Add another Sophomore to the class!

TerryV
TerryV Member Posts: 887
edited August 2011 in Esophageal Cancer #1
My husband, Nick - age 48 Stage 3 with node involvement - joined the Sophomore class on August 4th!

Endoscopy dx on 05/19. EUS & PET on 06/14 to Stage. Nick did 28 raditions with weeks 2 & 6 in-patient chemos - Cisplatin followed by 96 hours of 5-FU. Our radiation machine broke twice accounting for the delay. Nick's stable head "broke" once after the final machine breakdown - on his LAST DAY of Radiation! Took him a day to pull back together to go complete things.

He has a PET scheduled for August 29th. We will have the results on August 31st. Tentative date for THE surgery of 09/08.

Prayers, positive thoughts, and fingers, toes & eyes crossed for good news!

Thanks to everyone here for the encouraging words.

sine timore progredi..
propositum in potestate!

Progress without fear..
Power in our purpose!

(thanks for the motto, Jeff!)

Terry

Comments

  • jthomas233
    jthomas233 Member Posts: 85
    Congratulations!
    Terry and Nick-

    It's wonderful to hear you made it through the radiation, mechanical malfunctions and all.

    Radiation treatments were the hardest for me. I just got back from Fox Chase after they put in my feeding tube and catheter. They also did a laproscopic staging, where the put three holes in my abdomen and looked at all my organs. They advised me to wait a few weeks before I started chemo/rad and I flat out begged them to let me start as soon as I could, and they agreed to allow it.

    Anyway, the first day of radiation, I had a great deal of trouble lying down and the five incisions I had were still bleeding a little. I was still in some pain. More importantly, I was overhwelmed by the whole experience. I was just ready to have the mother of all meltdowns when a really nice girl ran in, grabbed my hand, locked onto my eyes and said, "It's gonna be ok...". She let me tell her what I had been going through, gave me all the time I needed to compose myself, and talked to me on the speaker during the whole treatment. I will never forget her.

    Everyone has moments...I'm sure if my machine broke TWICE, I'd need some time to work through things...

    Enjoy the treatment break as much as you can.. I am three weeks past chemo/rad and I am feeling good and eating whatever I want. My weight is back up to 210, and I can actually go a few hours without dwelling on my predicament.

    So, welcome to the class...we've been saving your seat for you!

    Jeff
  • Laura23
    Laura23 Member Posts: 81

    Congratulations!
    Terry and Nick-

    It's wonderful to hear you made it through the radiation, mechanical malfunctions and all.

    Radiation treatments were the hardest for me. I just got back from Fox Chase after they put in my feeding tube and catheter. They also did a laproscopic staging, where the put three holes in my abdomen and looked at all my organs. They advised me to wait a few weeks before I started chemo/rad and I flat out begged them to let me start as soon as I could, and they agreed to allow it.

    Anyway, the first day of radiation, I had a great deal of trouble lying down and the five incisions I had were still bleeding a little. I was still in some pain. More importantly, I was overhwelmed by the whole experience. I was just ready to have the mother of all meltdowns when a really nice girl ran in, grabbed my hand, locked onto my eyes and said, "It's gonna be ok...". She let me tell her what I had been going through, gave me all the time I needed to compose myself, and talked to me on the speaker during the whole treatment. I will never forget her.

    Everyone has moments...I'm sure if my machine broke TWICE, I'd need some time to work through things...

    Enjoy the treatment break as much as you can.. I am three weeks past chemo/rad and I am feeling good and eating whatever I want. My weight is back up to 210, and I can actually go a few hours without dwelling on my predicament.

    So, welcome to the class...we've been saving your seat for you!

    Jeff

    Way to go!
    Congrats Nick and Terry! It's an amazing milestone to reach! But don't be discouraged if he doesn't feel better this next week. My husband felt worse the first week after treatment. But now four weeks out, is almost back to normal. He is just having some residual fatigue from time to time.

    Again congrats and we will be praying for continued healing and strength.

    Laura
    Wife to Luis
    Dx 4/11/2011 T3N1M0
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    Welcome!!!
    YAY!! I was thinking of both of you this week, I knew Nick should have been finishing up very soon. Sorry to hear about the machine breaking, I can imagine what that would do to his psyche. Like Laura said don't get concerned if he isn't feeling all that great this upcoming week. My Jeff flew through treatment just like Nick did, but this past week has been a little tough. More nausea than before, less of an appetite, and he can't taste anything but sugars....weird. I can tell you though that he is out back swimming now and we just got back from a short shopping trip. So in about a week or two Nick should be back to feeling better :)

    Let us know how you guys are doing, and please let us know how the PET goes. What is really bizarre is that Jeff's surgery was originally scheduled for 9/8, they called later to move it to 9/6. That would have been a really weird coincidence huh?! I feel like we have been taking the same path, both of our guys started on the same, it would have been beyond a coincidence if they 'graduated' on the same day too :)

    Keep smiling and positive thoughts to you and all of our fellow class mates :)

    sine timore progredi..
    propositum in potestate!


    Niki
  • hopper52
    hopper52 Member Posts: 108
    WELCOME
    I know it's a relief to have finished radiation/chemo. Now as the time plods along until the PET, for me it really seems to be dragging. I'm 4 weeks out from finishing and still have some fatigue issues and appetite issues. At least I'm able to eat more that 3 or 4 mouthfuls. I haven't lost any MORE weight but I haven't gained any back yet either. Maybe time for some of my infamous trays of lasagne with the 5 lbs of cheese.

    Hang in there......my radiation machine broke twice and they took it down for maintenance for a week so I was on a different machine and was stressing because they were from a different company and I was worried things might not be lining up properly. Not much I could do about it but pray that everything would function like it's supposed to.

    My PET/CT is scheduled for Aug 16th with a meeting with Dr Meredith the surgeon at Moffitt on the 17th, so I'm thinking I'm looking at surgery the first part of September.

    To our ever increasing sophomore class.......let's all graduate with flying colors....NED.

    Michael Daniels T3N0M0
    Brandon, FL
  • sammy123
    sammy123 Member Posts: 65

    Congratulations!
    Terry and Nick-

    It's wonderful to hear you made it through the radiation, mechanical malfunctions and all.

    Radiation treatments were the hardest for me. I just got back from Fox Chase after they put in my feeding tube and catheter. They also did a laproscopic staging, where the put three holes in my abdomen and looked at all my organs. They advised me to wait a few weeks before I started chemo/rad and I flat out begged them to let me start as soon as I could, and they agreed to allow it.

    Anyway, the first day of radiation, I had a great deal of trouble lying down and the five incisions I had were still bleeding a little. I was still in some pain. More importantly, I was overhwelmed by the whole experience. I was just ready to have the mother of all meltdowns when a really nice girl ran in, grabbed my hand, locked onto my eyes and said, "It's gonna be ok...". She let me tell her what I had been going through, gave me all the time I needed to compose myself, and talked to me on the speaker during the whole treatment. I will never forget her.

    Everyone has moments...I'm sure if my machine broke TWICE, I'd need some time to work through things...

    Enjoy the treatment break as much as you can.. I am three weeks past chemo/rad and I am feeling good and eating whatever I want. My weight is back up to 210, and I can actually go a few hours without dwelling on my predicament.

    So, welcome to the class...we've been saving your seat for you!

    Jeff

    Good Luck Jeff, glad you
    Good Luck Jeff, glad you have the feeding tube. It is money in the bank. Keep up the Good Work and Positivitity!!!! You are an inspiration.
    We are still in the hospital, been a challenge but taking baby steps.

    Kathy
  • jthomas233
    jthomas233 Member Posts: 85
    hopper52 said:

    WELCOME
    I know it's a relief to have finished radiation/chemo. Now as the time plods along until the PET, for me it really seems to be dragging. I'm 4 weeks out from finishing and still have some fatigue issues and appetite issues. At least I'm able to eat more that 3 or 4 mouthfuls. I haven't lost any MORE weight but I haven't gained any back yet either. Maybe time for some of my infamous trays of lasagne with the 5 lbs of cheese.

    Hang in there......my radiation machine broke twice and they took it down for maintenance for a week so I was on a different machine and was stressing because they were from a different company and I was worried things might not be lining up properly. Not much I could do about it but pray that everything would function like it's supposed to.

    My PET/CT is scheduled for Aug 16th with a meeting with Dr Meredith the surgeon at Moffitt on the 17th, so I'm thinking I'm looking at surgery the first part of September.

    To our ever increasing sophomore class.......let's all graduate with flying colors....NED.

    Michael Daniels T3N0M0
    Brandon, FL

    Hope the new picture comes through!
    I taped down my feeding tube (which remains unused...) and rode in the 12 mile ride portion of the Endure For a Cure Ride where proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. The ride was literally a walk in the park. I used to train on hills by my house and this route was almost completely flat. I met my fundraising goal of $1,000, thanks to many kind friends here at home. I broke a wonderful sweat, thanks to the hot, humid weather.

    Dawn Brady, a six year EC survivor, was working the pork barbecue stand with her mother, and was one of the first to congratulate me when I finished.

    Next year, god willing, I'm doing the 36 miler!

    sine timore progredi..
    propositum in potestate!

    Progress without fear..
    Power in our purpose!
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342

    Hope the new picture comes through!
    I taped down my feeding tube (which remains unused...) and rode in the 12 mile ride portion of the Endure For a Cure Ride where proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. The ride was literally a walk in the park. I used to train on hills by my house and this route was almost completely flat. I met my fundraising goal of $1,000, thanks to many kind friends here at home. I broke a wonderful sweat, thanks to the hot, humid weather.

    Dawn Brady, a six year EC survivor, was working the pork barbecue stand with her mother, and was one of the first to congratulate me when I finished.

    Next year, god willing, I'm doing the 36 miler!

    sine timore progredi..
    propositum in potestate!

    Progress without fear..
    Power in our purpose!

    An inspiration!!
    Jeff,

    You continue to surprise us all. If beating cancer is measured by the amount we let it rule our lives I would say our families are crushing cancer!! My Jeff is out back with his brothers right now, we are having a family party, Jeff helped me clean the whole house and helped with all of the shopping. If you didn't know he had cancer you would never guess it!!

    We are planning on doing the Relay for Life for ACS next year in Lancaster PA, a co-worker suggested it as a goal. I am looking forward to that and doing the fundraising, I have big goals set for that!! We would welcome any fellow EC patients and their families that would like to join us :)

    Keep up the good work!!

    sine timore progredi..
    propositum in potestate!

    Niki
  • cindyhils
    cindyhils Member Posts: 27
    best of luck
    I was 48 when diagnosed. i had 28 radiations with weeks 1 and 5 chemos-cisplatin and 96 hours of 5FU. i then had THE surgery 6 weeks after my last radiation.... Sound familiar. wanted you to know i had the same treatment and i am now 2 years from diagnosis and i am doing great. Good luck to you. You are in my prayers Cindy
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    cindyhils said:

    best of luck
    I was 48 when diagnosed. i had 28 radiations with weeks 1 and 5 chemos-cisplatin and 96 hours of 5FU. i then had THE surgery 6 weeks after my last radiation.... Sound familiar. wanted you to know i had the same treatment and i am now 2 years from diagnosis and i am doing great. Good luck to you. You are in my prayers Cindy

    To Everyone!
    Thanks for that, Cindy. It's WONDERFUL to hear the story from someone that's traveled the SAME road :) Glad to hear that you're doing great. I'm sure Nick will as well. As will Jeff, and Jeff, and Michael, and oh my gosh, there are so many of us....

    Nice job on the bike ride, Jeff! Way to get out there and kick some cancer tush!

    Niki - great goal for next year. I'll have to start on Nick now to see if I can't get a goal like that for us. and if he doesn't, I will :)

    btw, I saw in another thread you mentioned mop up chemo? Haven't heard that from our docs yet, but that may be a surprise they've been holding close. I'll have to ask about mop up chemo. Yuck....

    Best to all! sine timore progredi..
    propositum in potestate!

    Progress without fear..
    Power in our purpose!



    Terry