Awaiting scan results and waiting for a pet/ct scan

Hi, although I don't know your name I would like to give you some comfort. I was diagnosed as T3 N2 M0 staging, I was a smoker for about 45 years and not super fit. I had been a heavy weekend drinker up to about the age of 42. I had lost about 4 stones over 6 months before I finally went to the doctor and eating was becoming more difficult. I was 57 years of age at the time and had surgery only through personal choice. That was in October 2016, I was diagnosed on July 12th and had various scans as your dad is going through now. So that was 3 years and 8 months ago and I am doing well. Never give up hope try to be positive and get your dad to be positive, it really does help. Please ask anything else you want and if I can help you I will. Keep us posted and others here will be happy to give you advice and information. Good luck to your dad and kind regards Frank.

Thank you dear Frank, for your reply. 
it has given me great comfort knowing people can survive this cruel disease. I think I need to trust the process, it’s just so hard not knowing what’s happening next.

im trying to be so strong for my dad and one good thing is, this has forced him into an early retirement, so I keep telling myself whatever the outcome we are going to have some quality time ahead.

Do you happen to know if the size of the tumour has any relevance to a cure or treatment? My dads is measuring 2cm in the bottom of the gullet. Is this big for that part of the body? 

sorry have so many questions keep popping up in my mind.

i wish everyone good health and happiness.

Hi, I was diagnosed in February with oesophageal cancer. I had a 5cm tumour and extensive lymph node involvement from my shoulders to below my diaphram. I was T3 N3 M1 (old school stage 4). I was told that surgery to remove the tumour is pointless because the cancer had spread so much in my lymphatic system. They can't remove that many lymph nodes. The plan was not curative, it was containment with a view to buy me extra time. However, I was lucky in that my cancer was HER2-positive, which meant that I could have the wonder drug Herceptin as part of my chemo along with Cisplatin and Capecitabine. After 4 cycles my tumour has shrunk to almost nothing and my lymph nodes are now back to normal size. I'm not out of the woods yet as there are bound to be cancer cells still in my lymphatic system and at the tumour site but my medical team are delighted with my response to the chemo.    

This gives me so much hope reading your post, can I ask did they find the spread to your lymph nodes on the CT or Pet Ct.

we have just had an update, that my dad has his pet/ct tomorrow, so feel really nervous about the results and what now lies ahead.

many thanks and wishing you well.

Hi again. My CT scan showed one lymph node enlarged in my shoulder but the doctors couldn't be sure if it was as a result of cancer. Lymph nodes are always changing in size as they fight any type of infection. It was the PET scan that really showed the true extent of the cancer progression in my lymphatic system. Apparently it "lit up like a christmas tree." Now they know where to look on the normal CT scans and overlay the PET scan images on top. 

Good luck with your Dad's scan. 

Hi thanks for the quick reply,

that makes sense as they said this would be the colour version and will show up the extent of any spread.

will update once we get the results,

thanks again! 

This is really positive to hear. My partner has been diagnosed with this, we aren’t sure what lymph nodes it’s gone to, had a PET scan on Monday and will get a call this Monday with results and results of the second lot of biopsies they took today. 

Hi, your head will be spinning and full of questions. I don't think 2cm in size is anything to worry about and I found it helpful to totally ignore figures and survival statistics. I wasn't burying my head in the sand, I had looked on cancer research UK and the survival statistics for someone of my age were not encouraging. Again, feel free to ask anything. Kind regards Frank.

Hello

I just wanted to add my assurances to those already expressed by others, my Husband was diagnosed last year in June, 4 rounds of FLOT, had the Ivor Lewis op in October and is recovering well. Your Dad has age and overall fitness on his side.

My husband is now cancer free and his tumour was a similar size, so keep your chin up, the waiting is awful I know, but don't Google, you will get genuine people on this forum who are an absolute mine of information, so ask away and its true, staying positive is the key.

Good Luck and my very best wishes X

Thank you to take the time to reply, this has really comforted me! My dad went for his Pet/Ct scan this afternoon so emotions are high. We just want to start on the path of treatment whatever that may look like. 

I believe the CSN will be calling us on Monday to discuss as apparently  his case will be looked at by another hospital 40 miles away.

i think it’s the waiting that’s really making me feel bad as he is convinced he only has months to live and trying to get all his stuff in order.

i think your right he has age and fitness on his side, he is just concerned as the Ct scan showed swollen lymph nodes but no spread to other organs and bloods came back ok.

Going to try and keep busy this weekend, as I just want to know either way.

thank you for talking and reassuring me.

have a great weekend :-)