information on this cancer

[caracell50]

1. I was told that this is a floating cancer, can someone please explain this to me?
2. How can they give someone a clean bill of health without doing any tests? (after someone has had the surgery for this)
3. The tumor started growing 2 years ago, surgery was in July 2002, does this mean that it's been 3 years living with this cancer? and they have 2 years left on the 5 year survival rate?
or do they have 5 year survival rate after having the surgery?
My X-husband has this cancer, I can't get any answers from his doctors, they said don't go hunting shadows.
He went through the surgery, they removed 1/3 of the esophagus, 1/3 of his stomach. andovr 21 lymph nodes.
were the lymph nodes infected? and they had to be removed?
Anyone can email me about this at ***@****
Thank you

[mama2boysjj]

Hi,
Sorry to hear of your ex-husbands cancer.  I have never heard the term of floating cancer.  Perhaps what is meant is that this particular cancer has a high rate of metatasis (spreading).  Lymph nodes are removed with most cancers of the head/neck/chest area to determine if the cancer has spread.  It is important to the survival rate of esophageal cancer to know if any of the nodes were positive for cancer.  During the surgery they remove more tissue then the tumor extends to.  This tissue is sent to pathology and the tissue surrounding the outer ends of the tumor is tested for cancer cells.  If they contain no cells it is called "clean margins" which means that they most likely removed all the tumor.  In addition if the lymph nodes contained no tumor cells the doctors can call the surgery a success.  Seeing that your ex has done well with the surgery is great.  The surgery itself holds a high mortality rate.  If he has positive margins from the tumor or positive lymph nodes and they gave him a survival rate of 5 years it is generally from the time of diagnosis.  If your ex-husband is unsure of his treatment course and outcome you should encourage him to call his doctor and discuss the issue.  Best of Luck!!

[caracell50]

Thanks :)
I had made an error in my posting, his surgery was in July 2001.
The doctors said the lymph nodes were not infected, and it didn't spread to any other part of the body.
My boss had a friend, went through the same kind of surgery. and he passed away, 2 months ago, his surgery was almost 2 years before.
I was told, floating cancer traveled in the blood and can attach anywhere at anytime. and that this was a nasty cancer, although all are. but it's one of the worse you can get.
He has trouble eatng, whether it's small amounts often, or large amounts often.
He's addicted to his pain meds. and will have to enter de-tox to go off them. and that's not possible for him to do right now.
I am really trying to hang in here, I pray all the time. As when he's not taking his meds he can get very irritated with just a drop of a pin. He has scared me to death a few times.
Thanks again :)

[caracell50]

I'm so glad that they caught yours in time, I know with going through this with my husband, it's a very serious surgery, Just sometimes I get frustated with the doctors, I'm so scared that it may come back and if they're not checking it, like I think they should be, i'm afraid if and when they did, it may be back without them knowing it right away.
I know what they've told me about this cancer, and know what i've read, but, i'm here everyday and I see what's going on with him, from losing weight, to pain, and to not being able to eat at times plus the frustrations that he's having dealing with this.
You don't realize the great impact this has on so many lives when it happens in your own family and how your life changes drastically in so many ways.
The first time I see changes in him, I want to rush him to his doctor, when I speak to the doctors, they always have a reason for what's going on, it's easy for them to tell me not to worry.And if you don't understand the cancer it's difficult to deal with. So many times I've felt so helpless, I just want to take it all away and make everything alright again.
The way floating cancer was explained to me, but in a sense, left me hanging, was that it is in his blood traveling all the time, and could attach anywhere at anytime, having me thinking that even though he had the surgery, he still had cancer cells all through him and with the weight loss, not being able to eat, being in pain, and being tired all the time had me worried sick that it did pop up somewhere else and if they wouldn't check it, how would they be able to control it.
Like I said, I pray all the time. and take one day at a time is all you can do.
Thanks :)