Time frame for Esophageal Cancer?

I know the survival rate is quite low as I have read online in many different places, but can someone tell me the average life expectancy from time of diagnosis... weeks, months, years, and what to expect.... given the circumstances that he's otherwise currently a quite healthy 47-50 y/o male. As it has only been days since knowledge, I am assuming he is in stage 4 as the cancer is also in the lungs, liver, and lymph-nodes. Please let me know what to expect, how ill will he get, etc etc. Thanks so much for any information.

Since diagnosis has been recent, there is absolutely no way of knowing this information. Much depends upon what type of treatment the patient undergoes, his individual response to the treatment, his overall health, the location of the tumors in the body (do they invade major organs or structures) and probably a good deal of luck. Stage 4 disease is the most difficult to treat . . but it can be treated successfully. There is not a cancer out there in any stage or tumor grade that someone, somewhere has not survived.

So, the first thing you should do is not listen to statistics or prognosis. Concentrate on learning as much as you can about the disease. Do not be afraid to read all the material. Read as much as you can, ask the oncologists question, make sure you locate an oncologist that you thoroughly trust and is willing to go to bat for the patient. You also need to have an oncologist who is totally honest with you. It will be quite a fight, but it can be done.

Here are some sites with resources, esophageal cancer support groups, and information about Esophageal Cancer.

MedlinePlus: Esophageal Cancer
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/esoph...

NCI: Treatment for Esophageal Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/tre...

American Cancer Society: What is cancer of the esophagus
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/conten...

Esophageal Cancer Support Groups
http://groups.msn.com/EsophgealCancerCha...

Esophageal Cancers Discussion List
http://listserv.acor.org/archives/ec-gro...

Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation
http://www.fightec.org/

Good luck to you.

Honestly, because his esophageal cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes and has metasisized, I believe it is a very poor prognosis. You can read that however you like (because I don't want to be a downer), but I would say he's in the last year of his life unless they aggressively go after it by removing his esophagus, and lymph nodes, resect his lungs and liver then start him on some chemo right away. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Most importantly, please take to time and spend time with him. Treat him as if he's not sick because other people will and he may get depressed.

I think I understand your question well...

My Father died of Lung Cancer. Because he took the treatment he lived for about 4 years.. I was just talking to my Sister and we were assuming that the Doctor knew it but did not want to tell us instead was feeding was with false hope...

It all depend of your frind health condition at this present time but I believe that he does not have too much time...I hope and wish that I am wrong and giving you wrong information...

Best thing to do is to make sure that your friend takes his treatment very serious, eat well and try to enjoy life as much as he can...

I would say 3 months. Esophageal cancer is notoriously refractory to chemotherapy. You should not tell him this. Instead, he should live one day at a time. Only make plan 1 week at the most. Enjoy every minute.