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Cancer of Esophagus and Survival

53 years old lady from Afghanistan presented with inability to eat for the last 3 months in January 2016. My first interaction with her in OPD, she was anxious, looked very sad and depressed. She had in her right hand all the investigations which for me, was a way to establish the diagnosis but for my patient it was like “End of Road” to life. She was having cancer in the upper food pipe (Esophagus) possibly “one of the worst cancers known to human body.

Thou she travelled over thousands of miles and looked very tired due to the log journey; she still had the courage to ask me “Doctor; Will I live”. Being honest “we do not know how long one will live but till then let live and let’s fight” this is what I wished to tell her but I lied and said “Yes”. I did not want to aggravate her agony.

All the previous reports and biopsies were reviewed. PET/CT scan excluded any systemic dissemination of the disease. It was decided to consider for pre-operative treatment with chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy after tumor board discussion. After 6 weeks of completion of therapy, she underwent Thoraco-laparoscopic Radical Esophagectomy.

She recovered uneventfully and was discharged after 7 days of hospitalization. Since then, she was in regular follow up. On 2nd January 2021 she visited my OPD (5 years after surgery), she looked calm and at peace, can able to eat whatever she desired for. This time her right hand carried awesome dry berries from Afghanistan and the precious “Quran” which she got for me during her “Hajj” last year. For her it was gratitude “may be” but for me it was a “Remarkable Acknowledgement”.

Doctor “Will I live” is not something I am fit to answer, but till then “let’s try” is what I believe. I am not even fit to tell my patient “how long further”? but the only way forward is by treating this disease in most scientific way and I am happy that she will eat whatever she desires for “as long as....... further”

Categories: Esophageal Cancer

Tags: Cancer of Esophagus