Esophageal cancer at the junction

Hi  . sorry to read about your dad and that the chemo/radio did not work on the tumor.

As to why your dad was not offered a stent - this would be q question he would need to ask of his oncology team. I can certainly understand how issues with not being able to drink make things difficult - maintaining some level of hydration is quite important.

Palliative care is any form of treatment that is trying to cope with symptoms rather than the disease itself, it might help to look at our pages on Advanced cancer

<<hugs>>

Steve

Hi Oliver_stef  My 88 year old dad was in that same position a year ago of not being able to swallow or drink anything thicker than milk.  A stent was the first and only thing they did last April and he is still here almost a year later and looking good. He has had 3 stents up until now as the 1st fell out and then he needed a 3rd because his tumour had grown and that was 5 months ago.

He has had no other treatment at all due to his age and the fact that he has dementia.  He has had a good year, he has eaten well and put on almost all of the weight that he lost (3 stone) and he looks like he could go on a good while longer.

I think you need to speak to your dad's oncologist or his gastro team and find out why he has not been offered a stent.  I would do this tomorrow unless you already have or see his GP urgently and get him to contact them for you.

Best wishes to you and your dad.

Hi Oliver_Stef.

My heat goes out to you. My dad was diagnosed with this type of cancer 5 months ago, he was going to have some radio therapy but during the course it was stopped and a stent put in. Like you my dad has dementia so we were a bit surprised when trh stent went in as neither my brother or I were consulted, the staff on that ward felt he had the capacity based on a 5min talk to make the decision.

Like others have said I you need to ask the medical people as to why it wasn't offered, my only thought is that depending on how much of the onsocpicaus was blocked. 

My dad had his stent fitted about 4mths ago, sadly he is now in hospital under palative care with just days to go if not hours (won't lie I am hoping it is the second).

Do push for the answer though, sadly my mum was diagnosed in January with terminal cancer too and we were told that it is on an xray that the hospital took about 3 years ago now but said nothing and now nothing can be done.

Best wishes 

So sorry to hear this.. My dad was diagnosed 3 yrs ago with stomach cancer T3 I believe and had part of his stomach removed and some affected lymph nodes - he has done well with no chemotherapy etc just surgery. However like your dad it has unfortunately spread to the oesophagus  - junction and inoperable. My dad hasn't been fitted with a stent because they said he hadn't got enough stomach remaining to anchor it to and has been fitted with an ng tube which is very narrow and keeps blocking! He keeps having to return to hospital bless him - they have said palliative chemotherapy in 2 weeks but at this rate at 85 yrs of age and not receiving any nutrients each time the tube blocks I seriously doubt he will be able to cope with the chemotherapy. I feel so helpless- the ng tube with no help makes me feel he has been abandoned somewhat- it blocked on Saturday and still hasn't been replaced- he was given soup today but vomited it all back up as he can barely drink now.