Pretty Good News!
The good news is that the full body scan found no additional spreading of the cancer. The next diagnostic step is an endoscopic ultrasound. That will determine if the lymph nodes near the tumor have been affected and also how invasive the tumor is with respect to the wall of the esophagus. They will try to schedule that later this week or early next week.
The doctor recommends that a team be assembled including the following: medical oncologist (him), radiation oncologist (to be determined), and a thoracic surgeon (Mark Soberman, who did my Mom's surgery in 1997 and is chief of thoracic surgery at the Washington Hospital Center, is one of the recommended surgeons). Although, it seems that my Dad prefers to go to Florida to stay with my Mom through the treatment, so he'll have to assemble this "team" down there.
The treatment the doctor recommends is: 4 weeks of chemo, followed by a 2 week break. 5 to 6 weeks of combined chemo and radiation, followed by a 3-4 week break. Then surgery, probably a week in the hospital, with 4-6 week post surgical recovery. The recovery period is undetermined because until the ultrasound has been done and the surgeon is consulted, he does not know how extensive the surgery will be. The surgeon will determine whether the Barrett’s esophagus requires replacement of most of the esophagus or not.
Initial chemo shouldn't be too bad, possible hair loss and low blood cells, but minimal other side effects. The doctor even said he could probably still go to work. Although, if he's in Florida with my Mom, he won't have a job down there. Combined chemo and radiation is more difficult and may require a stomach tube for feeding as it can create difficulty swallowing. Additional weight loss is likely during that treatment.
Potential for full recovery is good! :-D
How all of this effects my plans for Thanksgiving and New Year's has not yet really been discussed. But I'll let everybody know what I figure out, and if anything changes.
The doctor recommends that a team be assembled including the following: medical oncologist (him), radiation oncologist (to be determined), and a thoracic surgeon (Mark Soberman, who did my Mom's surgery in 1997 and is chief of thoracic surgery at the Washington Hospital Center, is one of the recommended surgeons). Although, it seems that my Dad prefers to go to Florida to stay with my Mom through the treatment, so he'll have to assemble this "team" down there.
The treatment the doctor recommends is: 4 weeks of chemo, followed by a 2 week break. 5 to 6 weeks of combined chemo and radiation, followed by a 3-4 week break. Then surgery, probably a week in the hospital, with 4-6 week post surgical recovery. The recovery period is undetermined because until the ultrasound has been done and the surgeon is consulted, he does not know how extensive the surgery will be. The surgeon will determine whether the Barrett’s esophagus requires replacement of most of the esophagus or not.
Initial chemo shouldn't be too bad, possible hair loss and low blood cells, but minimal other side effects. The doctor even said he could probably still go to work. Although, if he's in Florida with my Mom, he won't have a job down there. Combined chemo and radiation is more difficult and may require a stomach tube for feeding as it can create difficulty swallowing. Additional weight loss is likely during that treatment.
Potential for full recovery is good! :-D
How all of this effects my plans for Thanksgiving and New Year's has not yet really been discussed. But I'll let everybody know what I figure out, and if anything changes.