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A single drop (or two) have been missing and it DOES make a difference...
"What we do is less than a drop in the Ocean. But if that drop were missing, the ocean would lack something." -Mother Teresa Lee and I have been the missing drops for a few days now and I am hoping we are BOTH back now. I know I am, thanks to Michelle. A great caregiver is such a necessity. I thank God for her every minute…
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Pittsburgh or bust
My wife and I leave for Pittsburgh tomorrow to find out what the mysterious hotspot could be on my recent PET. I've spent the weekend in a bit of a depression. I was so close to going back to work. My incredible employer has held my position for me for six months now even though they are very short staffed. I am holding…
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Newbies and older posts
Hi any and all Newbies to the board. I would like to take this opportunity to both welcome you and hug you! Please do take notice of the original posting dates on posts that you respond to as some are very dated and some information may not be relevant at this time. Just wanted to point this out to all. Thanks! -Michelle
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Any Jeff Thomas updates?
JeffT, If you silently reading along, please post back and let us know how it goes for you. It's been a bit. Terry
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update on Kenny, Kim Priest's Dad
So sorry to add to all the sad news we have been experiencing on this board, but I got a Caring Bridge message this am and the doctors have told Kim's Dad, Kenny Heburn, that the ulcerated area in his esophagus, the new one from surgery, is probably cancer and that he has about 6 months more or less left. He said, "That…
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Scan results - New direction
Today we went to the the oncologist at MD Anderson to hear the results of the CTScan. They only had the scan itself and preliminary report, as it was just done at 4:30 the day before, put they were able to match it up with the last scan in August and show us the comparison. Luckily the scans showed a clear liver and lungs…
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Carolyn's Dad?
A while ago Carolyn's dad went in for surgery at UPMC. We had an update from her that the surgery was completed but that her dad was in ICU with blood clots in his lungs. They were giving him medication in hopes that the clots would resolve themselves. That is the last post I remember seeing from Carolyn. That was on…
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Can someone help out JGwright? He needs answers....
Hello everyone, if you are like me, you probably read Jerry's post to read "Breast Cancer centers in Washington." He is actually looking for a cancer center in Washington and is flailing around for information. Please reply to his post here made today Oct. 29th entitled "Best Cancer Centers in Washington." THANKS!! Hugs,…
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Whitney
Hi Just wanted to see how your day went, I know you visited the Onc today, concerned. Ann
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Percentage (%) of esophagus removed during surgery? Lower esophagus/ stomach junction.
Hi all, At my mom's pre-op appointment, the surgeon said 65% of her esophagus will be removed. Out of curiosity, I'd like to take a poll of the percentage removed for those who have undergone surgery. Mostly because my mom is convinced 65% is too much, and I'm trying to convince her it isn't and she should allow the…
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Possible Bad News
I just had my post-op PET/CT today and unfortunately, I had some hot spots show up. One was near my ear but the physician said that may possibly be related to an ear infection he is treating. One is near the diaphram which could be related to the surgery. The last one is a lymph node near the esophagus. That is the one…
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swelling in the legs
Hi all, not much of an update tonight, but more of a question..... Lee's left foot started swelling about a month ago, nothing too alarming, we didn't even notice it until the doctor pointed it out at one of his visits. She immediately sent him for a doppler ultrasound, which ruled out a blood clot. (thank God) Well, for…
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Getting ready for the party!
Hi guys, Just an update. This time last week I was really struggling to help Jeff feel better, chemo was kicking his butt! In the past week he has been started on daily hydration and we are using a feeding pump at night for added calories. Also there was a switch in his nausea meds. What the difference a week makes!! As I…
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Best Cancer centers in Washington State
Well, just found out the worst today. I have stage IV esophageal cancer. The info came from Dr. Tom Tucker in Wenatchee WA. I want another opinion. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only smart thing to do. Recommendations??? --Jerry
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Downside to Hospice and Palliative care only with progression...PAIN questions...
Dear family, I have a note or thought to share upon waking today. It is not new just to today, but maybe the time to share it is right. I have been having new pains in my lower back, tailbone area, for a few weeks now. Seemed to come and go. At first, it felt more like I had slept on the wires on my electric blanket and…
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Will to survive
While I was waiting in the lobby during my mom's radiation session, the next person for treatment sat next to me. She looked to be in her 60's . 3 years ago, she fought breast cancer. Now she is fighting colon cancer with chemo/radiation. Then she will have surgery. then they will send her home with 5 months of continuous…
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Looking out at a different view....
Hi all! Not to harp on the subject by no means...I read another article today that really made a lot of sense to me and thought I would share it for any caregivers and patients out there that may be struggling with someone else's denial. This one focuses on why someone would remain in denial when facing the their imminent…
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Prayers for Kim Priest's dad Kenny Heburn
Hi, I am one of the older EC members and I just wanted to post a request for thoughts and prayers for Kenny Heburn who was dx'd and operated on a day before I was in 12/09. He was stage III and had the full esophagectomy if my memory serves right. His daughter Kim Priest wrote on this board often and is a very strong…
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UPDATE ON LEEINLONDON (Lee In London)
Hello family. I just received a message from Lee from the hospital and I have a progress report he has asked me to summarize for everyone so we can all wish him well and pray for him, and of course know what;s going on with his case: First, Lee had a blood transfusion to replace the lost blood. The brown liquid leaking…
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Had to share :0)
So excited to share with everyone that my dad has had a "good" weekend. After some very long months of little (if any) eating, unhealthy weight loss, fatigue, depression and confining himself to the house (other than Dr. and chemo visits)...I am so excited to tell you all about it. This weekend he had not only lunch, but…
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We didn’t expect this…. Follow up to ‘Just when we thought we had made it to 5 years’
So Brian had his CT scan on Monday and we have been waiting on tenterhooks for today for the oncologist to give us the results. The first part was good – the chemo appears to be holding the progression of the cancer. However after that we simply weren’t prepared for the news of a sizeable collection of fluid on his liver –…
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Hospitalization
Dear ec friends, It seems like our little world is falling apart the last few days. Since I last posted we returned home from Houston on Saturday with Rickie not feeling well. I had noticed him dragging somewhat on Friday, put just chalked it up to fatigue what with appointments every day. Then I noticed him kind of…
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Epidemic of EC according to hospital
I just got a phone call from a friend of mine who lives outside of Boston, Mass. She just heard on the radio that according to Massachusetts General Hospital there is an EPIDEMIC of Esophageal cancer in men over the age of 50. It all starts with the acid reflux and then leads to Barretts Esophagus which most of us knows…
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Good Report Today
Mother met with her oc today with good news! The petscan showed NO evidence of cancer in esphagus and her abdomen!! BUT there is still a lymphnode around the area of the collarbone , the area she first seen the knot. So now she starts radation mon - 5 days a week , 5 weeks followed by 1 more chemo i think. The doc said you…
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I'm back
I've been away for about a week. We decided to get away for a few days so we headed to North Carolina to see my wife's mother then headed to Myrtle Beach for a couple of days. I have my first post-op PET/CT tomorrow so I'm a good bit freaked out. I worry that it will find something but who amongst us doesn't worry when…
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Greg has passed
This morning, just 106 days after his diagnosis, my husband Greg passed away peacefully at home. He fought a courageous battle with both his cancer and his stroke.I am heartbroken to think that after almost 42 years of marriage, I will not have my fuzzy faced teddy bear by my side. His journey is recorded on…
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from freaked out to terrified
Well, Lee posted this morning that he was headed back to the hospital. We were there all day and all evening. There was a lot of confusion, between residents, doctors, nurses and god only knows who else..... Long story short, once again, no room at the inn so to speak. They wanted to admit him back to palliative care but…
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PICC Inserted today
Mom had her PICC line inserted today. Tomorrow they hook up pump and her bag of chemo (5FU), which will drip into her 24/7 for I don' know how long. (I'll know tomorrow.) Tomorrow night at 7 pm she goes for her first radiation treatment. Rads will continue every day for 30 days excluding weekends. I am trying to find a…
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Post-op chemo
For those of you who have gone through post-op chemo, does it get worse before it gets better? Jeff started FOLFOX on Tuesday and since then has been having terrible nausea. He never really had nausea in pre-op chemo, but this time around it has been terrible. The nurse told him that the chemo would get easier after…
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Question regarding post op
My father was released from the hospital 7 days after surgery. Seemed to be doing well in the hospital. Last two night have been horrible for him. He is experiencing lots of spasms and has more pain than he seemed to have in the hospital. The pain thing is really our fault. He said he did not need the liquid Oxycodine that…