Hi everyone,
My grandma of 74 was recently diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, she’s had a PET scan and it confirmed that it hasn’t spread to her lungs, but has spread to 3-6 of her lymph nodes near, and almost half of her stomach, the staging is T4/N2/M0. They’ve decided no surgery due to the location and spread of the cancer.
I am a student paramedic but as far as it goes with knowledge about cancer I am very limited. I just wanted some possibly hopeful stories about this or some advice and just general similar cases to know what to expect over the time she has got.
I am unsure whether they’re going to start chemo as it may just be about making life comfortable and pain free but that will come possibly in the next couple of appointments with her Dr.
Thankyou for any of your help it is massively appreciated !
Hi Ellia, sorry but welcome to the community, so sorry to hear your news but there is hope it just depends where the cancer is and what the spread also is, I was lucky as mine hadn’t spread and was caught early due to 3 monthly scans for my previous Cancer
If they think they can treat it safely then would think may be along the lines of mine Chemo and Radiotherapy, luckily it cured mine and I have been in remission for 12 months now.
Your Grandma will most likely have a few more tests unless the Team have met and decided a way forward, the waiting for the results is a painful experience without the possible treatments. I had 6 rounds of weekly Chemo and 35 daily RT so as you see it can be time consuming, I coped well upto the last few days of RT and then I didn’t admit it but was getting very tired although I was my own enemy as I didn’t listen to drinking lots of fluids as you get terribly dehydrated, so a couple of days after the finish I took to the settee and didn’t move for near on 2 weeks
The Oncologist Team will take good care of her and I don’t know how involved you are but she should attend any consultations – which will most likely be weekly whilst the chemo is going on as she will have weekly blood tests as well but it’s best if someone attends those with her as she may forget some of the information an she should write down any questions she wants answering. The Chemo Nurses I found are also brilliant and will look after her very well
Come back for more and I’m sure someone else will come along with their support as well
Both of you take care 
Tony
We will move mountains to help people with cancer live life as fully as they can.
We'll do whatever it takes. For information, support or just someone to talk to,
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Onwards and Upwards
Laryngectomy and OC survivor
Lead Volunteer for Hampshire MacMillan Buddy Service
Thank you so much for your response. I am happy to hear you are in remission and have been for 12 months that is great news !
It is really nice to hear positive stories even if the journey wasn’t easy.
We will carry on persevering through the waiting and hope there is something they can do!
Thankyou again it is really appreciated and I will pass it on to my family aswell 
