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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…
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jethro-t
I didn't want this to get lost, so I thought I'd start your own message here. My husband did have IL surgery which sounds like what you are getting (though it could be THE) Everyone is different. At Md Anderson, all tubes but the feeding tube are out when you go home. Some places you have a tube or two left in. Layne had…
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Wow what a day for Kim's dad!
Hi all my csn folks-- I am praying for all on this site...some are caregivers--worrying about loved ones, some are EC patients--but we are all looking for hope. Well-there is hope. My dad had surgery on 12/7 at Duke. He is not home yet like PGmomma's dad---but is walking 1-2 miles a day and down to a feeding tube, chest…
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John has had surgery finally!
Hi everyone. Sorry I have not been back for a while again. Time just seems to slip by so fast anymore. First, I am so sorry to hear about Kitten. What a lovely person, but a very special angel. An example we should all learn from. Second, John had his surgery yesterday. John’s surgery was yesterday, and the actual surgery…
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Dry cough
John came home on Saturday from his surgery/hospital stay. He did amazingly well in the hospital. He is on a feeding tube 16 hours a day. We start it when he goes to bed and he is done around noon. This way he has the afternoon and evening 'free'. He is eating small meals and tolerating them well. But the past 2 days he…
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Thanks to all of you on this board but
from now on I'll probably just read not post. I feel that William over stepped his boundaries when he questioned me in his response. I also see that if you are not a William fan...you are basically ignored on this board. I was told in another board that this would happen but didn't believe it..I do now. We are not all…
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Prayer Request ~
Hi all. My hubby is supposed to have surgery on Dec. 16th, but his recent blood work showed low potassium, calcium, and protein levels. This can cause his surgery to be postponed. We really do not want his surgery to be postponed - he has completed all of the pre-op procedures: stress test, pulmonary test and have done all…
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Sheer frustration
Sheer frustration!!!!! My father was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the esophagus over 2 months ago. And we have still gotten nowhere. The following events have taken 2 and a half months. After they confirmed the cancer in the esophagus, they set a date for a pet scan. The oncologist said this was needed to…
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PROFESSIONAL HELP
Hi everyone, I am new to the board. My husband had stage 4 ec. Had the chemo and surgery. He is 7 months post op and had a clean scan last week. For several months he has not been himself. Has no interest in anything, eats only a fraction of what he should be. He is in no pain and has no problem eating if so inclined. He…
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Second opinion
My husband is stage IV. He just recently completed six rounds of Taxotere, Cisplatin and 5FU and 5 weeks of radiation As some of you may remember we were in the processes of getting a second opinion, well we got it. Of course I wanted the sky to open up, and drop a cure in our laps, but that did not happen. The Dr. agreed…
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Non-Sugar Coated Status from the Wild Goose
All I'm not going to sugar coat t, but I've this but I've taken a very bad turn. I entered the hospital this past Sunday afternoon snd will be transferred to advance care this afternoon after radiation. I've had a few escapees from chemo and radiation so I now have this scourge in 2 places on my liver, my lower spine, both…
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Loretta you are right always go with your gut
Hi, Remember my post about Al's back pain well I was right. He has a compression fracture and a buldging disc in his lumbar spine. Will have to biopsy to double check about mets. In my previous post about being upset that the test wasn't done when it was suppposed to be, and I was anxious about his back pain. You said go…
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Dad had a great week, and I just had to share it with you!
Hello Everyone, I am just so happy for my dad. For months, maybe even a year, my dad has been unhappy and depressed because of his EC. Of course, who isn't? He would sit around all day, napping, eating small things here and there, get in his pjs early, and be in bed by 7 pm. I would come to see him and there he would be…
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Surgery is getting closer. Yikes, I am scared
Hi Everybody, My surgery is getting closer by the minute. I am as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. I have had lots of encouragement from BettyinVegas and William and many others. This board has really helped me a lot. Reading what others are saying and trying to stay positive, I know that it will be a good thing. It is…
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Can you believe Kim's dad walked a mile today?
I am so thankful for God watching out over my dad at Duke. He is on the cardiothoracic surgery step down unit and will be there for his stay. He has alot of tubes: IVs, heart monitor, feeding tube, catheter, chest drain tube, epidural pain control (have I forgotten any?). he doesn't have oxygen any more though. They…
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Lindsay Brown, here is another stage iv story
Lindsay, First I want to tell you how sorry I am that you had to seek out this site. It is not a club you want to belong to. I know things look the darkest to you now. My husband Charlie was dx in Mar 2009 with stage iv EC. (Mets to lung, liver, lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity.) Radiation and surgery are not options.…
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Have to vent!!!
Hi Everyone. Well it seems that last week when Al was supposed to have the ct & mri they only did the ct. They were supposed to do the Mri to see why he is having back pain. I call no report. So we go tomarrow at 12:00 for the mri and then to have our meeting with the team an Hillman Cancer center at 2:00 or so. I am just…
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Prayer for us anxious folks!!
A friend sent me this a few minutes ago, so I thought I would post it. Prayers for all on here!! Erika Prayer for Anxious People Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are carrying heavy loads... Your Word says an anxious heart weighs a person down, and this is how I think…
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Severe burn - cannot eat
My mother finished her rounds of radiation and chemo two weeks ago. All seemed to be going great the last session of chemo really did her in. She says the pain in her esophagus if she tries to swallow is on a scale of 1-10 a 14. This is from a woman who has a real high tolerance for pain. Her doctor has given her liquid…
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Dad's surgery Completed 12/7
First off thank you for all the support during this time and prayers as well. Dad went off for surgery at 730 am. They started at or around 830 am. We were told that in two hours they would know weather or not they were able to complete the surgery, or just put a port in and call it quits. At 1130 we got our first update,…
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My Roy has passed away.....
My dear friends, Just a quick note to let all my caring friends here know that Roy passed away Saturday night at the hospital. From what, we don't know (it wasn't the cancer or the esophageal surgery). The doctors don't know, they told us that. An autopsy might help, they said. When we came in to see him this morning, the…
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Met Oriontj and her hubby today!
Wow, they both look great! We had a nice soup lunch (onion is my absolute favorite) and chatted. What nice folks. And she is an ARTIST--something I am so NOT. I write, but I can't draw a THING. I'm glad they let me steal them from the slot machines for a hug. I was definitely buoyed up by seeing them. Betty
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My dad
Well, things are changing for my dad. He was in the ER on Sunday morning. He had his stent put it in on 11/25 and he hasn't been right since. He's had pain and no appetite. So Sunday he was having chest pains. At the hospital all his labs came back fine. They did many xrays to see if the stent was ok. All is ok there too.…
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Totally amazed!
It so amazes me that when you don't have insurance, these Dr.s wont see you. You have a disease which can kill you if left untreated and they turn you away! I thought these people took some kind of moral oath. How is that moral? I realize nothing is free, but come on. I will work with a pymt plan, they just need to…
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Kim's dad's surgery went well
very long day--just got back from hospital. The surgeon said my dad, Kenny did very well--had 6-7 hour surgery---mostly laproscopically. He did do a larger incision (few inches) in the abdomen to better see the insertion of the feeding tube. HE is going to a step down room right now and my mom is staying with him tonight.…
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Kim's dad surgery now 12/7
Thanks for all the support on this site. we all are in a tough spot, from different parts of the country, different perspectives, different roles (caregiver, family member, etc). My dad's surgery is now Monday 12/7 at Duke. I will be there with my mom and my brother and sister will be there at least by the evening. We are…
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My dad's balloon dilation went well!
Hello Everyone here, Thanks to all of you for your many many prayers!! We had a great day yesterday. The sun was shining, we got a great parking spot at the hospital, dad got called back right away, the nurses were great, dad's iv went in easily without any problems, and his procedure went well!! Dr who did scope did say…
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how do I get husband to drink when he is so tired after chemo?
My husband has his first chemo last thursday and he has been sleeping almost all the time since then, how do I get him to drink fluids as recommended when all he does is sleep?
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It is back.
11-08 diagnosed with ec cancer. Went to cancer inststute. Had all new test,started chemo radiation. June 15 had MIE surgery. In hospital for 5 days , 45 days recovery, back to work. 3 weeks ago noticed lump under ribs. Had a ct scan. 3 nodules around abdomen cancer.Started chemo again.Doctors do not seem to be worried. My…