inoperable Stage 2 Oesophageal cancer

[FloraFaith]

I was diagnosed with stage 2 inoperable oesophageal cancer at the end of 2020. I was eligible for the Scope 2 trial and had treatment early 2021, along with treatment for a number of consequences of the treatment. I am still alive after four years (despite those complications) and wondered if anyone else on this site has had this stage 2 of inoperable cancer and survived a similar time period?

[Julieanne60]

Hi FloraFaith. I’m not in the same situation as yourself but just wanted to say that it was welcoming to read your news regarding four years since diagnosis and that I hope someone will reply to your post. Keep looking after yourself. Best wishes, Julie

[hunsdon]

well done keep going , I was fortunately to have to operation in 2012 and still going even with all the side affects and problems so I wish you well xx

[FloraFaith in reply to hunsdon]

That’s great - I hope you and can have a reasonable quality of life.

[Libuse]

I was diagnosed with inoperable oesophagus cancer 18 years ago. Still here 😊

[FloraFaith in reply to Libuse]

Gosh you are the first person I have heard of who has survived, who did not have the surgery. It is good to know how well you have done. I hope you have a good quality of life . I still have a bit of stricture from the radiotherapy despite numerous dilations (making eating a bit of a challenge) and also x5 vertebral fractures, again due to the radiotherapy and what, turned out to be pre-existing osteoporosis. I have really had to adjust my life as I become so fatigued but I try to keep as busy as I can with voluntary work and seeing friends and feel I am very fortunate.

[Libuse]

I don’t know what stage my cancer was but tumour was such that operation would have destroyed any quality of life. I had ‘radical’ chemo and radiotherapy lasting 6 weeks. My voice was permanently affected and I have a feeding tube that I hook up to every night for 8 hours. Despite all this, I have a successful career still, age the age of 72, as a professional artist. I tell you all this, not to boast, but to give you heart and courage . Take a look at my web-site doreenfletcherartist.com

[FloraFaith in reply to Libuse]

Hi Libuse,

I couldn’t have had surgery either. I had 12 weeks of radical chemo with the latter 5 weeks combined with radiotherapy. I imagine treatment had developed since your treatment. I had an NJ tube feed over the treatment and until it ultimately blocked and had to come out. Now I have to have soft wet food but manage to maintain my weight although I am quite low ish in weight.

I had to stop working due to be being sick so often over the ensueing year and back problems as well as the fatigue as I was as a nurse and therefore both physically and mentally demanding.

I have no speech problems so I have been lucky. So it seems whatever the treatment one has consequences.

I wish you well.