Just Diagnosed

My mother just received the news that she has EC.  She is 67 and has a 4 cm mass in the lower esophagus with 3 adjacent lymph nodes involved.  We have to make an appointment to see an Oncologist next week to get the Stage and Treatment plan.  I do understand that a second opinion is very important.  Does anyone other have other suggestions?  I have read some really good information and just looking for some guidence because this is all new to me and my family.  Thanks!

Based on your description she should have preop chemo /rads then surgery, especially if an Adeno Ca.  If she is not a candidate for surgery then she can be treated with definitive chemo rads with some success.  More so in SCCa.  In many cases the problem is not local control but systemic spread.

 

On 10/20/2007 Witchdoctor wrote:

Based on your description she should have preop chemo /rads then surgery, especially if an Adeno Ca.  If she is not a candidate for surgery then she can be treated with definitive chemo rads with some success.  More so in SCCa.  In many cases the problem is not local control but systemic spread.

Thanks for the response.  I am just trying to find all the information possible.  My mother is majorly depressed and I don't know what to do to help.  She is terrified about what is to come and I just listen but it's so hard.  I have suggested that she speak to a survivor, maybe that will help her state of mind.  I don't know, but I just want her strong enough to fight this battle ahead.

I am so very sorry about your mother. My mother was diagnosed in Dec last year. I remember how devastated I was when we got the news. Everything I read seemed to be gloom and doom. My mother is still here and except for a little weight loss you would never know what she has been through. My mother is 76 years old. She was a stage T3NIMO. The Dr said it looked like some (2 or 3) nodes were involved but had not spread anywhere. She had chemo and radiation since she could not have surgery due to poor lung condition from 50+ years of smoking. Treatment was rough and she was in the hospital a couple of times but we all got through it. I wish your family luck,as this is not an easy road to travel. This is a great site for info and support. I don't know how I could have gotten through it without the help of the wonderful people on this board. Oh, my mother never did get a second opinion, but I think it is a good idea. My mother had breast cancer several years before and she had so much trust in her oncologist that she did not want a second opinion and of course it was always her decision. Please keep us posted on your mother. We care !!

                                                                    Pat

 

On 10/20/2007 Patty5 wrote:

I am so very sorry about your mother. My mother was diagnosed in Dec last year. I remember how devastated I was when we got the news. Everything I read seemed to be gloom and doom. My mother is still here and except for a little weight loss you would never know what she has been through. My mother is 76 years old. She was a stage T3NIMO. The Dr said it looked like some (2 or 3) nodes were involved but had not spread anywhere. She had chemo and radiation since she could not have surgery due to poor lung condition from 50+ years of smoking. Treatment was rough and she was in the hospital a couple of times but we all got through it. I wish your family luck,as this is not an easy road to travel. This is a great site for info and support. I don't know how I could have gotten through it without the help of the wonderful people on this board. Oh, my mother never did get a second opinion, but I think it is a good idea. My mother had breast cancer several years before and she had so much trust in her oncologist that she did not want a second opinion and of course it was always her decision. Please keep us posted on your mother. We care !!

                                                                    Pat

Thanks for your response Pat.  I am glad to hear that your mom is doing well.  I do agree that the information I have read is a bit scary to say the least.  I am trying to just fill myself with information and be prepared for what may come.  I have shared survivor stories with my mom, but it doesn't make her feel better for long.  She just wants to know what will happen with her.  That, I do understand right now.  I will keep you posted on what happens with her in the coming weeks.  I am glad to have a site such as this to comunicate with such well informed individuals.  Thanks for your caring words and concern. 

Hi There,

 My mom was diagnosed last October with EC, it seems that she was at the same stage as your mom. My mom was 68 when diagnosed. The good news is 1 year later she is still here.

She did chemo & radiation & had surgery in February of this year. She was in the hospital for about 10 days after the surgery. She had lots of tubes in her but. I am happy to say that she is doing great!! She is eating everything now & has started to gain some weight.

She does have to lay down after she eats, but she is eating well & feeling well and she looks great!! You would never know she had been sick, other than the large amount of weight she has lost (she like some of the rest of us could afford to).

It is a long road, just love her & support her all you can, there are going to be days where she feels sick or sad (so will you) but just keep fighting!!

My mom still has days when her back hurts or she feels down, that is going to happen but take things one day at a time.

Just remember we are all in this fight together, If you have any questions or just need to vent we are here for you

 

Janice

 

Thanks everyone for your responses.  Mom had an appointment with the Oncologist yesterday and she has a more specific diagnosis, Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction.  She has to get a PET scan to research the lymph nodes further before staging and treatment plans are mapped out.  Does anyone have experience with this stage of the process.  My mother has 2 to 3 lymph nodes that are swollen that they are concerned about.  The PET will give the more information about them and ensure that there is no other involvement that the CT scan didn't indicate.  Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Hi, My mum was also diagnosed with esophagus cancer in September 2007. after almost 2 months of diagnosis tests. After finding several cysts in her liver (as well as the tumour in her esophagus which had grown slightly since her last CT scan 1 month before - just at 2cm diameter), the doctor decided to do chemotherapy. She has started her 3 sessions (each session being 3 weeks long). Drugs used are: ECF (Epirubicin, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil). She is hooked up to a titanium needle and tube in her IVC (main vein in chest) where the Fluoracil is drippped into her 24/7. She's alot weaker now with the side effects of chemo on top of the not being able to eat because of the blockage.

I hope this helps. Its similar to your mother's case as well. Just hang in there, pray and hope all goes well.