Brief Answer: Considerations. Detailed Answer: hello and thanks for the query. I have reviewed the reports and diagnostic imaging. What needs to be determined is if a surgeon believes this is resectable or not. With disease in the lymph nodes it may be difficult to treat with chemo to bring the disease into a locally respectable status. Has a PET scan been discussed? A PET may help determine even better than a CT if there is cancer in more distant areas. surgery for a patient of any age in the setting of esophageal cancer is very very difficult. In the setting of a 75-year-old it needs to be considered very carefully. Sometimes when used definitive doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation instead of surgery unless the surgeon can provide strong assurance that he believes going to surgery will possibly create a situation of cure. what really needs to be determine is what the patient's wishes are. The patient is the ultimate decision-maker for this type of consideration. I think chemotherapy is reasonable to start with but again I think a pet scan would be excellent to obtain prior to any additional treatment. again thank you for sending your question. I look forward to continuing to discuss this issue with you. Please do not hesitate to let me know if there are any additional concerns. Dr. Galamaga

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Brief Answer: Cough Detailed Answer: I would hope they have offered some cough suppressants - this might include a cough syrup or a capsule to suppress the cough reflex. Also, sometimes prednisone can be effective for this type of thing. It may be that the bulk of the tumor is irritating the central airway which is making the cough persist as well. If tolerable sometimes a breathing treatment with albuterol might even help. Please review these options with his physicians. Sincerely, Dr. Galamaga

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