Esophageal Cancer Support Group
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes. Esophageal tumors usually lead to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), pain and other symptoms, and is diagnosed with biopsy. Small and localized tumors are treated with surgery, and advanced tumors are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combinations.
Well, I'm sad to report that Brother's immunotherapy doesn't appear to be helping him. After days of battling nausea, fever, and anemia he started throwing up blood and went to the hospital...his main tumor was not only bleeding but had completely blocked his esophagus. He received transfusions for the anemia and had a stent placed, and now is home.
There was and still is a lot of discomfort involved, and Brother's doctors apparently discussed with him the possibility that the cancer had taken over his body--they didn't use the word "terminal", but that seemed to be the gist of the conversation.
Now Sister and I are in a quandary...we want to rearrange our schedules to see as much of Brother as possible and to help with his care, but he keeps insisting that he's stable and there's no need to turn our lives upside down at the moment. I want so much to believe him but am seriously afraid that we're running out of time. I have no previous experience in dealing with this disease...are their ever any concrete indications that a patient is physically and emotionally "winding down"?
There was and still is a lot of discomfort involved, and Brother's doctors apparently discussed with him the possibility that the cancer had taken over his body--they didn't use the word "terminal", but that seemed to be the gist of the conversation.
Now Sister and I are in a quandary...we want to rearrange our schedules to see as much of Brother as possible and to help with his care, but he keeps insisting that he's stable and there's no need to turn our lives upside down at the moment. I want so much to believe him but am seriously afraid that we're running out of time. I have no previous experience in dealing with this disease...are their ever any concrete indications that a patient is physically and emotionally "winding down"?
It seems to me that that the cancer patient needs to feel they have some control. I suppose that he doesn't want you and your sister to rearrage your schedules because it would be an admission that his time is limited. It's certainly a delicate balance between you and your brother.
Has anyone talked about Hospice at this point? If it comes to that point, the Hospice workers are truly helpful at dealing with all the emotional issues. I have experience with Hospice when my step-dad had terminal lung cancer.
One more thing - when my husband was really, really ill from his second round of chemo (I thought he was going to die), I kept telling myself this might be what was needed to give him a chance at surviving. As you said, maybe the modified t-cells are waging their war. Let's hope that's the case.
Linda