Advice for new diagnosis please

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Hello all. My 89 year old dad has just been diagnosed with advanced oesophageal cancer with possible secondaries on lung. Chemo has been ruled out and he was offered radiotherapy or to have a stent inserted  to help with eating. And really just going down the palliative care route. Is anyone in the same situation or have a family member experiencing the same. What have people done?

Thank you

Hollsmolls

  • Hi Hollsmolls

    i can’t answer really but if you contact your Dads nursing team at the hospital they are wonderful explaining and helping you with questions. I wish you and your Dad all the best x

  • Hello Hollsmolls,

    I'm sorry about your Dad's diagnosis. My husband is on his 2nd cycle of chemo and immunotherapy so we can't offer any insight. I just wish you and your family love and strength in your support for your Dad xxx

  • Dear Hollsmolls

    so sorry to hear that your Dad has been diagnosed with this dreadful disease.

    from a family point of view when my husband was too poorly for chemo and under palliative care (different tumor type so no experience of feeding tubes sorry) I have the following advice for supportive care.

    Your Dad will be very tired. Sleep a lot. Try to filter your visitors and do not try and accommodate them all. Or you might end up like I did making cups of tea and small talk with lots of people and missing out on quality time with your Dad.

    Talk about family memories and play his favourite music. One of those digital photo frames loaded with happy times are nice to have.

    Keep in close contact with his health professionals anticipating what medicines he may need next so that you have them in and are not panicking to get a prescription or emergency doctor in the middle of the night.

    It is a time for lots of love to be shared. The whole family need to look after themselves.

    wishing you all the best x

  • Hi Hollsmolls,

    My 83 year old mum was diagnosed in January this year after difficulty swallowing. They thought initially there was no spread, but one of the scans showed a spot on her lung. She is on the palliative care pathway. Radiotherapy and a stent were offered as an option but she is determined to carry on as long as possible without. Her diet is now very mashed up food but she is coping really well.  So far she has been able to carry on with her usual activities eg gardening, reading, jigsaw puzzles, but she does get more tired easily.


    I am not sure if this helps, but hope it does. Sending you and your family best wishes on this journey x

  • Hi Hollsmolls,

    I am and it's so hard trying to stay strong and positive

    The beginning of August this year my mother in law had a sore throat and struggling to swallow, I got her a GP apt the same week, after blood tests she was referred to MRI, and after a couple of scans, x-rays mri and endoscopy we were told she has cancer and the lump is a T3, she then developed a chest infection and after a consultation appointment last week we were told food dropping into her lungs and that she had to go nil by mouth, she has had a nose feeding tube in, and today she is having a stomach rig fitted. Tomorrow we have an appointment to speak to the nurses to get the actual diagnosis, as I spoke to her nurse last week and the words terminal and palliative care came up. so i arranged the meeting as i want them to tell her and not me. 

    sending love x

  • Thank you. Wedo not have a stage as we didn't want to ask in front of him. I have stage 4 lung cancer and after 4 years I am happy and willing to talk about everything.  I just don't think dad and mum are there yet. Mum is finding it hard to accept he's really very ill. And dad just wants to sleep.  

    I hope things go OK at you mum in laws meeting. 

    Hollsmolls