::::: Are the survival rates for EC lower than any other advanced cancer? For instance is stage III lung cancer or breast cancer more survivable? Why?
This is an interesting question. Maybe one reason is that EC isn't as common as breast or lung cancer and therefore the research and progress with regards treatment hasn't got the attention/funds that more common cancers have. Breast cancer has a more options for treatment because of its link to hormones and also prostate cancer can be treated with hormones. Lung cancer is very common - it doesn't seem to metastasis early. EC can only be treated with chemo and radiation and excision. There doesn't seem to be any new line therapies like antibodies e.g. herceptin... or am I wrong about that?
::::: Is it because the Ivor Lewis surgery is risky? The chemo is less effective against EC? Do people die because their digestive system is all messed up and they become weak?
I don't know but I think it's because EC spreads very early. I thought I read that it was because the lymph nodes are located very close to the esophagus and there are lots of them. In breast cancer the further away from the armpit the cancer is, the longer the cancer takes to spread to the lymph nodes. Also it depends on how aggressive the cancer is and some breast cancers grow slowly. EC is deemed to be as aggressive as pancreatic cancer and the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is very poor inspite of chemo.
::::::I have read that sometimes EC is more common in folks that drink a lot, have poor eating habits and/or smoke...could these traits and a generally unhealthy lifestyle contribute to the lower survivor numbers?
Most people don't have particularly healthy life styles. Diet, smoking and drinking have to take their place in the queue with lack of exercise, pollution, plastic packaging, chemical contamination of food, water and soil not to mention daily stress. We are living a long way from the natural way we were intended to live. I suspect that the people who survive the best after EC are those who were diagnosed early and those whose genetic make up allowed them to respond well to chemo therapy.
:::: I haven't been able to figure out why the statistics are so poor for EC and I'm wondering if anyone here has an explaination or a personal theory about this.
I am new to EC. I would also like to know why EC is so aggressive.
best
marilyn