Esophageal cancer

Posted By Karin on March 16, 1998 at 13:11:55:









My father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Nov 97.  The cancer was found in the liver, soft tissue on his ribs and in the adrenal gland.  He received two chemo treatments.  After the second treatment, the tumors were found to have shrunk considerably, the only one remaining of any considerable size being in the esophagus.  However, the scans also showed an enlarged fatty liver.  My father never regained his strength, continued to run high fevers and ultimately his liver and kidneys failed.  He passed away 3/9/98.  My father had been a heavy drinker and smoker, although had quit smoking 8 years ago.  He was also overweight.  We know that his cancer was stage 4 but is complication with the liver a common problem with this type of cancer?  What is the normal progression of stage 4 esophageal cancer and if the tumors were shrinking, why couldn't treatment have worked?