Cancer of the oesophagus.

[deaddei]

MIL has just been diagnosed.
We know she's having chemo, not surgery (it is a family which does not discuss things, to the extent my dh found out by a brother's email). She is in her early eighties, quite frail- underweight and has had mild strokes in the past.
Does anyone have any experience- prognosis doesn't look good from googling.
I am interested to see how dh will react- he has no relationship with her, yet at the end of the day she is his mother.

Again ,not much experience ,though what little I have has been of serious illness in non close family causing disagreements ..
Sorry to hear your news ,sending positive vibes .

Sorry to hear about your MIL Deaddei.

My FIL had OC two years ago, and sadly it was too late by the time they found it, and he passed away within 4 weeks of dx. He also had it in his liver and stomach, so it was really advanced. He was one of these men who never went to the doctors as he saw it as a sign of weakness

The doctors didn't give him any treatment, so maybe because they're giving her chemo it s a good thing?

Sorry to hear this. DP's Grandma had this diagnosed in 2006, she was very weak then but made a near miraculous recovery when the tumour stopped bleeding and she went on to have 4 good years with no treatment. She died recently of it aged 90, having quite recently needed a stent. It eventually spread to her lungs. She was a lovely lady; at least she had 4 extra years.. hope this helps a bit x

Oh I so sorry to hear that, My Mum died of OC.
The prognosis is not good.
The treatment involves trying to get rid of the C in the bit of the body where you get all your nutrients from, so its a bit like having a stomach stapling op, and the patient cant eat much so loses weight and becomes undernourished which compounds the illness.
Its a very difficult C to treat, especially if you are already old and frail.
I am certain the doc will have chosen to give her chemo rather than surgery to try to prolong her life rather cure it....
At her age the surgery is so risky......
sorry x

my father had OC - diagnosed end of August, died beginning of November. i think the prognosis is not good. my dad was originally diagnosed with ulcers which delayed treatment - but i suspect did nothing to change the end result. he was only 57. treatment for him was really only palliative.

Thank you for all your helpful and thoughtful comments.
It doesn't sound good- I have a feeling the cancer is in advanced stages, so the chemo is to offer relief more than anything.
Dh is going to see her at the weekend.
He's very quiet...she is still his mum at the end of the day.
I lost both my parents to cancer and so have gone through it- he has never lost anyone before. Luckily his dad is a practical man- does all housework and cooking, not that she'll be eating much.
Once again, thanks for taking the time to post.

My FIL was diagnosed in March and died in December. He was in his 80's and not strong enough for anything other than palliative treatment.

He did not want to discuss his illness or prognosis, but just retreated into himself.

We had help and support from his GP, District Nurses and MacMillan nurses.

I am sorry you are having to experience this with your family.

My mums best friend had this and mouth cancer a couple of years ago, and it was bad.
she didnt die quickly and it was a very sad and difficult time for her family who didn't agree about the course of action to be taken.

she had agressive chemo that bought her a couple of months but the months that it bought her she couldn't talk , eat, and had very very little quality of life, but it had been her choice, totally against the views of her husband who found it difficult to watch her loosing prescious hours and days trying an agressive treatment that was unlikely to work.

Sounds like your DH is going to need lots of cuddles and support in the coming weeks/months.

would like to add though that she had amazing support from Macmillain nurses.

Just heard she's been given 3-4 months.
She is slightly confused- possibly early dementia- so is unaware.
She has Macmillan .

Sorry, deaddei. Macmillan are really great though.

been thinking about you, how is your DH & family Deaddei?

please remember to have checkups if you suffer from acid indigestion a lot. I do and i am on omprazole for life. iIhad endoscopy a couple of years ago. They said i had Barretts osophegus which can lead to Cancer. Then they said i didnt have it .Iam having another scan next year

meant to say so sorry for your sad time