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The power of H2O!!
Hi guys, Just wanted to give a quick update on Jeff and his post-op chemo troubles. I spoke with the nurse yesterday and made her very aware of the trouble Jeff was getting into...he looked horrible probably lost five pounds was pale and you all know about the extreme case of nausea. She ordered a feeding pump (coming…
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EC IV on 2nd line -- From a Newbie
Hello Everyone, I'm a newbie but have been reading your posts for a while. I'd like to come out and introduce myself, see if you have any inputs regarding my (actually my father's) situation and also share some information. My father was diagnosed esophageal cancer (stage 2, squamous cell carcinoma) in Dec. 2009. The tumor…
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New- how much time?
Hi folks, How much 'good' time do we have together? My partner and i have been together for 13 years and have three beutiful children aged 3, 5 and 7. He has stage 4 esophageal cancer with one spot on his liver and in the lymph nodes. he is in the middle of treatment, and has a week of chemo next week. He has lost alot of…
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Roll-on. I have reposted your question here. Esophagectomy-Post Radiation-Bleeding
Esophagectomy-Post Radiation-Bleeding new I hope I haven't intruded? I am male, 71 year old, 3 years Post surgury and 1 1/2 years post radiation with a T III diagnosis. Surgury was successfully performed by Dr Ross Bremner, Surgical Director, Center for Thorasic Disease, St Joseph Hospital, Phoenix, AZ (602.406.4000). A…
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Anyone have pre-op chemo of Taxol/Carbo and then post-op chemo for positive nodes?
Bill had his Ivor Lewis on August 29th at the University of Indiana, and the post-op path showed 5/22 positive nodes. His original staging was T3N1M0, but the post op staging was N2. When we went back in IUMed for his six week check we had hoped that they would recommend post-op chemo due to the positive nodes. They didnt,…
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Vocal cord paralysis and successful surgery
Hi, I had mentioned in a post or two that I was going to get vocal cord repair done soon and had it this past Wednesday. It was rough since I was awake for a good part of the surgery but so worth it. So if anyone out there has vocal cord paralysis and has a lot of issues talking and breathing while talking don't be afraid.…
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New guy here!
Hi folks, I just finished 28 radiations and 6 chemos a week ago. We go back to re stage November 3-4 (PET scan/endoscopic ultrasound) then surgery should be set mid November. I do not have a question. I just wanted to tell everyone I love everyday of my life, I plan to totally win this war, there have been so many…
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We have a plan!
First thanks to everyone who responded to my questions about post-op chemo. I just spoke with our nurse and we have a plan. First the feeding pump with directions will arrive tomorrow, the dietician is out today, and that is ok since Jeff is starting to eat a bit more. They are sending out a home health aid to show us how…
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For Jim (aka Gatoraid)--Nausea
Hi Jim, I thought about PMing you, but decided that others might benefit from hearing about my experience. I had a really rough time after my surgery. I vomited 4, 5, 6, or more times per day—I was a vomiting queen. Pretty much everything I ate came right back up. Cheese sounded good, so I ate some—it came right back up. A…
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Opinions on treatment
I need your thoughts, experiences and opinions - please speak freely about them . . . . Last November, my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 EC. He underwent induction chemo, chemo/radiation and was supposed to have surgery in April. At the end of March, his preop PET showed mets to both lobes of the liver. He spent the…
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Help Please! Esophagectomy with Pull-Up, Squamous Cells! Surgery and Post-Op questions.
Dear Readers, My Aunt Pat was recently diagnosed with Esophageal cancer in September. She is a 3x Cancer survivor and has already endured so much. Our entire family is very scared because she is going to have this very invasive surgery very soon. The surgeons explained that she will have to undergo an Esophogectomy with a…
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Bad news from the hospital - mets
I just received the news that MRI result show mets to my spine (hence my neck pain), and my ribs. This doesn't affect my treatment much, but there goes my good mood :(
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CRAZY
I am reading these posts , and just realizing how crazy this disease is. How can someone with stage 3 that can not hardly swallow or stage 2 , have "symptoms" ; When mother has stage 4 no "symptoms" , feels great , ate great before chemo of course . This is why they call c the silient killer?!? Just posting this for…
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Adube- you've gone silent. Is all well?
It's been a while since I've seen you post. Hoping that it's a busy and happy life keeping you away and not anything more serious than we already know about. I know you are watching over your dad like a hawk :) Hope all is going well there too! Give us an update when you have a moment. Terry
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Off to the hospital I go
I'm being admitted to the palliative care unit today to spend few days analyzing everything and trying to stabilize me. See ya when I get back! Lee
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For Mandy in Atlanta
Mandy wrote: Hi, my name is Mandy, I was just wondering who u used in atlanta, and if u had a bad experience? I am in Atl. trying to get help for a friend that I believe was not properly taken care, and now has been abandoned by the dr." My surgeon was Dr. John Moore with the Atlanta Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group. He,…
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New friend
Hi everyone my name is Marcelle and I have just found out I have an Adeno carcinoma in my Esophagus. This type of cancer is rear and my Doctors cant give me any stats on it. My options are Chemo and intensive Radiotherapy which, as most of you know does nasty things to the Esophagus and the Docs still don't know if the…
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A big lump
My husband has developed a big lump on the side of his neck. It's the right side, the same side that he had radiated. It's bigger than a golf ball and it's painful. I first noticed it a couple of days ago when I gave him a hug on that side and he mentioned that something was "bugging" him on that side. I called the nurse…
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please help
I am looking for info for.my husbands friend from work, he is latino and legal speaks good basic english, but I don't think he understands much about medical procedures and all that stuff. Anyone that can tell me "from ur experience or anything" if he went to hospital sept. 8th at night and was in surgery sept. 11th in am,…
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Surgery questions - please help
My mom (58 years old) has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer 4 months ago. She has had 5 weeks of radiation and chemo (cisplatin and 5 FU) and after many rough weeks of recovery she is doing well. She is meeting with surgeon (Dr Gail Darling – Toronto) tomorrow to discuss the operation and I want to prepare for all the…
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Anyone had surgery after treatment for Squamous Cell?
I spoke with Chuck, Dr. Luketich's PA the other day and I was trying to catch everything he was say but was a bit confused. He made it sound like surgery for squamous cell is difficult because the tumor is inthe middle of the esophagous. Has anyone here had surgery with squamous cell? Did it go well? Were lymph nodes…
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Lee's going LOA
Lee has asked for, and been granted a leave of absence from the hospital for the night. I think he's a bit panicky about the stent going in on Friday, so he just wants to spend the evening before at home, with his lovely wife (that's me!) and his little baby dog. I'm so excited that he's coming home, if only for the night.…
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No room at the inn
We had an interesting day to say the least. We arrived for our routine appointment at the cancer centre this afternoon. We discussed increasing his pain meds, and the doctor agreed. They checked his vitals and found his heart rate to be a bit high, but not too concerning. They had him stand up, and tested again, and it…
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pain advice - Fentanyl patch
Hello all; Over the last few weeks I've been having more and more severe pain, typically in the area of my esophagus. It's a hard, burning kind of pain at about pain level 6. I was recently changed from oxycontin to a fentanyl patch (25 micrograms) because I was choking up the oxy tablets. Meeting with palliative care team…
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Woot for Lee in London!
Sure glad you got to enjoy that Pepsi. How did it taste--was it the best you ever had? Did Chantal get a Pepsi, perhaps with some rum? Melinda
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Just a thought...
There are some remedies worse than the disease. There's more to the truth than just the facts. By daily dying I have come to be. You never know what is enough, until you know what is more than enough. Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. The obstacle is the path. It is better to know some of the questions…
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Some Stage IV Good News
When my husband was diagnosed as Stage IV EC in late June of this year, we had 3 days to make a decision on buying trip insurance and making final payment on a trip we had planned for almost a year. Of course, at the time we felt completely blind-sided, horrified, and devastated. But then, we decided as an act of faith and…
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Good Scan News
I almost feel guilty for posting good news in light of all of the bad news that's been on here lately. However, I would like to think that I can encourage others who have been diagnosed at Stage III like I was. I had my regular 6-month CT scan Monday and saw my oncologist today for the results. It was great news--NED! It…
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So much bad news here
I feel so bad for those here who are receiving bad news after bad news. It must be quite overwhelming. I just don't have words or at least no words that could convey my thoughts to everyone. I can't even imagine what emotions must be going through everyone - patients and their blessed caregivers. I'm trying to figure out…
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for the stage 4's and all the others
I have been away for awhile and came back home to read alot of the new postings. Many of us know what you are going thru as the EC patient and the caregiver. Sherry and I both lost our husbands this past February. It has been a long 8 months. I know I can speak for both of us and tell all of you this is not a journey…