[sissummer]

My mother 74 was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with esophageal cancer after abou 3 - 6 months of complaining about and getting symptoms looke into. The upper GI revealed a mass with cancer cells. Last Tuesday she had her esophagus removed and today we learned that thier is some metasis of some sort in 1 lymph node. The doctor had said she has stage II, I am assuming after learning the pathology results this morning that it would be II B.

What should I be asking the doctors?
The nurse did not see a current order for an Oncologist should I be pushing this ASAP and/or should we shop around on Oncologists?
Is going thru Chemo or radiation worth it?
Any suggestions for getting doctors to communicate when a family member is with our mother, esp since she is on a large amount of pain killers right now?

Any input would be appreciated?

Thanks,

June

[aladley]

Dear June,
This is a forum moderator responding. I am sorry to hear of your mother's medical condition. We have published two patient helpers that I thought may be useful for you.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your GI Condition
http://www.gichannel.com/patient-information-gi/index.shtml

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer
http://www.oncologychannel.com/questions.shtml

Best of luck to you and your mom!

[dcp2008]

June:
My father in law was diagnosed with Esophageal and Gastric Cancer last June 2007. My wife and I have been active in his treatments. We received good information from the ECAA and the president of the association's husband had a different treatment that we had not heard of. Go to our website [moderator note: website address has been removed] and click on the "Helpful Links" page. Click on the ECAA link and I believe this will give you good info as well as someone you can speak with.
Hope this helps and you can always e-mail my wife or myself [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed]
Best of Luck.

Todd

[sissummer]

thank you

[micky]

Hi June, Sorry to hear about your mother and her diagnosis, my brother had stage 4 metastatic cancer and was 63, he passed away 8 months after the diagnosis and was treated with chemotherapy. Docs said it was incurable and inoperable, from what you said sounds like your mom has a fighting chance. I would indeed ask about Oncologist and I would make a list of questions so you don't forget anything you need to ask. Am not sure what state you live in but if you can get a "Medical Proxy" signed and notarized so you can speak for your mother with her permission or have a "release of information" signed by your mother giving you permission to speak to doctors on her behalf.
The big question: Is chemo worth it? I am not a doctor but I have seen more than my share of loved ones fighting cancer and being given chemo to say; It's only worth it if her body can handle it, my brother had many problems with chemo but he was stage 4..in his case I will always wonder about that question. In your mother's case, sounds like she has a good chance but I would research as much as possible and ask as many questions as you need to.
Best wishes, Micky

[sissummer]

Micky -

Thanks for your post, unfortuanatley my mother passed away in march. We had hoped for the best, she did do a round of Chemo after the surgery and we had thought it got it all, but it came back. Did some radiation therapy later, just to help reduce the size of some of the tumors for comfort.

I do have to say for any who may read this post in the future, hospice was one of the most wonderful services. I am so thankful for thier help in her care those last 6 months. She was able to come to peace at home and I am so grateful for those last months I had with her, I truely belive it has helped me be at peace with her passing. I do find those last weeks of life were cruel, I wish that we had some way to allow a person to choose that point in thier care to end it without those last horrible days when death is imminante and conciousness has gone. It sometimes seems we give more care for a dying pet than to a dying human being.

June

[micky]

June, I am so sorry about your mother's passing and all that she had to suffer. Glad you had Hospice, my brother had them as well but only 2 or 3 weeks before he passed away. They are a wonderful organization and so helpful with loved ones as well as the patient. Both of my parents had Hospice as well and they were very good to them, in fact a Hospice volunteer and a Chaplin was with my mother at the end. My parents were in Nursing homes and 300 miles from me, the long distance gave me a lot of anxiety, however having known of Hospice's good works gave me a great deal of peace.
Once again, my condolences on the loss of your dear mother, so good that you were able to find peace and had the good compassionate assistance from Hospice!
Micky