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Esophageal Cancer

Please remember this man in your prayers
Brother-in-law of friend diagnosed with EC IIB. Underwent chemo/radiation and recently MIE, I believe, surgery for cancer removal. This was some 3 or 4 weeks ago, and he is still in intensive care. Shortly after surgery, started losing blood, found that his spleen had possibly been nicked or whatever during surgery and was…
New Member from Northern California
My father, age 67, was just diagnosed after a scope, then a biopsy with EC. PET scan in 2 days. Initial recommendation was surgery, but right now we don't know if that will be before or after chemo and/or radiation. Does any member out there have experience with UCDavis or UCSF? Dr. Nguyen's name has come up repeatedly,…
Question re first round of chemo
Just found this site today, so new to board. Age 77 dad dianosed with stage IV EC with mets to lymphnodes, bone, blood (per his email). 3/4" tumor on inside of upper esoph. As I understand it mets are regional (armpit, upper vertebrae, don't know about the blood thing as that's brand new info). Started chemo yesterday.…
How long have you survived??
Saw this on the throat and head cancer board and thought it would be nice if we did a roll call of sorts saying our survival time since we were diagnosed with EC. If you want include your initial staging. Just to give hope for all of us: Mine is 15 months from my dx in 7/09 and was staged at T3N1MO and now they say stage…
hiccups and burps
Hello and I hope your day is going well. Does anyone know what can help with the hiccups and burps. John is stage 4 has had radiation and is taking herceptin and 5FU every other week at this time. He has had several other chemo drugs as well. Is doing fairly well. Maintaining a decent weight and is able to eat and drink ok…
Update from Linda and Jim in Idaho
My husband continues to be in the hospital receiving platelet transfusions, blood transfusions, and Nupogen injections. His counts are going down, not up after 8 days of hospitalization with transfusions, plasma, hydration, and more. Food is of no interest and they are going to start with IV nutrition. He will be getting…
update on my dad
Hi everyone ! Just wanted to update on how our appointment went this morning. Well the chemo/radiation shrunk the tumor to a very small size. which was good. but he is still having bleeding issue's so dr not certain at this point it is coming from the tumor. Found a lesion on his lung and said it was too small to tell if…
High tumor markers
Hi all, Well, it looks like my hubby's cancer is back :( He was diagnosed a year ago last Aug '09. He had chemo and radiation prior to his surgery last Dec.'09. He had chemo following surgery -- after he healed from C-diff which he contracted it from UCLA. He has only been off chemo for 7 months and his last blood work…
update on my date-today is a special day
I posted about a week ago about what to do for my dad. Tonight he is being honored with a special surprise lifetime achievement award from the city for his 40 years of volunteerism. Thankfully he is going to be able to attend! I'm worried the surprise from over 100 family and friends showing up is going to give him a heart…
Failed non-invasive treatment now face esophgectomy
I am a 63 year old male diagnosed by a biopsy during routine endoscopic monitoring for Reflux Disease with esophageal cancer. This was May of 2009. By August, 2009 I had extensive evaluations at MD Anderson in Houston (Endoscopic ultrasound and biopsies, blood evaluations, CT, PET) and was "staged" as I-a (very superficial…
Update on SallyB
Thank you all for your prayers. They have helped me so much. Because we were full-time RVers for the past 7 years, I am more mobile than most folks. I have never driven the truck AND 5th wheel, so that has been a concern for me. Wonderful friends came to San Antonio and moved me to the Rio Grande Valley where we have spent…
Hubby starting radiation soon...
I've read a lot on here from people going through radiation treatment, but any pointer would be great. We got a few questions answered today. I even got to voice my concerns. We heard info we wanted to hear and some we didn't, but info non-the-less. We got to see pics of PET and ct. So that was good. Thanks again for…
Just learning
Well my brother has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma esophageal cancer. They are not sure if it is stage 2 or 3 until after the PET scan tomorrow. (though they said his lymph nodes were inlarged but could not get to them to take a biopsy) He is 52 years old and already is dealing with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. They…
Where do we go from here with my dad?
Hello all, I appreciate all of your input these last 3 months. It seems my dad's journey is getting closer to the end as he is getting weaker and more ill by the day. I need help in knowing what to expect. I'll bring you up to speed. July 16 he was dx EC lVb with a small hot spot met on his liver and pretty much has gone…
IMC-1121B (also known as ramucirumab) clinical trial information
As most of you know my almost 79 year old father was told that the chemo is not working and there isn’t much else that can be done at this point to treat his now Stage IV EC (w mets to the liver) and he has months to live. My father decided he didn't really like that answer and wasn’t ready to discontinue treatment if he…
Husband Hospitalized pro-time high
Jim is in the hospital getting hydration and glucose, as well as plasma and Vitamin K. His protime for his Cumadin was very high and he was bleeding out. He was coughing up blood and bleeding from the nose, along with all of the other symptoms. He is resting now and they will continue to monitor his progress. I am hoping…
New question RE: HER-2 & tumor testing
I have another question regarding HER-2 and testing of the tumor. I also inquired at our post op check on Friday about testing of the tumor to see if it would help if we requested post op chemo. We were told that they didn't do that as there is no evidence of a benefit to know. We did have some staining tests, but I…
City of Hope
I just want to post a message to give folks with Esophageal cancer hope. I was diagnosed Jan 2000 with stage four Esophageal cancer. Underwent Chemo and Radiation together at the same time at an out of city clinic. Then there was surgery and therapy at City of Hope MC in Duarte, CA, World class Doctors and Nurses....
How do I get muliple docs to get stories straight??
I think all survivors and caregivers should get together and write a book on how frustrating it is to deal with muliple doctors. Geeeez It amazes me how one man and one PET scan can have so many results!!...Everytime I hear results from the scan, I learn new things. Everywhere from, not a surgical candidate and never will…
EC now spread to bones
My husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 EC in July, 2010. Radiation was very successful and after only being able to live on Ensure he can now eat anything. He had no surgery, just radiation and ciplatin and 5FU. This week he had his second PET/CT with the news that the esophagus has improved, no major organs have been…
update on Diana and I
Hi everyone, I just was reading this website as I have remained doing and just wanted to give an update. We have started with a new grief counselor that comes to our house weekly along with going back to our original therapist that we saw since the beginning of Ed's cancer. We are also joing a group grief meeting with…
Difficult Days
I must begin this by saying that I so admire all of you that are fighting this EC battle, and the caregivers/spouses/daughters/sons/friends. Our battle started September 6th with the words, "You have Barrett's disease and a malignant tumor in your esophagus." I feel like I have watched the love of my life, my husband Jim,…
Experimental Drug/treatment for Esophycas and stomach cancer
My dad has esophycas and stomach cancer. We had 4 sessions of chemo prior to drastic surgery. They have removed 3/4 of esophycas and 1/4 of stomach + 22 lynph nodes. A month after the surgery and on 1st day of chemo, we found out that the cancer is back on his neck, lungs, and some chest lynph nodes. We are truly devasted…
My Father is Having New Scans
Tomorrow my dad has new scans to see if the new chemo he's taking is doing any good and whether or not the cancer has spread to any new areas. Please say a prayer for us. As many of of you know, testing to see what the "beast" has been up to is so very scary! For those of you that don't know the background...my dad was…
Blood Transfusions
This week my dad was able to get 2 units of blood. Since the chemo he has been anemic and very symptomatic. He had it all, pale skin, cold, shortness of breath,fatigue and terrible dizziness. His hemoglobin was sitting right at 8.9 or 9 even after not getting chemo for 6 weeks. It has only been a couple of days but his…
Shoulder Pain from Liver Mets
Hi, My father has a tumor in his liver which is causing a lot of pain in his shoulder. He's been taking Percocet, but it doesn't help much. Has anyone had this issue and if so, how did you treat the problem? Thank you!
My husband has passed on
I haven't written in quite awhile but I have read all your posts. For the last couple of months, my husband, Jim, fought with all his will. But this horrible disease won in the end. Jim passed away on Sept. 27. His last day was filled with family. All his brothers and sisters were able to see him and say goodbye. Our two…
newbie
Hello my name is Shirley and I have this amazing man in my life who was told he has stage IV EC on Oct 2009. So much has happened in these past months. I will attempt to give you a short summary. He was told he was not a canidate for surgery because he had lymph node involvement and also a spot in he right buttocks that…
FDA Clears Herceptin-Chemotherapy Combo for Metastatic Her2+ Gastric Cancer
All, Recently we were having a discussion on the board about HER2 gene testing and the use of herceptin in gastric junction/esophageal cancers. Some folks had been told this was experimental and not a proven treatment method for espohageal cancer. Well, on October 20th the FDA approved herceptin as a treatment in gastric…
Question about FolFox Treatment and Platelets
Hi, My dad is considering what to do next to fight the EC - he is 78. He was Stage III, T3, N2, MO initially and after chemo (Caboplatin and Taxol) and radiation the tumor had shrunk and the lymph nodes showed NED in an April Pet scan. Then in July the pet scan showed that there was no activity in the lymph or esophagous…

Esophageal Cancer

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