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Feeling so overwhelmed
What a crazy 2 weeks. Post chemoradiation pet/ct results showed many lymph nodes that lit up. Devastated. Surgeon appointment went smooth as he is the nicest, confident, and calming physician I have ever met. He not being totally convinced these nodes are cancer scheduled a bronchoscope with ultrasound to biopsy nodes.…
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Having a hard time maintaining positivity
It’s 9am. I put on my raincoat, grab the dog leash, and head out into the damp Oregon morning with my collie. As I pass our mailbox, I pull my phone out from my fleece lined pocket and plug in some headphones. The phone rings. My mothers voice travels over the 90 mi from her house to me, while I take my dog on his morning…
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Question
My father had chemo/radiation tx and we were told yesterday that the tumor was still there but much smaller(endoscopic surery). At this point he's not a canidate for MEI etc.... Is it possible to due more radiation/chemo and get the rest of the tumor?
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Stage 4
If a person is stage 4 and becomes NED do you need to stay on chemo? I was stage 3 at the start but in Sept (post surgery) i had 7 additional lymph nodes light up. My lymph nodes are responding to the post op chemo, now just one of the seven is still light up on the recent PET scan. when I asked the oncologist how many…
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Altra ~ One day you’ll see your dear daddy again! He’s not gone forever.
Dearest Altra, Just read your comments under the topic, “A DIFFICULT QUESTION” (http://csn.cancer.org/node/254406). Hope you will take these comments from my heart to yours. Just couldn’t help but be saddened by your words. “Nick” was unable to make it through the tough struggle that is “Esophageal Cancer”, a formidable…
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A Difficult Question
When we first learned of my husband's diagnosis of Stage 4 and his prognosis, it was as if time stopped. I immediately began research and found the stories on this forum both encouraging and heartbreaking as well as a little bit frightening. When I hear of how much suffering people with EC have gone through, I can't help…
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I have been blessed with another year
About this time last year I went to the dr about my problems with swallowing and started the EC journey. This has been a daunting journey, I've had my really bad days especially during recovery from surgery but many more good days. I didn't expect to move from stage 3 to stage 4 but I am trying to stay positive, I can eat…
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My mom has a new question???
What do you put in a J tube for feedings?
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New to the board and new to cancer
Hello im a 36 year old male with a beautiful wife and four children. About 7 days ago I was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer and they believe it might be stage 4. I had a pet scan today and will get results from doctors early next week. I plan on fighting this until my very last breath. This is a very scary time for me and…
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Daughter seeking answers/advice - Mom diagnosed with stage III in October
Kind of a long post, so to summarize, my questions are: * What makes someone a candidate for surgery? My Mom is still very underweight (under 100 lbs at 5’6), has little to no energy, and when was diagnosed had an ~3 in long tumor almost completely occluding her esophagus (which we’re obviously hoping has shrunk now). Her…
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My mom has a new question???
What do you put in a J tube for feedings?
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My mother is newly diagnosed! Looking for best ENT/thoracic surgeon at MD Anderson Houston tx
Hello, my mother has been a survivor for 9 years of Squamous cell carcinoma in epiglottis! she began rapid weight loss that lead to biopsy and now it is back on the back wall of her larynx! We went to doctor yesterday and now he is saying high chance it's in esophagus. I would like to know what surgeons people would…
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3rd "Birthday"
It was 3 years ago today that I had my Ivor Lewis surgery. It has been a long, difficult journey—definitely a roller coaster ride. My life has been forever changed due to my esophagectomy in ways that only another person who has experienced EC surgery can understand. Having to sleep elevated, watching what I eat and how I…
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Newly diagnosed - looking for treatment center in Phoenix - any suggestions?
Newly diagnosed - looking for treatment center in Phoenix - any suggestions?
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Fighting for Dad
My name is Justina and I'm new to this site. My 55yo father was dx with Stage 3 EC 9/2012. We were told the tumor was 7.7cm and extended into the stomach. He has 2 enlarged lymphnodes and several small ones that have been affected but they say they consider all that localized. I had taken my father to the hospital in…
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In limbo, surgeon visit
Appointment today with Dr Mark Orringer. He is not convinced that all of the lymph nodes that lit up are cancer.He saidhe has never seen anything like this. The good news is they didnt wipe the surgery date off the calendar. Larry will have to have biopsy of trachea. If it is cancer no surgery, the nodes in the lungs are…
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RFA - Radiofrequency Ablation - Anyone have any information?
I do not post here much but come here often to read your posts and learn more about EC. I can't seem to bring myslef to actually write, not sure why? A little background - My sweet husband Rocky was DX October, 2011 with EC Stage IVB (mets to the liver and lymph nodes). Not ONE symptom other than fatigue, we would later…
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Yesterday is over dilation is OK
Hi, OMG what a day yesterday. We did just what you had suggested went to the surgeon. He checked everything out and all looks good. Now Jon is a big guy we do have one of those beds you know sleep nuber (very expensive). Anyway we have had it for a while. Jon was in a building colaps a few years ago so it helps his back.…
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Valentines - list of EC links and organizations
For Valentine's day, just a chip in the iceberg, but some information hoping to bring you some warmth, that you are not alone, and possible save you clicking all over the web. * There are organizations out there trying to help EC. * There are places were people impacted by EC get together. Including this discussion board.…
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Cremation
I'm donating my body to the University of Washington for medical students, or whatever. When they are done, they will cremate the remains, and then we have a choice of either having the "cremains" sent to the family, or they will be buried at a cemetery maintained by the UoW. So, that takes the cost down to practically…
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dialtion now asperating
Hi, Firefighter Jon had dialtion Friday (the day of the big storm). He did well and when he ate noticed a big difference YA! It took forever to get home snow,traffic and all. Jon ate good Saturday little but no trouble. Sunday OK. Then Monday night he asperated a little but brought it under control. Last night it was…
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Post Surgery Chemo and Herceptin
I have been a vistor to this site for a few months now but just today became a member. My husband was diagnosed 9/28/12 T2N0M0. He went through 5 weeks of radiation and chemo therapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. He waited 6 weeks and then had surgery 1/8/13 for complete esophaectomy minimally invasive. He has exceeded…
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THE and pretracheal node question
Ok, I'm being a little impatient waiting for Thursday appt with surgeon. My question is does anyone know if the surgeon is able to remove a pretracheal node during a THE surgery? I have researched endlessly, and I know that he can remove other nodes during surgery, however dont know if this particular one that is 4cm can…
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Post EC surgery diagnosis of cancer in abdominal fluid
My father was diagnosed this summer (July 2012) with stage III esophogeal cancer. After three months of chemo & radiation, he underwent surgery this past fall (late-Oct) during which they removed 2/3rds of his espoh and 90% of his stomach. Margins were clear as were his lymph nodes so we were feeling very positive. It…
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Where is he?
I browsed this forum back last year when I was having some issues and everyone was so kind. I appreciate all the time and concern y'all gave me. I come back periodically to check on everyone and I've noticed that William hasn't posted in a long time. Is he ok? Thanks again.
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Update on Pet/Ct
Well this stinks...Larry's pet scan came back and we don't know what is going to happen next. We dont see the surgeon until next Friday. This may be the longest week ever.The pet scan showed that the main tumor has shrunk significantly. However he now has a 3cm lymph node in the trachea. Also lymph node activity in the…
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Haven't checked this board in ages
It's been a couple of years since I finished my treatment,radiation and chemo,Cisplatin and F5U...Just got another clean Pet/Ct scan,NED since treatment ended..I was staged 2-b and turned down the surgery,didn't want a big life style change...So far so good,my Dr. thinks I may be one of the few who beat it but I think it's…
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Another scan over with!!
Hi All, Charlie had scan done yesterday and all clear!! So we keep going another 3 months until May 2013 when he will be 2 years Post-op!! He also needs a dilation and has been feeling this way for 2 months but put it off but he goes in on Thursday for dilation and extra exploratory scope by surgeon. Charlie has 5 men in…
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complete esophageal blockage
Hi, we are looking for anyone with experience of blockage due to radiation. My husband finshed radiation & chemo for throat cancer the beginning of Sept. & is still unable to eat. He finally went in to have esophagus dilated yesterday only to be told that they were unable to do it because he has complete blockage because…
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Reduced dosage
I'm curious, I'm approaching the next round of chemo. I've had some neuropathy issues. The drugs are Epirubican, oxaliplatin, and 5fu. The last round almost immediately I had problem with my leg muscles and my hands not responding. Kind of like a Charlie horse where the muscles locked up making it hard to walk. The…