Has Anyone Survived Esophageal Cancer?

My brother is 44 years old and has recently been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The tumor has grown large and is extended into his stomach and liver. His future doesn't look good. Has anyone ever had this type cancer and survived? I forgot to mention that his cancer type is squamous cell.

Vicki - My husband (age59) was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the gastric/esophageal junction on May 21, 2002. He has gone through 5 weeks of radiation/chemo (Cysplatin and Xeloda). We go next Tuesday for surgery consultation and should have surgery in about 3 weeks. What stage of treatment is your brother in?? I too am searching for survivor stories of this form of cancer. There is not much out there on the internet to fall back on. Prayers to you, your brother and family.

My cousin had extensive surgery two years ago for this type of cancer. He went through the battle with the chemo - etc. He had a particularly hard time because his mother passed away while he was in the hospital and he could not even attend her funeral. He has had many other personal problems to deal with as well - but he is such a fighter - he would get up and do things around the house and cut the grass in small parts until he got the job done. He was ministered to by many who loved and encouraged him and he has even had a heart attack since the surgery. But he simply does not give up and as of now is in remission. I have just discovered that I have breast cancer and I am on an emotional roller coaster. Some days I am up for the mastectomy and other days I want to run away from my body. I want to just unzip it and step right out of it. I know that God is in the shadows as well as in the light and that He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He has not promised to heal everyone who says, "Lord, Lord!" But He has promised to never leave us hopeless. I believe that my cancer will be a journey - one with days of smooth roads and some with rough spots to overcome - no unlike the pioneers who went west. But their determination and their will to succeed opened up a whole new world in America and I am expecting that this cancer will open up a whole new world for me.
My prayer is that I will honor God and be a good example to my children and grandchildren. I know that I am not a body - not a breast - not a piece of flesh; but a spirit born in the image of God and I know that He cares for me. I pray that your brother finds peace and serenity in the midst of the storm. Many people have been healed - not just with medicine - but also with divine intervention and personal courage. I pray that no matter the outcome of your brothers illness; that each of you will be brought closer to each other and that many joys lie ahead for each of you.

Hit with the same type last May 2001 after I had my physical and requested an upper GI since my sister had died in Feb 2001 from this cancer...had the chemo and rad treatment last summer and the surgery in Nov. it was in stage 3...back to work im March 2002 and the six month cat scan was uneventful...have returned but will never be the same as pre cancer..each case is unique and will pray for your brother to have positive thoughts and in the words of Lance Armsrong make an obstacle an opportunity, make a negative a positive.

Hi. I wish you guys the the best, there is always hope. I also have gastric cancer at my esophagus junction with lesions on my liver, the treatment kept my cancer stable, it has been nine months now, three months ago I stopped taking chemo to allow my cells to get back to normal. I will be back on chemo as soon as next week, I just don't know my outcome yet. I do believe that you can beat this, have faith and be strong, I can't even find a support group with my type of cancer. K.L

My husband, Jim, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer on July 5 this year. He is in stage 4 with squamous cell metastatic cancer - meaning that it has spread already to the lymph nodes, which isn't good. He was told it is inoperable and incurable. He has been doing chemo (cisplatin and 5FU) and the tumor (which is between the stomach and esophagus) has not grown. This is a very aggressive form of cancer and the dr. was pleasantly surprised that it hadn't spread in the past 2 months. I feel it is because of the change in diet and lifestyle that we started. We are doing the Macrobiotic Diet and have given up red meat, white sugar, white flour, and milk products and are eating whole grains, organic vegetables and fruit, beans, soy products and soon we will be trying seaweed. That sounds awful but if it means your life, it's worth it. We personally know 2 people who have been cured of their cancer with this diet. And it makes sense. I have been reading everything I can on the internet and diet and lifestyle change seems to be the answer. The body can heal itself if you give it nutrients. There are certain foods that can kill (suffocate) cancer cells. I have about 15 pages of typed notes that I have accumulated on diet and curing cancer if you are interested. You need to read the book "When Hope Never Dies" by Marlene McKenna and "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin. I feel it can be beat!

Judy T.
Holland, MI

My husband, Jim, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January of 2002. He was told it was inoperable also. It had metastasized to the liver. He has been on chemotherapy---first, cisplatin and 5-FU, now carbopatin and taxotere. We have been trying to follow the Macrobiotic diet and a healthy lifestyle. I think it is paying off. Every CAT scan he has had has shown a decrease in the size of the tumors in the liver. He can eat everything and anything, has no trouble swallowing and no pain anywhere! He is convinced he can get well. We are planning a trip out West for next summer! Many people are praying for him. I am convinced that prayers are helping. A positive attitude is so important! Please do not give up hope!! It can be beat!

Just an update on my husband who has stage 4 esophageal cancer that is "incurable and inoperable"...We have changed pretty much to a vegetarian diet (macrobiotic). In the last couple months we have had chicken a couple times and steak a couple times but it is always organic. He is doing great! He is taking chemo only but I'm not sure that that is helping at all as sometimes he gets pretty sick from it. I have been reading everything I can on it - alternative seems like our only hope with this type of cancer. We have met with 2 people who survived cancer by changing to this diet. Both were in Stage 4 but both were also melanoma. Jim is eating 5-7 fruits and veggies a day (the more colorful, the more vitamins in them.) Miso (fermented soybean paste) has been said to suffocate cancer cells so he's doing Miso soup once a day. He eats no dairy, eggs, white flour or sugar. He is juicing a pound of carrots a day (for his Vitamin A beta carotene -a cancer fighter), taking barley green, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Flaxseed, Coenzyme Q-10 and Grapeseed. He is doing visualization and breathing exercises (to relax and get oxygen into the bloodstream). Cancer hates oxygen (but loves sugar!) My advice is read, read, read and pray, pray, pray. You must read "When Hope Never Dies" (a survivor's story) and "Cancer Diagnosis-What to do Next" (alternative medicine. My husband feels great, looks great, can swallow without any problem now and can eat anything and everything. You would never know he has cancer! I don't know what part of our change in lifestyle has helped him but we're going to continue doing what we are doing! Write me if you have questions.

Judy T.

Good morning,
It was good to hear from someone that has experience with this. My husband has it. He has had the surgery (in May) and is now suffering with the results of it. He has no stomach at all, and the dr. made a pouch out of the colon and small intestines. He is not in pain at all, but has lost 50 lbs since Feb. 2002. He is on tube feedings plus food. We just started him on nutrivent 2.0 which has 500 calories per can. I am hoping that will do something for him. He is 77 but a young 77. He is doing what he can to beat it. I am not ready to lose him and he is not ready to go yet. Any info you can give me would be greatly accepted.

Sincerely,
Marilyn J.

My husband has just had the surgery for this cancer. He is still in the hospital. It is a terrible surgery where they remove the esophagus and part of the stomach. They had hoped that they found it in time but found that it had spread to the lymph nodes. They have not started any type of treatment yet but are saying that he will have chemo and radiation after he recovers from this surgery. I can use any help I can get from anyone on different treatments and now I am seeing a lot about diet and nutrition also coral calcium. I am trying research as much as I can so I can help him. Anyone with advice on anything that might give him a better chance? We have all kinds of friends and family praying for us and I know that has helped to let him come thru the surgery.