After three gastroscopes and dilatations, and one biopsy, Dad and I have just found out from GI surgeon that biopsy indicates cancer. GI doc advised against cancer treatment given advanced age. Rather, he proposes to maintain Dad's quality of life by performing monthly scopes and dilatations to keep esophagus open. We have appointment with family doc tomorrow to get more advice, details and a second opinion. I tend to agree with GI surgeon and so does Dad. However, I don't know where to look for practical advice on what to expect with this type of cancer. Dad currently resides in a retirement home. I don't know at what point they will not be able to continue letting him live there. Our plan may be to have him move in with me and my family in the end stages (before hospice) because I don't currently work and can take care of him which will prevent him from having to go to a nursing home. Would a nursing home even take a terminal cancer patient? Doesn't matter, he is not going to one. But I just want to know if there is anyone out there whose loved one has suffered through untreated esophageal cancer and how difficult it was to look after them at home.
I could give you a link but the Admins delete URLs with dot com in them.
So Google CURE magazine, then esophageal cancer. I just did - got 115 hits, including a few on a documentary of people who've dealt with it.
You might also search online to see if there's a Gilda's Club near you. Both you and your father could attend meetings, get togethers, and therapy sessions (music, art, etc.). The club in my area has meetings for people with specific cancers, so he could meet others who are also battling esophageal cancer.
I am so sorry though to learn of this diagnosis, and hope that you and your father are able to find some good resources of support and information in this journey.
Pamstegma, thank you also for your advice. Unfortunately, Dad has never liked where he is; he has only been there since a minor stroke in May, and has no "friends" there. He has only ever complained about it :( He loves my family and, at home here, he will have us all watching him and taking care of him. As long as I can get him to realize that he is not a "burden" to us all, I do think he will want to come here. Trouble is, my mother always harped about not ever being a burden to my brother and I do believe he still hears her voice to that effect...
I'm sorry. Love him to bits and pieces. He probably doesn't have much quality time.