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.
Hi, I have read various comments of people who have survived esophageal cancer following surgery; and for those that have surgery the prognosis appears reasonably positive. Unfortunately, my oncologist says surgery is not an option for me (Stage IV, liver mets). I would like to hear from anyone in a similar situation, or anyone who has had esophageal cancer for some time, without surgery.
I have been tested for HER2, my oncologist requested that test quite early on, but unfortunately I was found to be negative. Thank you for the suggestion, though.
Kathy
One rationale they've given me is that the recovery from surgery is long and arduous (6 months or more), and I wouldn't be able to receive chemo or radiation during that time if the cancer recurred. Another reason was that the surgery would so weaken me that it might even encourage any remaining cancer to grow and spread.
The third reason is that the surgery can sometimes have long-term unpleasant side effects. As one specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital told me, "I have a whole waiting room out there full of people complaining about their lousy quality of life after that surgery."
Many of the folks here have had the surgery and had very good results. But there are pros and cons, especially with Stage IV disease, that you and your doctors will have to weigh carefully.