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3.5 weeks post surgery--having problems.
I breezed through my surgery with flying colors, and now reality has sunk in. I'm having problems with digestion, sometimes I am regurgitating my food, my heart rate is well over 100, hot and cold feelings, my incision site is killing me. I have no energy whatsoever. Mayo said that the heart rate has something to do with…
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Esophageal Cancer Hospitals and Doctors list from patients and survivors
Hi Sherri and William, Please feel free to remove this post, if it is better handled in email. I'm am working on a list of EC cancer centers (first priority) and list of doctors that can be posted on the web for all to reference. Currently the ACS and NCI do not provide EC specific listing only comprehensive cancer…
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Recently diagnosed, surgery coming up.
Howdy :) My name is Greg, I was recently diagnosed with stage 1B Adenocarcinoma. I'm set up with Dr. Ninh Nguyen at UCI for a laproscopic Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy. First surgery is 8/27, 2nd (main one)is 8/29. Has anyone had this procedure? Would really love to chat with someone about what to expect afterwards. Thank you…
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Keep fighting! Make my mom proud!
Friends, I know we are all here at all different stages of EC. You and us, we're all a statistic of one. Remember that. This is a place of comfort, information, and peace for those experiencing EC. Tonight my beautiful mother has left her cancerous body behind to feast on a turkey buffet in heaven (she looooves turkey, but…
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My Dad
Hi There, My parents live in NY and I in Chicago. He is being treated at Strong Memorial Hospital (Rochester, NY) and his physicians are Dr. Tijani (spelling?), and Dr. Peters. (FYI- my father is 74 years old, until this has been in good health, other than the fact that he is a lifetime smoker) The past several months have…
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Don's PET scan is clean!!
Hello everyone!! What a roller coaster ride the past nine days have been. We went to Sturgis and ended up flying home on Wednesday August 8 through the day and early morning Thursday. Finally got to Bronson hospital on Thursday morning. Things proceeded to go downhill very quickly and there was test after another and no…
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Looking for support
Hi, my dad was dx with esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) in may. I am in Australia but can't seem To find this kind of supportive network, so was hoping I could join. Dad is 63 and lost his dad to ec 30 yrs ago. My mums dad also died from this 15yrs ago. I know it's a tough battle. My dad was dx at an earlier stage than…
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Spinal Surgery
My husband Dan has Stage IV. He is being treated in NY at Memorial Sloan Kettering and has been doing relatively well on the chemo, with a good quality of life. Back in March he needed radiation (IMRT) for a tumor on his spine that was getting too close to his spinal column. The radiation left him with Esophogitis. At the…
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Bill 3 month check up
I almost hesitate to post this with so much sad news here right now, but I know I have always appreciated reading the happy news so hope this will bring a little brightness to someone's day. Bill had his 3 month check ups this week at M D Anderson - PET scan, CT scan, endoscopy, and meetings with main oncologist and…
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Ray Jr.
As of today my brother seems to be feeling better. He had the stitches removed at the site where they put in the feeding tube, he said it was not a pleasant experience. He feels so much better and he believes it is from that Essiac Tea he is taking and of course the nutrients he is probably now getting through the feeding…
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The beginning
I could really use any advice from anyone about how to find the best cancer doctor in Northern California/Bay area for my brother to treat his esophageal cancer. I know this will be a difficult road and I could sure use some guidance and support. I feel lost and am very scared for him. I am not ready to loose my big…
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Praise and Thanksgiving form The Midwest
It has been 6 months since my husband Tim had esophagectomy at the IU hospital. On his 3rd month, adjuvant chemo was not an option as he was still weak from the surgery. Chest X-rays always come back clear. Yesterday, he has hist chest and abdominal C T scan and it all came back CLEAR. All organs are clean. Praise God for…
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upcoming surgery
My husband is having an esophagectomy done by Dr. Luketich at UPMC a week from today. I am also a member of CancerCompass which has also been helpful and informative. I read many of your posts today and found very helpful information. My husband has stage 3 adenocarcinoma and is her2 positive. He has had radiation, chemo…
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Happy Update from Judy Reed about Don
Judy posted this on facebook and asked that it be reposted here. " I am hesitant to post this but I think we have been given about as close to a miracle as you could ask for. Today brought on a miraculous change in Don. This morning the docs were talking about sending him to Ann Arbor to see if their specialists could…
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Urgent: EC IV M1b: anything we can do besides Chemo?
Hello everyone, My name is Lilly Xu and my father in China was recently dignosed EC IV M1b. He had a successful surgery 4 years ago because of EC.In the past few monthes, he complained about the belly ache and doctor gave him some medicine ( they thought it was just some minor digestive problem), but recent CT showes…
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Just got my surgery date
I'm scheduled for esophagetomy on 8/23/12 for cancer at the ge junction. I'm stage 1B. Can anyone tell me what to expect about the surgery? My doctor has given me his talk but I'd like to hear what someone who has been through it to let me know what it was like for them. Thanks John
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New to CSN - Had chemo and surgery - a couple of questions for the group.
My husband Richard, was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in February. We started our first round of Chemo in March. Had our break in June and then had surgery at the end of June. It has been a long and lonely road as there isn't any support group at the VA where he is being treated. Richard spent 2 weeks in ICU after…
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Pretty serious mouth sores
Hi everyone, I spoke to Dave this afternoon and he said that his mouth sores have "taken a turn for the worse" (his words) and that radiation thinks that chemo is causing them and he needs to stop chemo for a bit. They prescribed a pretty heavy duty pain med for him, and emailed Dr. Kelly his medical oncologist. His…
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Muscle Wasting
My Dad is Stage IV. Overall, he has been doing quite well. In 2010, he weighed about 190 lbs. @ dx. He has been through a lot the past couple of years, but has managed to keep his weight between 180 - 190lbs. Recently, I would say within the last 30 days or so, he has looked a little thinner... like NOTICEABLY thinner. His…
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Tumor Board
Said November 12th, your Dad is Stage IV. They said, your Dad has the largest mass we've ever seen. They said, he can't have surgery. They said we can try chemo/rads but we're not confident for remission. They said 6-12 months. We said, holy ****!!! Sunday marks 9 months. My Dad now says, PET shows no cancer activity, two…
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upcoming surgery
My husband is having an esophagectomy done by Dr. Luketich at UPMC a week from today. I am also a member of CancerCompass which has also been helpful and informative. I read many of your posts today and found very helpful information. My husband has stage 3 adenocarcinoma and is her2 positive. He has had radiation, chemo…
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Regurgitation
Hi I had the FULL surgery four months ago does anyone suffer Regurgitation ?
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from JREED in txt - UPDATED 08/11
I received this from Judy via phone text this AM.... Just wanted to let you know that our nightmare has started. They are 99% sure this is a recurrence and Don is going downhill very quickly. PET scan will tell the story. His left arm is very swollen this morning. He has not eaten in 4 days. They are going to put in…
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Another update on Dave
Hello everyone, Well tomorrow Dave will be finished his 3rd week of radiation. Two more to go! And now we are separating the men from the boys, so to speak. He has been doing well, is on a continuous 5FU drip, oxaliplatin every other Thursday, and of course daily radiation. I continue to be amazed at his spirit and…
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Pain Management
It has been two weeks since my son passed away at the VA hospice in Palo Alto, California. Approaching the end, when he was still able to talk, he said his pain level was "0" when asked by staff. I am so grateful that medications were able to relieve his pain. Thought I would pass this on since it has been asked on several…
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Week 1 of Combined Chemo / Proton Radiation Complete
I've completed week 1 of planned 5 1/2 weeks of combined Chemo / Proton Radiation Treatment. Treatment plan is 1000 mg Xeloda Morning and Evening Monday thru Friday with Proton Radiation Each day. I also have an IV Drip of Benadryl / Steroid and Docetaxol each Monday. No noticeable effects yet and I wonder if this is just…
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Why isn't surgery offered to Stage4 patients
I've been reading a lot of the older posts and it seems that I should request surgery to have the tumor removed from my esophagus. This is considered pallative care. I was wondering if anyone with stage 4 had the tumor removed and what the ramifications were. I think it would be better if I was able to eat a full meal.…
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MIE vs Open
I was scheduled to have MIE surgery next Friday. Low and behold I get a phone call from my surgeon today informing me that he would rather perform an "open" procedure. His rationale for this was that because of a previous stomach surgery I had years ago, he feels he will be able to create a better and bigger stomach tube…
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My mother condition is getting worse, please pray!
Just like the dr. said her condition is going to get worse before she gets better. Today my mother condition is getting worse. Please pray that 1. My mother's kidney starts working properly and her upper body will not collect fluid. 2. Blood platelet will increase in number, 3. Blood clot will dissolve . 4. The current…
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Don and Judy this is all of our biggest fears
We are so -so sorry to hear this news. We pray this is resoved with a simple and beign result. FEC Phil & Dianne