Oesophageal Cancer,

Hi

It is hard going, has he received any possible results yet ?

Unfortunately possibly like many of us on this site we only wish there was a one stop shop to fix all ! but unfortunately I bet nearly all of us have had some slight difference with the therapy/treatment

Please always speak with your Oncologist with your Husband as with both my cancers you tend to forget thw questions when you have a consultation, I used to make notes

Hope all goes well with stent, and do let us all know how things are

Take care

Tony

When he was initially diagnosed, the Cancer was in the liver and lymph nodes aswell, which is why he couldn’t be operated on. Then the next set of results showed, the main cancer hadn’t grown, but the others had slightly grown. The last set of results have shown, slight increase in the main cancer and also in the kidney. So, I think the answer to your main question about having any positive results is really no. I’ve only been to one of his appointments with his consultant, unfortunately he prefers to go on his own, which is extremely frustrating. 

Hi,

To get the full picture, I think you definitely need to speak with your husband's consultant. So I hope your husband is amenable to you going along to all future consultations: this whole business affects you too (I realize that's an understatement!), and two pairs of ears at those meetings always helps - there is a lot to try take in and remember.

From what you write, your husband has secondary oesophageal cancer. (I.e. he has a primary tumour in his oesophagus, which has now spread to other organs.)

My experience is that, for primary oesophageal cancer, the standard treatment is surgery, along with a some combination of pre- and/or post-operative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The objective there is to complete remove the cancer. However, if the cancer has spread, surgery might not be a productive option, and a whole-body 'systemic' approach is then taken, usually using chemotherapy.

It will be hard going for you, for sure. But the important thing is to try to remain positive, and to carry on doing the things you like to do (so far as you can), rather than letting the illness completely dominate everything. I realize that that's easier to say than it is to do - but I am in a similar position to you, and it's the advice I give myself.

All the best.