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Continuing treatment
Hi, I'm new to this site and have had this cancer since diagnosed in Feb. of 2007 Because I also suffer from severe COPD the decision was to do Radiation and Chemo not surgery. Since finishing the Radiation I have had to go back several times for dialation because apparently the scar tissue continues to expand. Now they…
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L-glutamine to help with Oxaliplatin side effects?
I too am new to this site. My father-in-law is going for his first round of chemo today. He is 72, in good health other than stage? advanced tumor in lower esophagus. I am the only source of advice/research he has other than the Dr., so I'm trying to get as much info as possible. Meeting today with the oncologist prior to…
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GOOD LUCK KIM ON YOUR DAD'S SURGERY
Kim, I know by now he is on his way to surgery, and it will be a long day for you, but I know he will do well, and with your BIG GIRL PANTIES on it will go fine. I know you are nervous and I was too, but just take one day at a time. Remember this from our beloved Kitten: Life isn't about waiting for a strom to pass its…
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Have surgery date!
Hi all. I just wanted to let you know that my hubby will be having surgery on Dec. 16th. at UCLA with Dr. Maish. We have every confidence it will go well and do not foresee any complications, but as with any surgery, you never know. So, we are leaving it all up to the good Lord to guide the surgeon's hands and for my hubby…
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first chemo session yesterday
just wanted to post and say that my husband did his first chemo yesterday, went way better than we expected, we were all so nervous. Going back this morning for two hours of fluids. Is this common procedure? Doctor said about 50% of patients respond to chemo, 50% do not. Is this true?
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Please someone...
My mom was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer when I was 13. I am now 16 and absolutely petrified. I don't want to lose my mom. She had surgery and they thought they got it all, but just to make sure, they did Chemotherapy. Apprently, that didn't work. It spread to her Lumbar Spine and penetrated the bone and came back in…
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Hi Lindsay
Hi Lindsay, I am sorry to here about you dads diagnosis. My husband Al was diagnosed in May with stage IV so believe me I know what you are going through. My husband since then has had many rounds of chemo and few trips to the hospital the chemo beat him up a bit. Everyone reacts differently to chemo so don't get scared…
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Its back here too, don't think it ever left
My husband had a CT scan on Thursday, first one since he quit chemo Oct. 5. He hasn't been feeling good lost 25 lbs since Nov. 3 and still has no appetite. His scan revealed cancer again in the lymph nodes and something different around the adrenal glands. He starts chemo Monday 5-FU and Irinotecan once every 2 weeks. His…
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Esophogeal/gastric CA and Herceptin
Does anyone know what information would help in convincing an insurance company to approve payment to use Herceptin for esophogeal CA? It is too expensive for anyone but the ultra wealthy to afford w/o insurance. I have the marker and would like to give it a try. Thanks.
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Losing weight
It's been a while since I've posted. My husband was taken off chemo (EOX) Oct 5 after enduring 6 rounds. He did very well on chemo but once off he began to feel very sick. He has lost 25 lbs this month. He has no problem swallowing in fact his endoscopy picture showed no visible sign of cancer. Biopsy showed cancer still…
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I'm here! Update on hubby!
Hi everyone, I just read your posts. How sweet of you all to be thinking of me! Sorry I haven't kept in touch the last fews days. Been spending morning, noon and night at the hospital with Roy and I don't have a laptop.... Well, the other day we were given some bad news: Roy was in a self-induced coma, his kidneys were…
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Super good news this morning
All my husband's tests came back negative for any cancer....the tumor is gone...biopsies are negative...Pet scan only showed returns from inflamation and he said she doesn't like them because of too many false positives but since he is in an arm of a clinical trial it is required..he sees the radiologist Feb 18th..CT end…
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Everday there is something new
Good morning! Need some help...Steve has been spitting up this "foamy" stuff anytime he eats or drinks anything. This use to happen occasionally, but since they put him on carafate (sp?) it happens ALL the time. Can anyone help me with this and tell me if they have had this problem. I am waiting on the Dr to call me back,…
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update on first chemo
thanks again for the replies., and yes, I am trying to get him to drink as much as possible. I do not like the doctors either who use these stats, it is very discouraging so I try to not listen to them. I think everyone is an individual and that chemo affects everyone differently. I am trying to stay positive as much as I…
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Biopsy shows tumor
Steves biopsy results of the "nodule" came back positive. They want him to see a specialist in Chicago, a Dr. Mary Mulcahy at Northwestern. Steve says he will consider chemo, but if it is in his liver too, can he really fight this? Can anyone survive mast. cancer? I hae so many questions and feelings I don't know where to…
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Not good news
We met with the Dr. yesterday. Up to this point I don't think that Steve really grasped what was going on. Or maybe he was in denial. But she her self has had cancer and I don't think she would give us wrong info. She said she had talked with an oncologist after the CT was done and he even said that with the resutls of the…
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Pain beginning 5 months after esophageal cancer surgery
I have a lifelong friend, who had surgery (I think it was the Ivor Lewis procedure) by an outstanding surgeon at a teaching hospital (UAB) in Birmingham, Alabama. The surgery was 2 years ago next week, and everything was and is going well. Minimal problems with reflux; no signs of cancer recurrence. Doctors all say that it…
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Good to go for surgery 12/8!!
Hi, Just wanted to share the good news. We had our presurgery meetings with all the drs and the PET/CAT scan was good, all other tests good so the surgery will still take place on this coming Tuesday at 7:30 am. The feedings with the NG tube have helped, evidently I was showing malnutrition and finally my bloodwork came…
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So my dad met with DR
L. today. All I know is that Dad does have Esophageal Cancer. Unsure of anything else yet, but he is going for Surgery Monday. Ill update when I know more... Please pray, the power of prayer is amazing. Thanks.
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Tomorrow we'll back at the U of C..and
The doctors will pull all the test results together and tell us where Tom is...it's a very anxious time and sleep seems a long way off right now for both of us.. We kept busy getting ready for our Vegas trip and finalizing all details on the kitchen remodel..contract signed and deposit made...the mess begins some time in…
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It just keeps getting worse...and more news that I didn't want to hear
After the scope and they confirmed that the "nodule" was a tumor, they also wanted Steve to see a pulmanologist (sp?) which we did yesterday. After he looked at Steve's CT, he says...you have a collapsed lung with fluid around it and there is not much that I can do beccause your case is so complicated with the lung ca...i…
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Hope Back Pain Is Just Back Pain
Hi All, We go see Dr. Gibson the oncologist tomarrow for our first f/u after surgery. I need some extra prayers. Al has been having this mid to low back pain now for about 3 weeks. First I called Dr. Gibson and he looked over his scans from when he had pneumonia, I guess he told them he was having low back pain. He said…
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Clinical trial: Zactima
Recently diagnosed, will start radiation chemo combo soon with 5-Fu and Cisplatin followed by surgery. I think stage is T-3. Phase I clinical trial of Zactima, Placlitaxel, Carboplatin, 5-Fu and XRT (radiation) followed by surgery was presented to me. I am in process of gathering info so I can make an informed decision.…
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Ativan
Hi, Has anyone on here used Ativan? They gave it to my dad to calm the terrible hiccups he's been having since having his stent put in. The ativan had him very loopy and he was talking to himself in his sleep and was VERY confused. He's pretty miserable too. I was hoping the stent would improve his being able to eat. He…
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My dad's balloon dilation procedure
Hello Everyone, Wanted to let you all know that my dad will be having his balloon dilation procedure at UVA on Monday, December 7, 9:30 a.m. Please put us in your prayers that all goes well. I will be in touch. Have any of you heard from Trish in Pittsburgh?? Hope her husband is doing better. Thanks! Tina
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New here from PGH. For my dad
Hello all, Im new here and have been reading all weekend. I thought I'd post a topic. Well My dad is 56 he has had acid reflux for YEARS. Went to DR's all the time and they kept telling him to take OTC meds. So about 9yrs ago he just gave up and stopped going to the DR's. BIG MISTAKE... Starting in August he started to get…
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new husband's diagnosis
My husband, age 55, was recently diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer, we went to three oncologists and they all had the same opinion. They suggested chemo, not radiation, since it was not curable because it had spread to the liver, abdomen, lymph nodes, etc. He is starting chemo this week, cisplatin and cpt11. Has…
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Help....more prayers please.... Roy's in coma....
Hi everyone, Well yesterday I was estatic with good news. However today it's not so good. 1. They just took him in for more surgery (a filter to catch any blood clots). 2. He already has a blood clot in his right arm (Still so swollen), one in his right leg and several in his lungs. They are hoping they will dissolve on…
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Pet Scan tomorrow. oncologist appt Friday and Vegas on Sunday
My husband has his Pet scan tomorrow...so we'll be going to Chicago...maybe in snow..then we meet with the oncologist on Friday to get the round up of all the tests...fingers crossed..prayers will be appreciated. It's our anniversary on Wed...and we always go to Vegas as our gift..so since he feels fine and can eat like a…
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greg
has anyone survied esphogus cancer stage 3/4 with just chemo and rad no surgery,tumors were in esphogus just below throat,doctors said lyphmnode in center of right shoulder tested positive to far from tumer to do surgery.are there suvivors?also said 2 lyphnodes were swollen did not know if they were cancerous.been off…