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Blood Pressure and Chemo question?
Does anyone have advice for us on a blood pressure issue? Rocky started back on a lighter version of chemo this week, Herceptin and 5FU pump. Today is the last day for the pump. Thursday he came home and his right leg (from the calf down) was really swollen and his blood pressure was high. 190/100 in that range all night.…
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A friend in need is a friend in....
Hello everyone! My name is Jacque and my father John was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer in December 2011. The biopsy showed it was a non-small cell carcinoma. The PET scan revealed a spot on his rib and adrenal as well as the large esophageal mass. After 9 weeks of chemo (5-FU, cisplatin, and epirubicin) he had…
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My Beloved Don is Gone
It has been four months since I lost my sweetheart of 61 years to this terrible EC. I am doing pretty good but of course some days are harder than others. I have no doubt that I will one day join him in heaven. It is very lonely, but I am not alone. I have my God with me every day. I hope you are all doing well. I thank…
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What do you say?
I was wondering what you say when you see people you know that don't know you are fighting cancer. I've been fighting stage III EC since last Jan. I'm doing very well now but not sure what to say when I see friends. The first reaction is usually WOW! You look great, you've lost a lot of weight and I love the new hair do.…
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so scared!!
I am going with my dad to a Dr. and Radialogist appt today. Last week they did another check down his throat, because he had been so sick. His tumor has grown so much. They did not do his chemo that day. Tioday we go to see if they will evwen consider doing radiation to shrink the tumor. He has had such a good year when…
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I m 46 yrs old and 4 children and 25 yrs of teach and coach am dx on april 5th EC AC protrude to upp
I am new at this Discussion Boards and i just want ot let you know i was born deaf at birth and I hope you or anyone can understand me.. I was Dx on April 5th esophagus cancer junction to my upper portion of my stomach... I have been jumping around different dr to dr for other opinions and that s crazy.... they have not…
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Squmous cell cancer with occult primary tumor
I have the Squmous cell cancer and I begin 6 weeks of Radiation and Chemo 5 days a week for the 6 weeks. What in the world am I going to do. I am in a state of shock, and it feels like a dream.
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feeding tube-- why don't the Dr's agree??----- UPDATE
My dad is not able to eat. He started Radiation last week because his tumor has grown so big and causes pain. I told my mom to ask about a feeding tube, because all he is drinking is gatoraid. He was drinking ensure and able to eat peaches and applesauce but no longer to even have that. the Dr convinced them he does not…
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Clindamycin
I have osteomyelitis in my lower left jaw, and so now am on IV clindamycin 3 times a day for perhaps 6 weeks. Does anyone else in the group have any experience with it? A bit of Internet research is pretty horrifying. --Jerry
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pleurodesis - palliative (update from radiation damage post)
Hi all Yesterday they drained 1.5 litres, still double that in the space, of foul smelling fluid from the pleural of the lungs. Waiting for lab findings but the thought is this is malignant pleural effusion. Recommendation is pleurodesis, does anyone have any experience of this? It is thought survival will be a few months.…
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Cancer of the cervical esophagus
Does anyone have any information about this subject? My husband has been diagnosed with cancer of the cervical esophagus after undergoing treatment for laryngeal cancer and being free of any signs of cancer for the last year. We have consults with a radiologist and medical oncologist on Friday at Emory Winship Cancer…
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Recovering from surgery
I'm currently waiting to be scheduled for surgery to remove my esophagus and voice box within the next couple of days. I would really like to hear from others that have had this same kind of surgery. How long was the recovery process? What can I expect in the future for speaking options?
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Esophageal Cancer: Preparation for Treatments
Recovery from laparoscopic esophagectomy surgery, and the transition from hospital to home care, was made easier and more comfortable because of a few significant preparations I made prior to the surgery — BEDROOM arrangements including equipment, bed, and layout; BATHROOM arrangements and equipment; CAREGIVER arrangements…
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Unfortunately, another sad EC story
My husband was diagnosed in September 2010 - T3N1M0. He had chemo/radiation followed by THE surgery in December followed by more chemo. He recovered quickly from the surgery and treatments. Life was returning to a near-normal status and after 2 clean scans we were hoping for the best. I had not yet found this site, so we…
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Starting Chemo - and update on what is happening
Hello again everyone, I haven't been back for a while, there were lots of complications that came to light during my workup for the surgery. I have had cardiomyopathy for 13 years and a biventricular pacer/ICD for 6 years. To cut a long story short, my device decided to run out of battery, an angiogram showed up a 90%…
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Wanted to share - Great results.
Believe it or not, I am a sceptic. We were in Gran Canaria, where my daughter lives and paid privately formy husband to have an endoscopy. The diagnosis was EC ardenocarcinoma. The tumour was 8.3cms on diagnosis. There are many people in Gran Canaria (all of the greengrocers') who believe that the cactus pear (called Tunos…
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Update - diaphragm hernia
Hi, So, Tom's pain in the shoulder was not getting better. He was taking pain killers, which were helping a little but not eliminating the pain completely. So, he went to an urgent care this morning. Spent the whole day there and had a CT scan. The good news, there does not seem to be anything pathological. No lymph nodes,…
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No DX but need help/advice
Hi. First I want to say that google searches kept leading me to this group. You are an amazing group of people. So let me put a timeline of events out there for you. In late 2009 my boyfriend started having severe chest pains. I took him to the ER and they preformed an EKG and other tests. All were clear and he was given…
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New to Board
My husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in July 2010. He underwent 35 radiation and 2 chemo treatments. Then in February 2011 he experienced breathing problems and the cancer was back. He had a larynectomy and the back of his throat had to be reconstructed due to radiation in March 2011. Everything was going good…
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Urgent Plea from Mindy Mordecai, President and CEO of ECAN
Good Morning everybody, I got this email this morning from ECAN and if anyone can help with this, please contact her ASAP. Go to www.ECAN.org to see if there's a theater in your area. Because you've shown a desire to raise awareness about Esophageal Cancer, we wanted to share an opportunity we've just discovered and would…
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Questions anout pain in rib cage area after radiation plus feeling worse now than when in treatment
The last week Bill has been experiencing some pain on both sides of his rib cage. Almost like a muscle pain as if he pulled something, but he hasn't been doing anything physical. I'm wondering if it could be related to radiation as it is in more or less the same spot on the right and left side of his ribs. Anyone have any…
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What's up with Jerry...
Got a note from William wondering what's going on with me. Well, okay, since you ask... I'm back teaching three classes in Electrical Technology at Big Bend here in Moses Lake. SO that part is working out well. I teach a half day on Wednesday, so after class, I hie on over to the Clinic (every other week) for my infusion…
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Governor Beshear of Kentucky signs proclamation designating April 2012 Esophageal Cancer Awareness M
Received an email from the Governor's office with the proclamation attached. He had likewise recognized EC in April 2011 so he was familiar with the proclamation. For those considering contacting their governor, I contacted them by email through their email contact address on the governor's homepage. I received an…
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Liquid going into airway
Hi guys, All of the sudden, liquid is going into my mom's airway. She even had the swallow test and it confirmed it last week and now she has to tilt her head down when she drinks. Has this happened to anyone else? We're 4 months postop and it just started doing this 3 weeks ago. She has affected lymph nodes in her neck…
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Jr. (Ray) is still with us!
I am so amazed at my brother. He just had to go this past Friday for a blood infusion, he didn't bounce back so quickly like he did in the past but he is doing better today.. His last blood infusion was a year ago and the onc. says that is really great. It has been 20 months that Jr has been in this fight and he is still…
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thickening of esophagus on the outside
New here so just looking for any thoughts. My husband is a 3 year survivor of colon cancer and on the past few ct scans has shown thickening of the esophagus, he has had 2 endoscopies and the last one the doc biopsied the inside area of esophagus where thickening shows up on the ct scan all came back negative which he…
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Frightened of recurrence
Hi, I'm new to this site. I am a 54 year old Female, I was diagnosed with EC in January of 2011. I went through radiation and chemo and finally surgery in April of last year. The Surgeon was very optomistic that he removed the cancer which had spread to local Lymph nodes. In June of last year, 3 months after the surgery, I…
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Two year Anniversary and Birthday
Today I celerbrate my 64th birthday as well as my 2 year anniversary with EC. Though worse for the ware, I am thankful for the ability to see 64 years and to be here to visit with friends today. Hospice is doing a great job in controlling my pain. That is the best birthday present I could have right now. Am much weaker,…
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Rare cancer with a rare pathology report
Hi everyone: I posted the following on facebook in Don's Updates and rather than try to rewrite here, I will just copy what I posted there. It's hard to explain what is going on in writing but I did my best. FEC and Hugs, Judy Geez, I don’t even know where to start. We have met with the surgeon (Dr. Reddy, UofM) and the…
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Stomach ache - Back pain - Shoulder pain
Hi everyone, I think last time i stopped by it was January. Things have been fine with us since then. Tom has joint a gym in March to strengthen his back. He has lost 4 pounds again and now back to 153 (his pre-diagnosis normal is 170-175). He thinks it is due to the physical exercise, and I choose to believe him. Other…