Hello. I'm new here so let me introduce myself. My name is Neil and in May 2022, after some tests and examinations, I was diagnosed with incurable oesophageal cancer.
I then had a lot of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy over a period of time to try and delay the cancer and it's spread.My consultant at the time told me that even after this treatment I had a 75% chance of dying within two years.
After quite a torrid time I was eventually placed on immunotherapy which I have had on a six weeks cycle for a number of months.
In June of this year (2025) I had another scan and a follow up appointment. During this meeting I was told that the immunotherapy was no longer proving to be effective in staving off the cancer and that it had now spread. My diagnosis was now terminal. Immunotherapy was then halted.
I was also told that if I refused any other treatment I could expect to live for around another six months. With treatment between 12-18 months.
I elected to have treatment to gain some more time and will again start chemotherapy in a few days.
I have now told my family about the latest developments and that this treatment is palliative but not as yet given them the timescales.
By some miracle I think they believe my situation will/might improve or they don't want to contemplate the reality.
I would be interested to know from others, if they have faced a similar situation.
I also can't quite get my head round yet that I'm slowly dying. Some days I accept it but on other days I don't.
I know that doesn't make sense but that's how I'm finding my thoughts at the moment.
Any advice from others with a terminal diagnosis would be welcome.
