9 years post-op

NGC1514
NGC1514 Member Posts: 46 Member
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
There is survival and life after cancer. Our oldest daughter called up a couple of weeks ago to wish me "Happy Birthday." I was opened up for my Ivor Lewis esophagectomy on April 9, 2001 - 9 years ago.

I had almost forgotten about it!

Will be celebrating 10 years since diagnosis this coming October.

To those of you battling this awful disease, my heart goes out to you all.

Eric in Atlanta

Comments

  • nancyann3
    nancyann3 Member Posts: 173 Member
    #2
    Congradulations!!!
    Husband age 49 is battling EC now. So nice to hear your story. Thanks!!
  • Yovana30
    Yovana30 Member Posts: 15
    #3
    Hi Eric
    Happy Birthday!
    Welcome to this site. I just got diagnosed by EUS T3N1. I am so happy that you could beat EC.
    I am wondering if you could gives us advice what people should do to beat this. If you could please share with us what was your stage.

    God Bless you!
    Yovana
  • NGC1514
    NGC1514 Member Posts: 46 Member
    #4
    Yovana30 said:

    Hi Eric
    Happy Birthday!
    Welcome to this site. I just got diagnosed by EUS T3N1. I am so happy that you could beat EC.
    I am wondering if you could gives us advice what people should do to beat this. If you could please share with us what was your stage.

    God Bless you!
    Yovana

    Survival tips
    Yovana,

    I wish I had some for you. Most of us who have managed to survive any length of time will tell you survival is a crap shoot. Two people with identical diagnoses and similar treatment... one survives and the other doesn't. Expect that there is a genetic component in there somewhere, but who knows what it is.

    We have a guy in our local EC support group who was diagnosed with Stage 4b EC with more mets to the lungs than he wanted to count. His cancer recurred with a hot spot showing up on his cervical vertebrae AND he had a new primary in the lungs.

    He was diagnosed a few months BEFORE I was and is still doing well. He'll be a 10 year survivor this coming August. He can't explain it and the doctors can't explain it. Like I say, it's a crap shoot.

    The longest survivor I know is a lady who was diagnosed with Stage 4 disease and had radiation only. She now has survived more than 35 years.

    Get to the best hospital and doctors you can find. (I say that, but had all my treatments done locally here in Atlanta), keep a positive attitude and hope for the best.

    Oh.. and don't spend a lot of time hunting down statistics. The statistics for esophageal cancer are grim, but they only apply to large groups and not individuals. We are each either 100% alive or 100% dead. No one is 35.7% alive after 28 months - or whatever statistic it might be that you read.

    My best to you,

    Eric in Atlanta
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #5
    NGC1514 said:

    Survival tips
    Yovana,

    I wish I had some for you. Most of us who have managed to survive any length of time will tell you survival is a crap shoot. Two people with identical diagnoses and similar treatment... one survives and the other doesn't. Expect that there is a genetic component in there somewhere, but who knows what it is.

    We have a guy in our local EC support group who was diagnosed with Stage 4b EC with more mets to the lungs than he wanted to count. His cancer recurred with a hot spot showing up on his cervical vertebrae AND he had a new primary in the lungs.

    He was diagnosed a few months BEFORE I was and is still doing well. He'll be a 10 year survivor this coming August. He can't explain it and the doctors can't explain it. Like I say, it's a crap shoot.

    The longest survivor I know is a lady who was diagnosed with Stage 4 disease and had radiation only. She now has survived more than 35 years.

    Get to the best hospital and doctors you can find. (I say that, but had all my treatments done locally here in Atlanta), keep a positive attitude and hope for the best.

    Oh.. and don't spend a lot of time hunting down statistics. The statistics for esophageal cancer are grim, but they only apply to large groups and not individuals. We are each either 100% alive or 100% dead. No one is 35.7% alive after 28 months - or whatever statistic it might be that you read.

    My best to you,

    Eric in Atlanta

    Eric,
    Congratulations and I
    Eric,

    Congratulations and I really like your attitude --- A doctor at Sloan in New York said ignore the statistics, you are an individual and after all someone has to be on that winning side of survival:)

    Your story is a great encouragement to many on this site who struggle each day with this horrible monster. Don't be a stranger and stay in touch.

    Best,
    Cindy
  • cjmac49
    cjmac49 Member Posts: 100
    #6
    Birthday
    Happy Birthday Eric. Great attitude. Gives us all more hope.

    Jim
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #7
    cjmac49 said:

    Birthday
    Happy Birthday Eric. Great attitude. Gives us all more hope.

    Jim

    thanks so much
    Eric,
    Your posting is a wonderful thing to read early in the am!!!! Can't wait to tell my hubby I try to always prepare him for the possibility of bad news but good news can't be beat!!! Survivor stories are what keeps us going and I think you are so right, it is a crap shoot who survives and who doesn't. thanks again, it is a wonderful inspiration. take care!!
    Donna70

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