Radiotherapy

Hello johnem. I have just noticed you haven't had any response to your post. I can't give you an answer myself as I am from the Prostate Cancer forum, but by me replying it will be "bumped" up to the top of the forum again and with luck someone will read it and give you the information you are looking for.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thank you.  So far as I can see the next step will be a stent which I as not looking forward to.  I reach a stage where eating is a chore in terms of doing the eating and actually wanting food

Hello Again johnem. Thank you for your message. I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation, I have read your journey from diagnosis to date and yes, you have been through the mill.

Whilst I am not medically qualified and Oesophageal cancer isn't something I know much about I can understand how you feel about the next step on your journey. May I suggest you contact your consultant and arrange a meeting to discuss your fears and to see if there are any alternative treatments available.

As you are in this "uncomfortable" situation may I suggest you join the Emotional support forum where you may be able to express your feelings. To join, just click on the link I have provided and when the page opens up, just click "join" on the black banner at the bottom of the page.

I hope this has been of some help, if I can do anything else for you please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes - Brian

Hi Johnem, I haven’t had any problems after both my Laryngectomy Cancer or OC cancer but you may speak with your Team and see if a stretching is suitable as that is usually the next option, they place the endoscopy camera down and then stretch the area of restriction, in our local hospital they always sedate for the procedure.
Always best talk to your team with any problems, you will be amazed what they can do

Take care

Tony

What I am trying to find out is about other peoples' experience with a stent.  Does it hurt to fit it?  Can you feel that it is there once it has been fitted?  Can you eat more comfortably with a stent for example can you go away to a hotel and still manage to follow a stent diet?  How long do the benefits off the stent last on average?  What is the step that comes after the stent - can you keep on getting stents fitted as the last one wears out?

Hi Johnem

My experience of a stent was not good unfortunately but I can answer some of your questions.

They insert the stent under anaesthetic so you will wake up and it will be be done. The tube is inserted and over a short period, a day or so, the stent extends widthwise to fit your oesophagus, thereby enabling you to swallow food.  They expect you to use a soft diet to start with, building up the consistency of the food over time.  I was advised my stent would last 6 months, at which point I would go in and have the stent removed and have another put in it's place. To be fair, the process was totally pain free and done very quickly at my hospital. 

For me the stent didn't work as the tumour was at the top of my oesophagus and caused alot of pain and discomfort and I needed to have it removed with 6 weeks of the fitting.  I had problems with turning my neck and looking down but this was due to the stent being so high in my neck, not necessarily the fitting.

If I could have tolerated the pain the stent was in the right place and I was able to swallow.  

Got for it.  8m sure it will be fine for you.  And to be able to eat properly again will be wonderful for you.

Good luck

Hi Mellabs, thanks for this.  I had my stent fitted a week ago so am still feeling discomfort and some pain.  I am getting palliative care from our local hospice so am getting good advice.  I am worried that some heavy coughing fits with my  COPD the day after the stent was fitted could have disturbed things, but shall have to wait and see.  I am also not very tolerant of pain so want to make sure everything is OK as soon as possible.  I wonder if there is any way of checking that the stent has not moved.

I hope you a making some good progress without the stent

Hi

I had a CT scan to check the position of the stent.  Ask for one for piece of mind.  If its causing pain there will be a reason.

My pain was caused when they perforated the oesophagus. Fortunately the stent covered the 'hole' so the infection was minimal, but it did cause a little pain.  

Ask for a CT and get the answers you need.

Good luck

X

Thanks again Mellabs for the useful information.  I think you are right about getting a CT scan and I shall be seeing my palliative nurse to morrow.  Hope all well with you, Johnem

Hi Johnem

my husband, like you had chemo with little effect. He has just finished a 10 day course of radiotherapy that we think is his last treatment option. He had to have a stent fitted before the RT as his oesophagus had just about closed - only a little fluid going through. They also said the RT would cause inflammation which could block the oesophagus so they would fit a stent even if he had been able to eat better.
So - the stent was really painful and caused a painful cough for about 4 weeks then settled down and he was able to eat better.The RT knocked him for 6 and he currently has the flare that means the inflammation is getting worse. We hope that will turn around in a week or two and he will get a bit of benefit from the RT.  The stent definitely helped, though the 72 hour nonsense for it to settle in should be erased from all the literature. It definitely took a few weeks and no one was surprised at that. 

 I know stents get a mixed press but my husband couldn’t get anything down without one and dreads a feeding tube of any kind, so it was definitely the right thing for him. 
Good luck