Any nurses out there who have experience with placing an esophagus stent because of a tumor?

Thanks cwillie for responding, They said that if this does not work they will install a feeding tube. Said that the cancer is not in his stomach yet and during the endoscopic that he had on December 19th 2016 his esophagus is working to try to get food down. Tumor blocking food from getting to stomach.

I'm curious, I don't understand why they aren't considering placing a PEG feeding tube, bypassing the esophagus altogether, rather that attempting the stent?

My husband wants to do the surgery. He spoke to the doctor. There will be pain if the new chemo works because if it shrinks the tumor the stent will move. If it does not shrink the tumor and if the tumor gets worse the tumor will grow into the stent. Another problem. Like doomed if you do and doomed if you don't. He (we) are not ready for hospice which means giving up and taking all care away except morphine.He can move around but is in pain because of the other tumors pressing on his organs. He wants to keep fighting. It has been 3 long years. Thanks will try to keep you updated.

I'm so sorry, Cher!

Is your husband considering not doing the surgery? Has anyone discussed hospice as an option?

I'm so sorry for your husband's poor prognosis. Please keep us updated on what is going on and take care of yourself!

Was not home but they told my husband that the pain could be for about 3 or 4 weeks or more.

Thanks BarbBrooklyn! Just finished reading information on Sloan Site when your message came up. His cancer was already at stage 4 on May 6th 2014. Lungs, pancretis, liver, and limb nodes. He was surpose to have his 78th chemo treatment on Tuesday but they decided that he was too weak for it and said that he had to get his weight up to continue chemo. The chemo was not making the tumors smaller any more so they will be looking for something else. Tumor in esophagus is 5cm large with 1 and 1/2 cm blocking the food. rest of tumor is pressing against pancreas. That is why they believed it was pancreas cancer from get go. In 2014 only tested liver tumor on cellular level not molecular level. Went back to test on molecular level in Dec, 2016 and said that they were sorry and was wondering why he was still alive. Thanks for the answer.

Have you read the information on the MSK website about esophageal stents?

It looks to me that the reason for a stent of this sort is to allow a patient with esophageal cancer to continue to eat. So it doesn't sound like this is the end of the line.

Be sure to ask about meds for pain when you talk to the doctor before the procedure.

It sounds like a fairly simple procedure. Has anyone told you that there is a lot of pain associated with it?