Doctors seem to have given up on my beloved granfather, he is only 68 i need help

 my grandfather who is 67 has Stage 2 esophageal cancer and underwent radiation and chemo therapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital Cancer Research Facility in the Weinberg building in Baltimore MD starting in June of 2012.  He was scheduled to have surgery on September 20th 2012 under the direction of Dr. Yang.  However, the treatment was cut abruptly short when when a pre surgery ct scan showed that the cancer spread and attached its self to the bone.  The doctors are injecting him with a ostioperosis drug every month to try and throw the cancer off the bone but it does not seem to be working and he is getting weaker and weaker by the day.  He came up to MA and visited my family for thanksgiving and sat in a lazy boy most of the day and slept.  He is the only means of transpertation my grandmother has on account of the fact that she is blind.  I want to know if anyone else has heard of any other stories similar to this, if so have people survived, and lastly what treatment options should my family be looking at for him.

Please help

On Nov 30, 2012 12:15 AM Henk5066 wrote:

 my grandfather who is 67 has Stage 2 esophageal cancer and underwent radiation and chemo therapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital Cancer Research Facility in the Weinberg building in Baltimore MD starting in June of 2012.  He was scheduled to have surgery on September 20th 2012 under the direction of Dr. Yang.  However, the treatment was cut abruptly short when when a pre surgery ct scan showed that the cancer spread and attached its self to the bone.  The doctors are injecting him with a ostioperosis drug every month to try and throw the cancer off the bone but it does not seem to be working and he is getting weaker and weaker by the day.  He came up to MA and visited my family for thanksgiving and sat in a lazy boy most of the day and slept.  He is the only means of transpertation my grandmother has on account of the fact that she is blind.  I want to know if anyone else has heard of any other stories similar to this, if so have people survived, and lastly what treatment options should my family be looking at for him.

Please help

I should add that Doctors have given him 3 to 6 months to live so i need help like now.

The cancer has spread onto the bones he had chemo and radiation but everything has stoped now.  We are trying to find out about the possability of tomo therapy but we arent finding much.  does any one know if tomo has been used to treat esophogeal cancer before.

What would you target?  The primary spot or the mets?  I am in a similar situation.  My boyfriend of 10 years, is 66.  He has stage IV Esophogeal cancer which has spread to his liver, it was diagnosed in January of 2012.  I asked about this radiospheres treatment I have seen mentioned here but he says that is not an option.  We see him Tuesday to see why.  Cannot operate b/c they cannot allow the liver to go without treatment while he recovers from surgery.  I don't understand it all.

chemo was stoped because it was

A. in effectivve,

B. causing more harm than good

C. the main tumor was shrunk via radiation and is no longer a threat.

all three apply

He has an appointment for a second oppinion next friday at st anges hospital in baltimore for a second oppinion and to look into tomo.  the hope is to get rid of the bone mets now as they pose the biggest threat.

where is he undergoing treatment?  i know some hospitals who have tomo, such as hopkins, have it but are unwilling to use it on much other than prostate cancer.  I do know that the reason that a operation would stop would be because the doctors fear that if they operate, that the paitent would not be able to recover.

Please note i am not a doctor, have no medical expirence and am just a desperate family member of a loved one.

You are very right about time is important. You will need to push the doctors, EC is a very hard cancer not all of them are willing to try.
I would suggest you call University of Pittsburg as well, and Sloan Memorial NY.

My husband was also non-operable. Just my opinion but once it spreads seems like it becomes more specialized. You will hear, that it is EC cancer cells so they don't switch to bone chemo drugs, but when you make an appointment ask to see both specialist one for EC and one for bone.

If your Dad wants more treatment you have to get very very tough with doctors. "He wants to continue, you are obligated to find him treatment". "If you wont treat where and who shall we go to."

Several groups have transportation services, if you get stuck holler. I'm the PA rep to help get people to other survivors, I'll email the MD rep now.

Where does he live ?

The road is a hard one, hang in there

On Dec 06, 2012 6:34 PM jaycc wrote:

You are very right about time is important. You will need to push the doctors, EC is a very hard cancer not all of them are willing to try.
I would suggest you call University of Pittsburg as well, and Sloan Memorial NY.

My husband was also non-operable. Just my opinion but once it spreads seems like it becomes more specialized. You will hear, that it is EC cancer cells so they don't switch to bone chemo drugs, but when you make an appointment ask to see both specialist one for EC and one for bone.

If your Dad wants more treatment you have to get very very tough with doctors. "He wants to continue, you are obligated to find him treatment". "If you wont treat where and who shall we go to."

Several groups have transportation services, if you get stuck holler. I'm the PA rep to help get people to other survivors, I'll email the MD rep now.

Where does he live ?

The road is a hard one, hang in there

he lives in howard county right outside of colombia, i am up in Massachusetts in Northborough, right outside of worchester.  The two main places we are looking at are around him in baltamore and up here around boston.  he just keeps trying and hanging in there.  i will be sure to let him know.