Dr. #1- Memorial Hospital Radiologist:

In shock we went off the next day, Friday December 22nd, to our surprise scheduled appointment with the doctor who was set to do my dad's radiation treatment. She looked at the PET scan and asked if anyone had told us what was going on. She said someone should have told us everything by now, but since they hadn't she'd quickly summarize for us the best she could from the notes she saw...

Her opinion was distal anterior esophageal adenocarcinoma, not squamous, and that they saw it is a 7cm mass. It's a malignant tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue. She thinks it's grade 3 poorly differentiated and aggressive. The PET scan showed it spread to the mediastinal chest lymph nodes and it looked like small bone lesions in his posterior medial left 5th rib, the anterior right 2nd rib, the medial right scapula, posterior medial right iliac bone, and anterior left sacrum. Based on that she guessed it's stage 4 and T3, N1, M1. She said for sure it's not in his liver, lungs, nor abdominal lymph nodes. She recommended to change course and to 1st do only a full dose chemotherapy on its own. Then followed by radiotherapy only if needed. And as a last resort surgery.

It was bad news, but still hopeful at the same time. She was very optimistic. She said she has 3 former patients who like to talk to her new patients for motivation. They were in worse shape than my dad and they survived at least 5+ years and like to inspire new people.