just waiting for biopsy. but terrified please answer if you can.

my ex husband has just went in for a scope where they could not even get a pediatric tube down. had to balloon it to get biopsy. the doctor told him it was a large tumor. and said cancer. even though the biopsy was just taken. so i assume if she said the word she must be pretty sure. she said it was close to the stomach. he has lost about 60 or 70 pounds already has had trouble swallowing for about 3 months. for about the past month. its just liquids and he can't get that down either most of it comes right back up . take a sip throw up. over again and again. very weak and sore. he is 44 years old. and was always very athletic. he has lost all his muscle. mass. he was to get results from biopsy in four days. when we went to the doctors visit well actually just before we arrived they called to say it was just sent in today. and made an appointment for 11 days later. this does not sound right to me at all . he is a rather passive person and feels no right to question it. since he has no med insurance. can anyone tell me what to expect. and why it would take so long. for an appointment. it was done at  local hosp. but said they would.send it to u of m. he is very malnurished. and dehydrated.. i'll be moving back to mich. to take care of him. what can he do to be proactive. in getting the care he needs. what can i do. he is positive and only wants to get better. but everything i read is pretty gloomy especially if his symtoms are a sign of what stage it is. and  do the symtoms usuallly mimic the stage. please any and all info is appreciated. my mom was taken by ovarian cancer. i hate to think of whats next. thanks again and god bless all that are here .

Sorry you are here. Our gastroeneterologist told me it was cancer before the biopsy was back. He said he knew what he was looking at, and if the biopsy came back negative, he wouldn't believe it. The next step was an EUS which is a scope with an ultrasound that is used to continue staging the disease. They are able to determine the condition of tissue deeper than what they view with a scope. We had to wait about 2 weeks for a slot for the test, and live outside Boston so there is access to a lot of good medical care in the area. They can't really determine treatment till they have fully staged it, and know if it has spread anywhere else.

Is there anyone who does patient advocacy where he gets medical care? He is probably going to need someone to help him seek out available resources for medications like anti-emetics if he has chemo (drug companies have programs to cover the best anti-emetics that are used with aggressive treatment regimens), as well as some kind of coverage for medical care. Although we haven't used them, I know the American Cancer Society has resources for patients, so maybe if you called the local group they could send you in the right direction.

I'm sorry to here of the news.

Once the EUS is done then he will be sent for a PET scan. All of this is very important and will help with the staging.

Most important, don't read the prognosis, There are new drugs and proceedures out there which may help. I read the internet and drove myself crazy. You ex is a person that might respond very well as long as you get the right treatment.

Stay on the site and all of us will try to help you thru this.

thanks ,it just seems like a  fast growing cancer those 4 to 8 weeks of testing and staging. treatment maybe would of helped. with my moms dx. it was to far gone. she refused chemo. and was gone in 3 months. its scary because she was always so healthy and active. from the time she started not feeling so good til the end was about 5 months. i just can't get over the long wait for results of biopsy, with him not being able to hold even liquids down. you would think they would admit him. like i said he is losing 1 or 2 pounds a day, thats alot. sorry just venting and frustrated. when my mom was sick she had excellent ins. and can't stop thinking if he was insured this would be swift with options. anyway thanks again for listening. will be visiting site often. to learn. oh the one question i had . do these severe symtoms. reflect what stage it is usually?

Hi,

I was 32 at diagnosis but my symptoms were the same as your ex-husbands (diagnosed October 2006) - there is no point in worrying yourself yet until you know the stage  - I am still here.  He is still young and has a good attitude which will really help.

Best wishes,

Aoife 

I’m so sorry to hear about your news. The waiting is the worst. In my husband’s case, we were told that it was most likely cancer the day they did the biopsy, but they couldn’t really confirm it until the biopsy came back. The gastroenterologist called us within 3 days confirming that it was. And when we went to our doctor 2 days after that, he also confirmed it. We then had to schedule a PET scan so they could determine the staging and talk about what kind of treatments. This took a few weeks to schedule. It wait is very frustrating. If you’re like everyone else, you’re going to search the internet and read everything you can about EC…..and it’s very dismal. I would suggest that you go through and read the threads here and it will give you some comfort. I don’t know if the severe symptoms he has are any indication of what stage he is in….my husband didn’t have any symptoms (still doesn’t) and he was diagnosed as a stage IV. After 8 weeks of treatment, we just found out that where it had spread to his lymph nodes, all have shrunk at least 50%. ~Kelly

hi...i was 37 when i was daignosed and i too had the same symptoms as your ex husband.  after my biopsy, my dr. told me it was possibly cancer but did not confirm it until he had the results from the biopsy and a ct scan.  when he gave me the diagnosis he told me i was a T3/4 and i had advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, which is very rare for a female of my age, ethnicity and health.  needless to say, that's what i had!  i did my research and found Dr. Valerie Rusch, a surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC.  she is regarded as one of the best in the world at what she does.  I called her, sent her all my test results and had an appointment the very next day.  after intense treatment and major surgery am pleased and proud to say, i sit and type to you completely cancer free!

i believe your ex husband can do it too.  stay positive and be well.

God bless!

-Stacey

So sorry.  My story is pretty much the same as the rest.  The doctor knew when he did the Endoscopy.  He said it was a big ugly tumor and that is why I couldn't get anything down into my stomach.  Be hopeful.  I am a 5 year survivor and my oncologist has just given me a "clean bill of health".  No cancer.  Your ex is in for a pretty tough time though.  Keep in touch with this board.  Everyone here is so helpful and you will gain reassurance and comfort from the others.  Best wishes.

Stacey - Your statement that you are now cancer free - what wonderful words for you to be able to say!  I read a lot of your postings on this site and I have to say that you must be an incredible woman, to have experienced what you have and to be helping those of us going through it now.  Actually, all of the survivors on this site are amazing!

Helene

Thank you so much, Helene!

i think it's a miracle and feel so blessed to have beaten this awful desease.  i feel God has given me  a second chance and the least i can do is help the people out there who are going through what i went through.

i pulled a lot of strength from this board and i think the people here are extraordinary!

On 7/3/2009 iluvalan wrote:

Stacey - Your statement that you are now cancer free - what wonderful words for you to be able to say!  I read a lot of your postings on this site and I have to say that you must be an incredible woman, to have experienced what you have and to be helping those of us going through it now.  Actually, all of the survivors on this site are amazing!

Helene