Advice on stents

Hello Nottmb4a978 

Welcome to Macmillan's Online community - although I am so sorry to find you joining us. 

I am Brian, one of the Community Champions here at Macmillan. I have just noticed your post has gone unanswered. I can't answer it myself as I have a different cancer but by me replying it will be "bumped up" to the top of the page and I hope seen and answered by other members of thee Oesophageal cancer group.

I hope the stent fitting goes well for you.

Best wishes - Brian

Keep well I'm going through it

Hi I thought I'd reply to your query as I'm on my second Esophageal stent.Its very difficult to know what to say as everyone reacts differently.My initial stent was a partially covered metal stent, the procedure was done under sedation and since then I have said I would only have Endoscopy under GA.The endoscopist was a locum and rather forceful and I didn't feel supported in any way at all.I bled alot which I was unprepared for along with the subsequent 6-8 wks of pain.After 8 wks of misery I was told the stent had slipped and twisted back into stomach wall effectively blocking it.I changed hospital providers and have found wonderful care now.Ive had 2 further endoscopies to remove the old stent the ends of which had seen tumour regrowth, this regrowth had 'necrosed' and effectively died.Im due another endoscopy in the next 10days and I'm now going to say I don't want them to go fishing as the subsequent 2 wks of uncontrollable pain is something I can't bear.SO my experiences suggest one needs to weigh up if being able to eat a bit more normally is worth the procedure and pain.Some folks do really well with stents, but it is only a temporary fix,stents block, move,migrate.Only you can decide what's the right course for you.In my case all the focus has been on the stent and resolving issues rather than being able to get on with Chemo and TT which I felt was showing promising results.