CancerCompass message board discussion started by GeorgesGirl on 3/20/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22204,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello All,I am really frustrated and at a loss for what needs to be done. Let me give you a brief summary an update on my dad. He was dx 12/2007 with Stage IV EC with mets to the lung. It was determined after 4 chemo treatments that the mass in the lung was NOT ec, but a residual mass containing air brochiograms. -Extremely wonderful news! He was upgraded to Stage III with no mets. Radiation was recommended and started 3/11. He has had 7 radiation treatments as of today.This past Friday Daddy started with shortness of breath and chest pains. He knew the chest pains were from the tumor, not the heart. He was admitted Sunday because of these symptoms and is still in there now. A CT scan, EKG, echocardiogram, and several breathing tests were done. Rad. onc said its too early for radiation to the cause, pulmonary/respiratory said the breathing tests show no problems and they believe the amount of radiation should be cut down. They did detect a fibrilation in his heartrate. However, after being straped to a tilimetry (sp) device it was found that the irratic heartbeat did not appeared to be connected to any pain or other symptoms. The dr. increased his lopressor to control the heart rate. Daddy's reactions to treatments, meds, etc. has never been typical. He is more sick on days 5-6 of chemo than 2-3 although they insist we give him the emend on day 3 instead of when he really needs it on day 6, etc. I could go on and on...Throughout all of this he had continued with nausea, vomiting, and dry heaves. He can not sleep for any length of time because nothing can go down the esophagus. He wakes up because he has to cough up mucus and saliva. Sometimes the secretions are very thick and its harder for him to cough them up. He coughs, which enduces vomiting that leads to dry heaves that causes him to be in pain all over. He has been given nausea and pain meds and meds to dry up and/or thin out secretions. These give minimal help. I am frustrated because I see no end in sight. Until he is able to swallow, I don't see these problems getting any better at all. I am at a loss as to what to do. We were in hopes that he would at least be able to swallow water by now but he can't. The only option I can think of is a stent. But, can radiation be done on an area that contains a stent? Does anyone have any other suggestions?At what point during radiation did symptoms begin for some of you? When did you get any relief? Daddy's tumor was originally 5 cms but was 4cm after 4 chemo treatments. According to the med. onc. this is a large tumor and I guess the larger it is the more time it takes. I just want him to have one good day. He hasn't had a good day since he was dx in December. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks!   GeorgesGirl Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi thereMy dad is stage IV with mets to bone. He tried two rounds of chemo then decided it was too hard on him and didn't give him the quality of life he wanted, so stopped treatment. In mid feb. he began haveing difficulty swallowing. After seeing all of his doctors he was given two options to ease swallowing, a stent or radiation. His doctors suggested the stent was the better of the two. We were told that a stent can only be put in if there isn't more then 60% occlusion. The radiation often works but has longer, sometimes more difficult side effects and it a longer process. My dad's tumor is 9cm long but it was originally growing outward, so it was "only" blocking 40% of his esophagus. They put a steel 2cm diameter stent in the last week of feb. He was quite uncomfortable for about 3 days, didn't have much appetite as was tired out from the procedure. After about a week he felt basically normal. He still has occasional trouble swallowing but not often. I know that some stents migrate and that some people have had plastic ones. From what we were told the steel are more durable, longer lasting, and have less tendency to migrate. We were lucky that there was enough room to put a larger stent in that will hopefully last a little longer. I know sometimes it feels like nothing (not even the small things) goes your way but I really hope that things start to turn around. Will be thinking of you, your father, and your family.catherine cmullen Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Catherine,Thank you for the information and kind words. Daddy came home from the hospital yesterday and by last night, I was wondering if he shouldn't of stayed. However, today was a much better day! I got to spend the day chauffeuring him whereever he wanted to go. He continues to cough and spit but did try a sip or two of gatorade today. Although much of it came back, he and I both think some of it went down too. Hopefully he'll make a little progress each day! GeorgesGirl Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT