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Esophagus will not stay open...suggestions?
I am a 4 year EC survivor. I had chemo/radiation followed by an esophagectomy in Dec. 2006. I have done well overall, but have been having great difficulties keeping my throat open, lately. I have a bougie dilator at home but cannot get it through both strictures. My endo. doctor is frustrated, and I am frustrated with…
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Pet scan update on my dad
We got the results of my dad's PET scan last week. It's taken me some time decide how I feel about it. I wasn't there to hear it from the dr and able to ask questions. Dad is stage 4. After 2 rounds of chemo and 2 months they said there is little change so they are calling it Stable. The primary tumor had grown a little in…
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Mom has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer
Hello, I am looking for any information/tips and especially inspiration. My mom (age 54) for the past three months my mom has been having trouble swallowing her food (she said it felt like food was getting trapped in chest area). She went for a scope last Tuesday (June 8/10). The doctor told her that he found a mass and…
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Nebraska Connection Roll Call
I see there are a few of us from NE. Anybody want to do a little roll call? I've kind of felt alone out here, you know the middle of nowhere with only cornfields and no indoor plumbing, ;-) Just kidding. But if you have traveled and told people you are from Nebraska that is their impression. I'll start, My name is Deb. I…
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New Member-March diagnosis-August surgery
I have been reading advice on the site for some time, and decided I needed to quit being a "Peeping Linda", as William would put it and be an active participant! My husband, Bob, age 56 at diagnosis of esophageal cancer March 31, 2010. Originally diagnosed at stage 2-3 due to the fact that they couldn't get the ultrasound…
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Erbitux
Esophageal Cancer News Erbitux® May Improve Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus Researchers from Germany have reported that Erbitux® (cetuximab) improves response rate, time to disease progression, and overall survival of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma receiving Platinol® (cisplatin) and…
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Help Please
My Dad (62 years old) was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer August 13th 2010(Stage 3). He has just finished his first week of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy and it did not go well. The doctors did blood work today and he was in kidney failure so they gave him fluids. I am not sure what I should do to help him thru this…
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Good CT Scan results
Good news yesterday! First CT Scan results after two rounds of chemo showed no further spreading and a 30% reduction in tumor size. And gained two pounds! This does wonders for your spirits and according to some lore I've read from you wonderful people signifies a birthday of sorts for us. I just wanted to share some good…
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Doea anyone know of this surgeon?
William, I don't know if maybe you can find the answer to this but if anyone can, I suspect you can. You have mentioned many times that the surgeon that did your MIE surgery was in Pittsburg, and he is one of the best. You also have mentioned some other doctors that he had trained in this proceedure. One of the surgeons…
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False positive lymph nodes...anyone have any experience with this?
The PET scan impression: Interval development of moderate increased glucose metabolism in left hilar and subcarinal nodes suggesting recurrent neoplasms. The oncologists interpretation..... This PET scanner is extremely sensitive ...only three others that good in the world. I think it is just picking up inflamed lymph…
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What a wonderful site
What a wonderful site. Daily I am amazed by the compassion, understanding and helpfulness that is offered to frightened posts from patients and/or their caregivers, still in shock from the diagnosis or suffering grief from the loss of a loved one. I know it has been of great benefit to us. If you are a caregiver you might…
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New chemo plan
Hi all- Sorry I haven't updated since my worries with Lou's dilation 2 weeks ago. The dilation went well. The doctor was quite pleased that Lou's esophagus was not brittle and it stretched well. He will scope again next month to see if it needs more stretching. That was a good news day.....we were relieved. The next day we…
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Ed passed away
With a very heavy heart I lost Ed yesterday at the hospital, he passed away at 12:15 PM. He had been in the hospital for two days. Diana and I had just visited him, went upstairs to the caardiac floor to visit with my Mom and the nurse called me and said he just passed away. Services will be held this Saturday. Although it…
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SirSpheres in Colorado
Well, we are in Colorado. Our doctor is really amazing, he actually prayed over my husband--now that is humility, when you know that you are only the tool and God is the healer. We could not get insurance to cover the spheres, but we know Layne needs them. Therefore, we self paid by scrimping, saving, begging, pleading and…
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discouraged about using this site.......
I was so excited to discover this venue and have day to day interaction with others going through what I am. Unfortunately, my few posts have not resulted in one personal reply so it feels like I'm talking in an echo chamber. If this doesn't change, I don't think I'll continue participating. Perhaps it's a club with closed…
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lost health insurance - checkup how often
EC stage 11, did the chemo and rad then I had surgery at duke on Feb 2010 and I Had one cat scan in July 2010 that look good. I am losing my health isurance the end of this month. How often should I go and get a scan, can't afford often. Do think it would be ok if I don't go. What check or blood test could I do or should I…
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Update on Diana and I
We had Ed's memorial Saturday, it was beautiful. Diana and I are doing ok. I think there is some sort of relief within both of us that he is at peace now. It was a long, horrible year for all three of us and I believe that God decided to take my husband because none of us could go on any longer, especially Ed. I want to…
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Ed's memorial today
well William, I just read your very lost and somtimes funny, sometimes sad, posting to me. We buried our Ed today, we had his memorial this morning, many many people were present, the one person who was not there was my Mom, who is in the hospital unable to attend. I thought I would have very mixed feelings the day I sat…
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Update on Mom Ginny
Hello EC family Thank you for your replies, thoughts, and prayers. As of Friday we found out that mom's leg test results were that she has P A D. This is peripheral artery disease. This is common in diabetics. So....first things first. Catherization done to see if there are blockages in her heart. If so, bypass surgery.…
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Needed Prayer for my Mom
Hello my ec family, This is not concerning ec, but I am reaching out to all of you here to ask for daily prayer for my mom. She has been diagnosed with a leaking heart valve. She is 67. She is also a diabetic. The cardiologist is recommending a catherization to see if there are any blockages, and replacing the leaking…
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My Father-in-law
Hello everyone. What a relief to find this site. My Father-in-law was diagnosed with E.C. stage 4, last week! It took almost a year. He's 67 years old. I'm not faulting Kaiser Medical, but the process does seem slow. He had a PET scan Saturday and will know the results at his appt. this Friday. Does anyone have experience…
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CT results NEC
My husband had his CT scan yesterday. His first since his IL esophagectomy. The report said, "No evidence of cancer." Yay!! His oncologist said he looked a thousand times better than when we last saw him. That is not to say everything is smooth. We still are learning what and how to eat. Regularity issues. Shortness of…
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MMS ~
Has anyone heard of MMS? Jim Humble came up with this to cure people in Africa with Malaria. However, he has found that it can cure many other ailments, including cancer. It is worth researching and checking out. http://jimhumble.biz/ P.S. My hubby is still recovering from his esophagectomy last Dec. '09. He is back to…
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Chemo-embolization
Jim had his second chemo-embolization last Tuesday. Had no side effects for the first 24 hours, then they kicked in! He's been nauseous and feels like he has a BAD case of the flu. We had a prescription for Phenergan, but that makes him loopy, so he's only taking 1/2 a tablet at night and last night we cut that in half.…
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Mother needing help and support post OP
Hello everyone, My mother in law, underwent EC surgery in May of this year (2010). She did wonderfully. She is currently taking post OP chemo, and here is where she is having trouble. Her weight is becoming alarmingly low. The nutritionist and hospital have told her that if she gets down to 118 lbs that she is goign to…
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throwing up
Hi again, I have a question. My surgery was in Feb 2010 (MIE). I have been getting along well except I still throw up almost every night. Some weeks its only 3-4 time a week. Sometimes I know it is because maybe I over ate, but is this normal? Other than that I am doing good. I know I have had problems with my stomach not…
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My mom, my best friend, my hero, my rock
***NOT EC but I have posted a few times over here...just wanted to share....much love*** Every day since August 9th, I have sat by her side. Caressed her face, talked with her, laughed with her, cried alone.... I have done her nails, helped bath her, change her, feed her, given her every minute of every day, much like she…
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Barrett's is back
I had an esophagectomy 5 years ago and now early stages of Barrett's are returning. My biggest concern is obviously the return of esophageal cancer but I also am constamtly coughing in the night due to acid reflux irritating the Barrett's location. I sleep elevated but have really found no relief. Does anyone have any good…
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Experience with Taxol??
My father is starting Taxol next week. Just wondering what the common side effects are. I know everyone is different, but would like some info. on how others responded and what their side effects were. This is the only other chemo drug my dad is able to try according to his oncologist. Everything else will be too…
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upsetting news about Ed
Ed has a full blown psychosis over the weekend, doctors believe due to the brain cancer spreading, in the hospital very very sick. We are losing our Ed and we are with heavy hearts tonight after visiting him. He cannot speak nor can he do much of anything else. They are trying heavy duty psych meds trying to calm him down,…