Can You Beat Stage4 Esophogial Cancer

On 2/18/2008 Momlynn wrote:

Hi Genevieve:  My name is Lynn.  My son, Robbie (age 34), was diagnosed with Stage IV EC on April 6 2006.  Robbie had mets to the liver and the lymph nodes in the esophagus.  The doctors gave him 2-3 weeks without treatment and 3-4 months with treatment.  Robbie chose to fight.  He had every conceiveable treatment available to him here in Canada even trying trial drugs.  The problem with Robbie was the cancer in his liver.  The tumour in the esophagus was completely irradicated with brachytherapy and the only cancer left was in his liver.  He fought very hard but because the cancer was so widespread in his liver he lost his battle on October 7, 2007 at age 35.  The main thing that Robbie taught me was to live one day at a time - just one day at a time.  The past is gone and we cannot change it, the future is not yet here and today is the present - a gift that we should all live to the fullest.

Robbie's cancer was a very aggressive adenocarcinoma and he had over 60 cancerous lesions in his liver but with a strong will and all the treatment he received he managed to live for 18 months.  My oldest son gave the eulogy at the service and he said "my brother did not win the war but he certainly won the battle and is a hero.  He fought with all he had and he did many things that he had always wanted to do and he lived each day with his cancer and did not think about dieing.  Even in the last week of his life he comforted all who came to see him." 

The best advice anyone can give you is NEVER GIVE UP and LIVE EACH DAY AS THOUGH IT COULD BE THE LAST.  I spent the last few weeks with my son every day and I would not change that.  He left a wonderful wife and 2 beautiful little girls behind.

I will pray for you and your family but please NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

Hugs to you

Lynn