Can someone answer this question for me ?

i have a neighbor who is 31 years old and she told the whole neighborhood that she has esophageal cancer from smoking and drinking. i think she found out in february of this year and had been doing radiation. she said the dr. told her that it was so bad, there was no cure for it and she may not even make it til the end of the year. she was taking radiation in june but i dont know if she still is. now when we see her out, she seems to have gained a lot of weight back and i hear her talking to friends about drinking and wanting to get wasted. i also saw her smoking outside the other day. she told me a few months ago that the dr. told her is she smoked another cigarrette or had a drink it could kill her. my question is this, we are all wondering if she really ever had cancer. she is the type of person who lies about alot of things.can someone who has this type of cancer just get over it and start back smoking that fast ?? can anyone help with this question ??

I would not jump to the conclusion that she was lying about the cancer - but you know her. However she does sound like a bit of a drama queen.

I'm not an expert on all types of cancer but for sure on some types they certainly do treat with radiation without chemo. Radiation usually does cause a significant weight change. For esophageal cancer I would guess there would be weight loss to to problems with eating.

With chemo, some people do lose weight, some gain. Most of the time the gain is from the steroids that are given with the chemo.

When someone is addicted to nicotine they do weird things, addictions do that. So yes she could have gone through treatment, beaten the cancer back for a while and taken up her bad habits again. It's stupid but it is not a rarity.

I'd give her the benefit of doubt, because in either case she is a sad person.

she likely lied, no one doesn't just bounce back from cancer that required radiation, and they don't do radiation without first doing chemo therapy, so I don't think she was being very truthful with you.

Sounds like she lied. You don't have cancer, radiation, etc. and a few months later you gain your weight back and are able to drink and smoke. She probably just had acid reflux or something and made it out to be something big! Maybe she just wants attention.

Type up a letter addressed to her from a "local survivors" group inviting her to come and give an inspirational speech on how she beat cancer, so she can help others? Just kidding...

Sounds like she may need psychological help?

She may have cancer but she may not only time will tell. If it incurable she will only live for around a year so you will see her Deteriorate over time. She will never get over it if that was her prognosis. When my mum was in palliative care patience would be on their 'death bed' and they would STILL smoke and drink. (even when undergoing treatment!!!!! i used to think why do the doctors bother even helping them!!!) I guess they think if im going to die why stop now?? I might as well enjoy what time i have left. My Dad has chronic emphysema and i know he still has the occassional smoke!!!! It sounds like she is fairly addicted to smoking and drinking so it is possible that she cannot quit even to save her life. And if she is that heavy esophageal cancer probability is high.