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My Dad has been admitted into UVA hospital
Hello My dear friends, This is sudden news to all of us. My dad, Ray, was admitted into the hospital on Tuesday 12/15. He had a bout with constipation last week, we got through that, and then he developed a severe pain in his right side, and was turning jaundice. Took him to his primary dr. Dr. did blood and urine tests.…
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Donna here, I'm back
Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for all those prayers and good thoughts. I was amazed that Ron managed to get on and he was really touched by all the messages and encouraging words that all of you sent and I loved the in laws joke, Bill. It is still pretty rough but I am eating a little over half a cup of food each meal, just…
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1/2 face swollen
HI. My hubby was (is?) supposed to be discharged tomorrow, but when they started him on a liquid diet today, his left side of face - cheek, neck area and top of shoulder are really swollen. So, they took him off of liquids and I am sure the surgeon will come tomorrow to see what's happening. The nurse touched it and feels…
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So confused
So dad went into surgery this am, cause they said he had a leak. One which the CT nor the sallow picked up. They said it was a tiny leak. Maybe went undected from the start. So they got in their and said the leak will correct it self and they also said found a ulcer but said it was common. So the flushed him out really…
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husband's hiccups???
My husband has stage four cancer and today when he tried to eat breakfast, he got sick and immediately got the hiccups and they have lasted all day. Can someone explain to me why these patients always get the hiccups and is there something I can give him to stop them. Every time he tries to drink something, they start…
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newly diagnosed
My husband was recently diagnosed with EC on December 4th. He had hiccups when eating. Had a Barium swallow, endoscopy, and CT scan done at our local hospital. Referred to Cleveland Clinic to see a Thoracic surgeon. The surgeon was very negative. My husband had a kidney transplant 6 years ago and has developed diabetes…
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Merry Christmas
I want to wish you all a very Blessed Christmas (yes, I know, I am not being politically correct, but I am going to assume if you don't celebrate, you won't open this "discussion") and, God willing, a very Happy, HEALTHY New Year. We are spending our first Christmas in FL. It feels strange not to be around family....and to…
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WHEW !!! WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN, AND SO BLESSED TO HAVE ALL YOU GUYS AS MY FRIENDS.
Hello everyone, What a year this has been little did I know my husband would be diagnosed with Cancer at the age of 45, and when he was diagnosed I thought why us, and then our beloved Kitten always said "why not me" then as time went on we discovered it was operable, we went through so much, surgery chemo, mouth sores,…
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surgery done!
Hi folks, I made it back. Surgery completed on 12/7 as scheduled. I have a lot of catching up to do but wanted to say hi and surgery was successful. Biggest problem was infected chest tube (still recovering) and changes to tast/food consistancy. Expect slow improvement with that but it's a tough one. I hope everyone else…
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heart is hurting for all--
My Heart is hurting for all how are having significant difficulties right now.. you are all in my prayers Kim
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
Hi everyone, Just wrapping some Christmas gifts for the grandkids this afternoon (great day to stay inside, it's snowing like crazy in Pittsburgh today) and thinking about the approaching holidays.... Even though I don't have my husband, Roy, to spend Christmas with this year, I have sooo many family and friends around me.…
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A turn for the worse
Okay so on Saturday Dad started running a fever.. 100.6 and his Drainage tube area was pussie, So mom phoned to drs, the said to give him liquid Ty and clean with Proxide, So thats what she did. His temp came down but he took the ty every 6 hrs. Sunday he woke up and the drainage from the tube was BROWN. His temp was 101.…
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My Dad diagnosed with SCC of esophagus
Hi, I thought that I would check out some online support, hoping that my Dad may also join in, and talk to people that understand what he is going though. Over the past few months my Dads voice changed and he began to have difficulty swallowing and breathing. On a few occasions he was coughing up blood. This finally drove…
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John back in hospital
John is back in the hospital. When he went today in to get his feeding tube unblocked, they discovered that he had a fever. Dr. Scott came in and did give us very good news first. The final pathology report came back on one final lymph node. They got all the cancer out! But, he admitted John because of the fever and his…
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Not sure what to make of it all
Steve is not getting better and each day I watch him decline.. We FINALLY have an appt. with an oncologist on Dec. 29th. He talks Plan A (living) not Plan B (dying). He talks real good about plan A, but is leaning toward plan B. This past weekend, he gave two of his real good friends each a ring that he had that meant alot…
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Surgery 6 am Monday
Finally got the time of the surgery. Boy, they sure like to keep you hanging out there. I am to report at 6am and they tell me that they won't start until 7-7:30 am. I sure hope they give me some happy stuff early on so I don't freak out too much. I can't even begin to relate to all of you brave people that have already…
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For Jane and Charlie - I have questions
Hi, Yesterday my dad went to see the oncologist. I sent my mom with questions and the #1 was about the Herceptin. She dismissed it saying it wasn't covered and so on. So, by chance, do you have any phone numbers or anything I can use to give back to the Dr. The 1st hurrdle is going to be getting her to test the tumor to…
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Update on dad since surgery.
So dad got surgery on 12/7. Spent two days in ICU due to lung problems, they said it was normal when having this type of surgery. So he underwent sooooo MANY xrays. Wednesday he went to a step down unit, got up and walking. Thursday went for the leak test (passed) got one chest tube out and the NG tube out and he was…
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surgery update
The surgery is over and all went very well according to the surgeon. He has been in recovery for nearly 3 hours and I have not been able to see him yet. I am anxious to see him! God has surely answered my prayers and all of yours -- the way we had hoped for. Thank you guys! Now, recovery time... ~Shelly
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need answers if had mets to bones, muscles w/EC
Our pet scan was not good, neither was the biopsy and bone scan. All confirmed mets throughout the bones and muscles in my husband's body. He has the one small tumor in the esophagus that had mets to the lymphs and chest, now he has these nodules in bones and muscles. They are beginning radiation and chemo this week. We…
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Dad had a good day
My father started his chemotherapy (Cisplatin) in the hospital yesterday. He has the port in and is happy about that. He went home last night with the fanny pack of 5-FU. Anyhow, prior to yesterday he seem to be getting more and more depressed as the days went on. I would call my father a "workaholic", so I think the whole…
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Dad will be HOME TOMORROW!!!
Yes, you read that right! He will be home tomorrow!!!! Im soo happy. Barrium sallow went well, no leaks, okayed for Clear liquids 1oz per hour. All is well. He even spent an extra day in the ICU.. Got moved Tuesday nite, then NG tube came out an he was HAPPY...that really bothered him, just to see him smile again was soo…
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Been at This a Long Time
Hi, My husband and I have been at the esophageal cancer battle a long time (almost 2 years) now. Never tire of hearing other stories that we can relate to, so I'm glad I found this site. Does anyone here have squamous cell type (as opposed to adenocarcinoma)? My husband has basaloid squamous cell esophageal cancer and,…
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---keep the HOPE for EC---
My dad got GREAT & not so great news. But the GREAT outweighs the "not so great". The ad news is He failed his swallow/leak test, but they will repeat it. Also, he is having a problem with increased glucose and is having insulin (he has never been diabetic before EC). The GREAT NEWS is that the pathology result showed NO…
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Your "Kitten0385", my friend
Hello Friends, I hope that I haven't overstepped any boundaries by posting on this site. Your "Kitten0385" (Cathy) was a very dear friend to me as she was to a lot of you on this board. I worked in Cathy's classroom with her and was blessed enough to have seen her way with children first hand and am so very priviledged to…
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Dad's apt. tomorrow
My dad will be seeing his oncologist tomorrow to go over the results of his PET scan. We know it has spread to the liver, so we need new options. He's pretty grouchy and miserable with that stent. I've told him that he should look into having it removed, but according to him I don't know anything. I can only pray this Dr.…
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second chemo session
Hi, my husband has his second chemo last thursday, he is on cisplastin and campostar (not sure if spelled correctly)., the first time he did ok, this time has will not drink fluids as this is a big problem as dehydration will be next and he has had diahhrea ever since Saturday. I have been giving him immodium but has not…
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Al and I are in need of Prayers!
Hi Everyone, As most of you know Al has either a compression fracture or mets to his lumbar spine. We have an appt tomarrow with the oncologist. They are having a hard time scheduling the biopsy which will determine what this truely is. We are both very anxious in the fact that they are having such a difficult time getting…
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Looking for some advice
Hi Friends, My father has recently been diagnosed for esophageal cancer(squamous cell carcinoma). It was a shocking news for entire family, but still we feel that he could fight with the destiny. I am from New Delhi, India and our public health system(supported by government) is very crowded, and private health care…
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Meeting Betty and Layne in Las Vegas
Tom and I have been to Las Vegas many times each year, but this trip was very special. We got to meet two wonderful people, Betty and Layne Johnson...They are fabulous..Layne put Tom and ease and Betty and I talked over our onion soup.It was so nice to put real people behind the names on the board...and she's as sweet in…