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Help Wanted!
Hi Everyone, Before I begin, just want to welcome the newcomers. Although the beast we battle is a fierce one, we are here for eachother. I can't offer and advice, just that I read all of your posts and I pray for all of you here. I am new here as well. My father was just diagnosed on December 1st, and everyone has…
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new to the board
Looking for the best treatment am located in central mi, jackson. anybody know good docs and surgery center
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Chemo question
HI folks, Just a quick chemo question; has anyone had experience with cetuximab and the Oxylplatin and Docetaxel protocols combined? I understand this is quite unusual but its an option we are considering at the moment. Cheers Steve
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New to site and scared!
In October, 2011 we went to the doctor because my husband, of 26 years, was feeling tired and a little short of breath. The doctor said he was severely anemic so she sent us to the hospital for blood and to look for a source of bleeding. He had NO other symptoms. They scheduled an Endoscopy and discovered a very large…
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Second Stent Placed for leak
Went in for scope 1/25 thinking I would be in and out. Well first stent placed had fallen and was in my stomach...drain tube creating a hole and curled. Second stent placed and drain pulled way back. I have never been in so much pain they could get me stable for over and hour after the placement. My wife said my heart rate…
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When do they do swallow test?
OK, need info from you all. Surgery was thursday and Nicholas is progressing on track. I was told swallow test is 5 days after surgery. But they are counting from Friday as day 1? not day 2? The swallow test is scheduled for tuesday, not mon...is this the norm? He wants out of hospital so bad and I will advocate for him…
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One month since surgery
Hi friends, It has been a month since dads surgery today.....he is recovering well ...but we started another round of chemo today ....they will be given once every three weeks for 4 times....(4in all) the oncologist said as they have found one node positive along the greater curvature of stomache in post surgery biopsy…
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Not good news at all
Didn't get great news from the oncologist yesterday. The tumour markers have more than doubled since November (CA19.9 - 963) making the 3 months chemo prior to that seem useless even though it worked for a time. There won't be any more as Brian is too weak. The fluid that was drained from the capsule around the liver has…
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crazy!
Okay, Jr. (Ray) was suppose to have his chemo for 6 weeks, I believe, and then PET on the 7th week. He just finished his 4th round and the oncologist says he wants to wait another 2 months for the PET, he wants more chemo in Jr. Get this, Jr. lost 6 more lbs. but the onc. "is not concerned about the weight loss." Am I…
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Cancer has spread even with 3 rounds of chemotherapy
My dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the end of September 2011. He started chemo infusions in October, every three weeks with chemo pills daily in between. In November, he was admitted into the hospital due to severe dehydration and a stint was put in so he could eat and drink by mouth. He was vomiting everything…
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Update On John (Member Class of 2011)
I know that is has been a while since I posted, (I do try to read others post most days). John has bounced back from all the EC issues and then my Mom kind of fell apart (sound familiar Loretta/William) and I started a new position (promotion, thank you very much) at work. Life has not calmed down but enough about my crazy…
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FINALLY!! Surgery Date Tomorrow!
Hi All, Just wanted to let you know my hubby finally has a surgery date Thursday. This is 1 day shy of 10 weeks since finishing chemo.What a wait, and over the last week he has coughed up food a few times that has went down wrong, so this was too long to wait. This is all making me very anxious. Would really appreciate…
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Barium Swallow = Constipation...
Hello! I am so sorry I haven't been able to keep up with everyone. My life is back in NH with my parents in Florida. Good news - 3 1/2 months after surgery (Ivor Lewis) my dad is riding his Harley, camping (in a motor home) with friends and doing anything he wants to. The only pain/discomfort is self induced. (He is trying…
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Chemo and cramps
Did anyone have problems with cramps during chemo? Bill has been doing remarkably well with the chemo as far as nausea etc, but has been suffering severe cramps in his legs and around his abdomen. He mentioned it in passing to the PA last week but I think he kind of understated it enough to where the PA did not think much…
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Another great appointment
Well the ol man had onco appt yesterday and we got more info on plan of attack for the next three months. Yesterday was last chemo only appt, we will now have about 3-4 week break from chemo then will head to chemo/rads. Dad has only had 240 of the cisplatin so we will continue that and the 5 FU will change from 2 day…
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need some advice from neutral people..... this is NOT related to ec....
Hi all.... just a word of warning, this may be a bit lenghty by the time I'm done, and if any of you don't want to read my sob story, feel free to pass it by. I'm looking for some neutral advice and don't want to tell my friends and family whats been going on lately. I know that you all will be honest and fair. This has…
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Jerry's January 23 update
Well, looks like I "jumped the gun" on my surgery date. February 16th is a pre-op meeting with surgical team in Seattle, including a CT scan, and surgery is actually scheduled for March 2. My doctor is a busy, busy guy. So. That's THAT news. Finished the treatment course on the 17th, and now I'm just trying to eat and have…
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Surgery update on Bob
Surgery was yesterday for Bob's recurrence and the news was totally unexpected. The local tumor in the esophagus was removed but was found to had grown into the aorta and trachea. 95% , or more, of the tumor was removed, but our surgeon could not get clean margins. Bob is doing well, a think even faster than his first…
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Dad passed his swallow test!
I haven't been on this board much the past week as I have been busy with Mom and Dad. I feel almost guilty writing how well my Dad is doing. I am home today, back to work. I was with him for a week and very happy to be able to do that. Dad has his entire stomach removed and about 2-5 cm of the esophagus. The tumor was…
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This is an uplifting segment about curing cancer from CBS Sunday Morning
You never know when the answer will be found. I'm sure there is a cure to be found. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57358994/calif-hs-student-devises-possible-cancer-cure/?tag=pop;stories
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Cannot comprehend what is happening to us.
My husband Alan has been ill since Christmas. For three weeks he was treated for a water infection, he saw three doctors, had water samples, one even being sent to the hospital which came back free of cancer cells and four lots of antibiotics. I just knew something was wrong as he was getting worse not better, so I phoned…
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Cancer has spread even with 3 rounds of chemotherapy
My dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the end of September 2011. He started chemo infusions in October, every three weeks with chemo pills daily in between. In November, he was admitted into the hospital due to severe dehydration and a stint was put in so he could eat and drink by mouth. He was vomiting everything…
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New profile pic!
I have decided to change my profile picture to one that was taken in happier times. This pic of Rickie and myself was taken on our 35 wedding anniversary, 2 months before we knew anything about our journey down the road to battle the Beast. I have decided I want to remember Rickie exactly as he looked in this picture, with…
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Eating tips after completion of chemo and radiation
My father just completed post op chemo-radiation on Friday. Any tips for increasing calories and desire to eat. He did have mouth sores from the chemo which in all probability were also present in the esphogus. Currently he has no desire for food and everything either tastes like nothing or tastes terrible. He goes to the…
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Dad was just diagnosed yesterday
Hi everyone, I have been lurking for the last week hoping that I wouldn't have to make this post but after a trip to the ER for pain control our worst fears were confirmed. The staging work-up is done but we haven't been told the results yet. We are from London, ON and I noticed there is another poster from here, I would…
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Chemo May Not be Working. What can Be Done?
Hello, My mother is 86 years old and has esophageal cancer. I have asked questions about her health on this website before on several occasions, and I have received valuable feedback and helpful advice from people here. I wanted to ask if you folks could kindly help me once again. My mother’s cancer has spread outside of…
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Possible Tumor found in Liver
Today I received the results of my 4th cat scan since my surgery in December of 2010. All of my scans have been clear up to now, but this last scan showed a 1 inch circular shaded are in my liver and I am obviously flipping out. after going through radiation and chemo followed by surgery and a year of clean scans I was…
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Radiation ?
Hi all As those of you that are aware, my husband is stg iv with mets to the lungs and bone, he recently had a rod inserted in his leg to strengthen it as the cancer had basically eaten a hole in his femur, this has been really hard on him and now he relies heavily on morphein (thats not spelt right), to help with the…
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Stand Up To Cancer
I saw this on facebook today and just wanted to share this with all of you: “Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.” Saw this on Stand Up to Cancer on fb ... had to share it Judy & Don
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As if EC isn't enough--
Larry is having cardiac bypass surgery tomorrow am. He has no history of cardiac issues, has had no chest pain, and periodic treadmill stress tests have been fine. He started coughing and having trouble breathing Monday afternoon and was found to have fluid in his lungs. Nothing to do with EC. He's felt fine since the…