control of his treatment. I learned this the

    hard way. I will never allow myself to be selfish again if and when  a loved one gets cancer. Quality of life is so much more important than quanity.

    May God be with you, your dad, and your family as you go through this journey. We will be thinking of you.

    Tina in Va

  • faithinlord
    faithinlord Member Posts: 27
    #4
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    Hello! Rodriguez
    I am sorry

    Hello! Rodriguez

    I am sorry to hear about your dad recurrence of ec. Did you guys check with Dr if he is herceptin positive to get targeted therapy

     As you would have read above mail of Ed. It has been very effective for him so far.

  • dfd24
    dfd24 Member Posts: 91
    #5
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    her2 positive and herceptin

    Hello,

    it is very important to get tested for HER2 . If your Dad is positive he can get herceptin which can be very favorable in the treatment outcome.

    wish you all the best,

    danièle

  • dfd24
    dfd24 Member Posts: 91
    #6
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    Hello again,

    My husband also had a recurrence of EC after chemo radiotherapy and the Ivor Lewis operation. He did not have chemo after the operation. he was diagnosed in 2010 and his recurrence was in March 2012. He is Her2 positive and is still getting chemo and herceptin as the disease showed progession on the last pet scan in March.  So now it is three years since his recurrence. There have been ups and downs because of the chemo but on the whole he maintained a pretty active life style. right now it is a down because he had a lung infection but he is feeling a lot better now. 

    Just to say, that doctors don't really know how you will react and can't really predict how long you have to live.  Have all the necessary discussions on what to do for end of life , but your Dad should make plans to live.

    Again, wish you all the best,

    danièle

  • rodrigsu
    rodrigsu Member Posts: 4
    #7
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    THANKYOU

    Thank you everyone for your replies adn well wishes. He actually has an appointment today at his oncologist. We are going to ask if he had the HER2 test done.  He had hs first round of chemo on Monday and is already sick. :(

    I will let you all know what happens after his appointment today.
    Thanks again! :)

     

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