Trying to help my husband

[tejags6]

Hi

My husband was diagnosed with advanced oesophageal cancer in December 2017, with no option for surgery because it had already spread to lymph nodes and the peritoneal cavity. He has had 3 different chemo’s and 10 sessions of radiotherapy which has left him in a great deal of pain when swallowing anything including water - can anyone tell us if the radiotherapy actually helps. Does the pain go away? My husband had his final session of radiotherapy 5 weeks ago

[Alan_M]

I think that people are so different from each other that it is impossible to draw any general conclusion about this. But management of pain is a crucial thing for this situation and will continue to be so. I think that you may need to ask to see a pain management specialist.

It is not an easy situation because you are trying to achieve a comfortable and dignified quality of life for however many weeks or months that remain. The best people at managing all this are the hospices. Getting in touch early with a hospice is invariably a very positive and helpful thing to do, provide that you do not regard it as 'giving in' too early. There are many patients in the hospice system (most often at home) who are there for considerable periods of time and who welcome the fact that treatment and pain relief becomes much better than would be likely at a hospital.

So I would suggest contacting the current hospital team about better pain relief, but also start discussing whether referral to a hospice would be a good thing for your situation.

It is a lot to cope with, and they do specialise in helping people through.

[tejags6 in reply to Alan_M]

Thanks Alan - we have an appointment with a pain specialist on Thursday. I have a feeling that the oncologist will stop the chemo soon and at that point we will have no option but to face facts. Whilst the chemo is still ongoing, there is at least the perception of hope.

[Zantri]

tejags6,

i had radio and chemo combined after surgery and it was the worse thing i have had to go through. the pain did not start until after the treatment had finished 21st Nov 2016 as the affects are delayed. its like being cooked from the inside out. i ended up back in hospital twice first wk December then 23rd December as i was in so much pain i could not swallow water and became dehydrated. I was given sulphracate which is a bizarre tablet that disperses on contact with water, so you have to be really quick when swallowing it. It then coats the throat and protects it. this helped along with strong pain medication. The pain did go away for me but it took its time and i found that whilst others found relief with ice lollies, i needed warm drinks. not too hot or too cold, still find this is the same today.

I hope things improve for you husband

Zantri

xx

[Aizen80]

Hi, my father didn't go through radiation therapy. Some of his chemo side effects were permanent such as neuropathy. Re pain management just make sure your husband shares his condition honestly and don't try to bear it. There are plenty of meds to help with pain but he will need to be open to accepting them first.

Best of luck