MY FATHER HAS BEEN IN REMISSION FROM THROAT CANCER FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS HE HAS NOW BEEN LOSING WEIGHT RAPIDLY, HE HAS HAD A SCAN WHICH HAS SHOWN TWO TUMOURS IN HIS GULLET ONE VERY PINK ONE LACKISH LOOKING HE IS AWAITING RESULTS FROM BIOPSY, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE CANCER HAS NOW SPREAD
Hi, Thanks for writing in. It is possible that your father has advanced gullet cancer which is causing neck lymph nodes to appear. Lymph nodes are small peanut shaped structures which enlarge during diseases like infection and cancer. It appears that he presently has multiple neck lymph nodes which indicates spread of disease beyond the esophagus. Two years is enough time for a cancer to involve lymph nodes even if the patient is provided recommended treatment and care. If he is losing weight rapidly then a high protein diet is recommended for him. There is a likelihood of the cancer spreading, and it can still be controlled by treating with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.