Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] My aunt (aged 51) has been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer in Stage 4. Doctors are advising radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy. They also doubt whether she can withstand radiation therapy since she is too weak and weighing only 35 kgs. Is there any other treatment available? How long is the life expectancy?
[|AI|]  Hi, Thanks for writing in. Cancer is a difficult condition to treat and if your aunt has stage 4 cancer then survival even with the best care can vary from 6 months to two years. It is important to know the exact area of cancer involvement. Cancer in esophagus happens due to the growth extending in to the lumen and then proliferating to cause obstruction to ingested foods. Surgery cannot be done at this stage and therefore radiation therapy has been recommended by her doctors. To increase passage of flow through the cancer area, you can discuss with your doctors if she can be given monitored doses of radiation followed by inserting a metallic stent to cause improvement in swallowing. Radiation is best and chemotherapy may be even more difficult for her in this case. Please do not worry.