My 53 year old dad was diagnosed with Stage 3 Oesophageal cancer in June 2020 after struggling to swallow from March 2020 and unknowingly having Barrett’s oesophagus, we werent told the rest of the staging due to the doctors not knowing and said they wouldn’t know until he had his op. From March - June he lost about 4 stone and the cancer eventually stopped him from being able to drink so he was rushed into hospital extremely dehydrated, he had a feeding tube fitted and then started an intense chemo the following month. Which worked wonders the tumour shrunk and he was able to eat normally! Although we were devastated everything looked positive the cancer didn’t seem to have spread and the oncologists were aiming for curative treatment however in November he went for his operation and we found that the cancer had grown out of the back of his oesophagus and around his pulmonary artery. The surgeon and 5 other surgeons looked to see if they could remove the tumour but ultimately decided it was too risky and the operation was unsuccessful. He is really struggling with pain at the moment due to having his ribs broken for the op and we have now had to wait nearly 8 weeks for his next oncology appointment to find out if they will offer him more treatment, this is on the 30th of December. The surgeon had told us 6 months - 1 year without treatment but we don’t know if they are going to offer treatment. I feel physically sick everytime I think about it my dad is my whole world and our whole family is absolutely distraught. Just wondering if anyone else has any experience with the cancer spreading to the pulmonary artery as my dads surgeon was extremely surprised. This is such an awful time and I just wish that he could get better but there is nothing we can do, is 6 months - 1 year really all the time we have left with him?
Dear AMH38
I have read many posts over recent weeks, yours has almost brought me to tears, I am so very sorry that after believing surgery would help, you and Dad have found that was not to be the case. I can't begin to imagine how that must have been for you.
My husband was diagnosed in May, palliative only, Our Blog shows his journey so far.... we were told that without treatment he would already of left us, with treatment just over a year is the norm... we do everything we can to fight against that prognosis and I hope that you and your Dad will do also.
I have no experience of pulmonary artery attachment by the tumour so I am unable to respond on that, but I do understand the physical feeling of sickness, the sheer shock and affects this disease has not only on the patient.
Thinking of you all....aim passed all predictions, don't draw a line in the sand..... keep going. Good Luck
Lowe'
Hello GMGM
My heart goes out to you, it is so very difficult when first you hear the news of a loved one's diagnosis, and although it has felt like your world is falling apart, I hope that in the coming days, as you hear more news and further tests are undertaken that you will be able to find some of the positives you are searching for.
It is hard to get from the internet any real answers, as you will possibly need more information on your Dad's condition before you are able to search effectively.
There are some positives to be found, and I hope that as you get some of your own.
Here if you need someone to rant to, I visit the site regular and your are very welcome here, we know how difficult these early days can be
Regards
Lowe'
