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5 year post opt esophageal cancer
My father was diagnosed and had surgery for esophageal cancer 5 years ago. Ever sine the surgery, ever time he eats he gets sick. He has went through two rounds of antibiotics, he has tried everything that the doctor has asked him to do. Eat small meals, no meat, no bread, etc. It does not matter what he eats or how much, everything makes him sick. He gags, usually vomits, and his stomach aches. At night he sits up with a trash can and clear liquid just drains out of him, almost like vomit, but there isn't anything on his stomach to throw up.
He has went from a healthy 190-200 lb to maybe 120 pounds. My dad is at his wits ends, and has all but given up. He is tired of always being sick and always hurting. I feel helpless and I know that if something isn't done that my father is not going to live to see another year. He is 59 years old. Can you or anyone help me?
He has went from a healthy 190-200 lb to maybe 120 pounds. My dad is at his wits ends, and has all but given up. He is tired of always being sick and always hurting. I feel helpless and I know that if something isn't done that my father is not going to live to see another year. He is 59 years old. Can you or anyone help me?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
One option would be to have a feeding Jejunostomy, where a small tube is inserted into the small intestine (from near the stomach). This allows feeding, and reduces the gagging/choking/drooling to some extent. It may also result in stabilization of his body weight.
Please discuss this option with your father and your surgeon.
Good Luck!
One option would be to have a feeding Jejunostomy, where a small tube is inserted into the small intestine (from near the stomach). This allows feeding, and reduces the gagging/choking/drooling to some extent. It may also result in stabilization of his body weight.
Please discuss this option with your father and your surgeon.
Good Luck!
Thank you for the response. Yes he has been back to the doctor on several occasions and also had an endoscopy, however none of the doctors he has been to has been able to help him. He is so tired of being sick day in and day out that he has all but given up and has said that he will not have a feeding tube put in.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
After resection of the esophagus, and part of the stomach, most patients need to change their eating habits.
Despite this, your father continues to have severe symptoms. He should consult a gastrointestinal surgeon for an endoscopy to rule out any stenosis or fibrosis at the site of surgery. Some sort of intervention may be needed to ensure that food / saliva passes into the intestines.
Has he been recently evaluated by an oncologist to check his status and ensure that the cancer is not present? A PET-CT would be most helpful in this regard.
All the best, and God Bless!
After resection of the esophagus, and part of the stomach, most patients need to change their eating habits.
Despite this, your father continues to have severe symptoms. He should consult a gastrointestinal surgeon for an endoscopy to rule out any stenosis or fibrosis at the site of surgery. Some sort of intervention may be needed to ensure that food / saliva passes into the intestines.
Has he been recently evaluated by an oncologist to check his status and ensure that the cancer is not present? A PET-CT would be most helpful in this regard.
All the best, and God Bless!
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