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Recovery from Surgery
Hello all, I have been a lurker for some time now and its great to see everyone being so helpful and supportive in the sitituations we are all facing. My dad had MIE back on March 21, 2013. Three weeks after his surgery, he had an endocopy and he was given the okay to drink water (he is on a j-tube) and did pretty okay.…
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Chemo protocols
We have consulted several oncologists and realize that nearly every one is involved in a clinical trial of some kind. Has anyone heard of a new profocol where Stage II and III patients will have 6 weeks of chemo first, then 6 weeks of chemo/radiation prior to having surgery? What has been your experience? How well was the…
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Hubby home have questions
After 9 days we are home. Ivor Lewis is no walk in the park. He has a lot of swelling in legs and feet. This started before we left the hospital. trying not to be concerned. Also dressing over chest tube holes leaks a lot. Again doctors knew this as well. Again we are still worried. Anyone else have these issues. Other…
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I don't feel sick
I was just diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer and start radiation and chemo next week. My question is how can I be so sick and not feel sick? My only problem is the tumor in my esophagus that prevents solid food from going down. I can do liquids just fine. I'm not quite understanding this whole thing.
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Paul Adams, can I pick your brain?
Hello Paul, My dad has now had 6 rounds of chemo over the last 12 weeks. He is treated every other week with 5-FU and Oxaliplatin. Background, just in case you hadn't read it anywhere, he is stage 4, tumor at the junction...mets to liver and multiple lymph nodes, surgery not an option. Next week he is going for his first…
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One Year
It’s finally spring here in the Midwest. I hope to enjoy it a little more this year than last year. One year ago today, we learned that my husband Paul had stage 3 esophageal cancer. In May and June, he received 28 rounds of radiation and 5 weekly chemotherapy treatments. At that point, he wasn’t eating anything by mouth,…
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33 year old female - Just Diagnosed
Hi all, I am 33 years old and about three weeks ago I was diagnosed with EC. I had no symptoms and went in for an EGD and the dr found a very small polyp which he thought was nothing but, he did a biopsy anyhow. Well turns out it is EC. I have had a PET scan and it is just isolated to one spot and MD Anderson did a EUS and…
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Dad's plan
So, we have a treatment plan. Radiation daily for 25-30 treatments and 5 weeks of chemo (once a week Taxol and carboplatin) then surgery after. I have a few questions: 1. do you recommend a port? I had them ask about it because working in the pediatric oncology population it is invaluable. What are your thoughts? 2. Anyone…
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Any experience with this Dr.?
My sister had a consult today with Dr. Alghren at George Washington University. It sounds like he is cautiously optimistic, but makes no promises with a chemo protocol called OMAX. Does anyone have any experience with this doctor or chemotherapy protocol. Thank you so much.
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JTubes
How many people had J-tubes? What is your opinion of doing the j-tube pre-chemo/radiation versus waiting to see is you need it during treatment? What has been your experience.
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Pain and Suffering - My Talk in Church
I haven't logged on to the EC survivors board in a long time but was reminded of you guys today as I have my 8th month follow-up with my surgeon. It's been 4 1/2 years since my partial esophegectomy. I'm still doing fine and recently finalized my implants and bottom dentures about a month ago. Now we work on the top row…
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Dad newly diagnosed - Waiting for staging
My father was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma last week. For the last few months he has been experiencing food getting stuck in his throat and retching when eating. He has lost 7 pounds in the last month. After several weeks of encouraing him to get checked out he had an EGD. 2cm mass located at the GE junction. Pathology…
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Surgical Recommendations
So, my dad was just diagnosed with Stage III T3N1M0 adenocarcinoma of the EG junction. The oncologist recommneds surgery first, chemo/radiation after. We are referredto Stanford and have an appointment with a surgeon Friday. Anyone with experience with this center? Any recommendations for surgeons? Thanks!
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Dad's Fight?
How is everthing going? Is your dad coming along okay? How are YOU????
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Swallowing after ng
Any advice for swollowing after ng tube was removed. he is struggling with just a drop of fluid. Dr advice is to push past it. This just gets harder as we go along.
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Surgery is tomorrow
Hubby's surgery is tomorrow. Ivor Lewis with Dr. Bilmoria at Northwestern. He previously practiced at Md Anderson. We have seen three different Doctors since Valentines Day. My husband has complete confidence in him and it is just an hour from the house. I am starting to freak out a little but I think I can handle this.…
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Surgical Post op visit questions
Yesterday was Larry's post op visit. Good thing too as he was not able to swallow any liquid by the time we got there. Surgeon did 3 dilations. What a relief. For the first time since surgery Larry was able to drink small glass of water and swallow consecutively. He wanted me to ask for experiences with dilations. How long…
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Radiation- what to expect for stage IV patient
My husband will begin radiation for 5 weeks, mon- fri with chemo. What can he expect as he is a stage iv. What has been your experience and outcomes. What are the followups post radiation. Any long term success stories? Tx
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Eating -still frustrated 10 months after surgery
I know that eating patterns have been altered forever, but I am so frustrated especially at night. I had a jtube reinstalled last Oct to supplement my nutrition. I am still undergoing chemo so I don't know if has a direct impact. Here's my routine. I wake in the morning and normally within a half hour I throw up mucus and…
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Hi My husband was diagnosed 2yrs ago
My husband has big issues with his sugar dropping since the surgery. Drs dont know why. Anyone exsperince this also.
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PET SCAN
Just returned from Texas where the latest PET SCAN showed the chemo did not work. My husband was on Xeloda, Oxaliplatin & Herceptin. One supraventricular lymph node increased and a new spot was found on the right pelvic bone. The doctor now ordered Docetaxel, Irinotecan and Herceptin. I wish I knew how they decide to…
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Low White Blood Count
My husbands white blood count dropped to 1.6. The doctor put him on an antibiotic although he doesn't appear to have an infection anywhere. He has had low platelets before but this new chemo must be the culprit. His temp hovers around 101 and he is extremely tired. Would appreciate anyone else's experience with this...what…
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New here, watching dad suffer through EC too
Hi everyone, My name is Denise, and my 69 year old father was diagnosed back in July 2012. I am not sure why it took me so long to post, but everytime I would read the notes here, I just got sad and overwhelmed. So many stories sound just like mine. My dad started to have trouble swallowing, and next thing we knew, cancer.…
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Questions regarding follow up
Larry saw the oncologist today. He said there is very little follow up for this. They plan on a chest x ray every 4 to 6 months and blood work for tumor markers. He siad the gastro Dr will do an endossopy at some point. No scans. This doesn't seem like enough to Larry or myself. What follow up protocol did all of you have?
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Well 3 years now with stage 4 and still going!
I havent been on this site for a long time now and kind of try to forget about having esophageal cancer but always helps to read other peoples encouragment and to share my own experience...after nearly 3 years since a stage 4 diagnosis feels like im just numb to the whole thing so i just sort of get up and live my life the…
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Problems with dairy and protein drinks?
Has anyone had difficulty after sx drinking protein/ ensure/ dairy drinks? They want dad to drink these but everytime he tried he gets terrible stomach ache. They said to only drink half the amount then but he still had it. He's only on soft diet and they wanted these to increase calories, any suggestions on other ways.…
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Radiation and possible surgery for stage iv EC - is this normal
Hi Stage iv EC patients and caregivers, My husband diagnosed with stage iv EC Dec. 2011 has only received chemo to date, his recent PET scan showed no visible mets, however the esophageal wall has thickened, he has some intermittent swallowing problems, not major, still able to eat on his own. The oncologist recommends…
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Remission
My husband has stage 3 esophageal cancer in the lymph nodes. He has 4 more treatments of radiation and no more chemo.. The doctor told us last week the tumor has shrunk a whole lot and he may be in remission by the time radiation is through with.. We are scheduled to go to UAB in a month to see about surgery but the doc…
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AKRN2013; STANFORD Cancer Institute specialty-Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE)
Heather, You had asked of hospitals in the San Francisco area that performs Esophagectomies. You mentioned STANFORD and UCSF. Stanford specializes in the Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy (MIE) that was pioneered by Dr. James Luketich at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Stanford Hospital has a…
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new to group
My husband was diagnosed Sept 10, 2012 of stage 4 EC that mets in stomach and liver. The cancer dr said she cant cure but help prolong as long as he is willing to fight she will help him and do all she do. He has done 20 rounds of chemo and has had 2 pet scans. Second pet showed the cancer in the liver had grown, so the…