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Surgery 6 am Monday
Finally got the time of the surgery. Boy, they sure like to keep you hanging out there. I am to report at 6am and they tell me that they won't start until 7-7:30 am. I sure hope they give me some happy stuff early on so I don't freak out too much. I can't even begin to relate to all of you brave people that have already…
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My Dad has been admitted into UVA hospital
Hello My dear friends, This is sudden news to all of us. My dad, Ray, was admitted into the hospital on Tuesday 12/15. He had a bout with constipation last week, we got through that, and then he developed a severe pain in his right side, and was turning jaundice. Took him to his primary dr. Dr. did blood and urine tests.…
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For Jane and Charlie - I have questions
Hi, Yesterday my dad went to see the oncologist. I sent my mom with questions and the #1 was about the Herceptin. She dismissed it saying it wasn't covered and so on. So, by chance, do you have any phone numbers or anything I can use to give back to the Dr. The 1st hurrdle is going to be getting her to test the tumor to…
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New to this site
I am a new member on this site, although I have read posts for a couple of weeks. My husband, Jim, was diagnosed on Oct 27 with T3N1M0 at the GE junction. After seeing an oncologist locally, we decided to get a second opinion about the best way to treat this tumor and made an appointment at MD Anderson. Is there anyone on…
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John back in hospital
John is back in the hospital. When he went today in to get his feeding tube unblocked, they discovered that he had a fever. Dr. Scott came in and did give us very good news first. The final pathology report came back on one final lymph node. They got all the cancer out! But, he admitted John because of the fever and his…
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complete esophageal blockage
Hi, we are looking for anyone with experience of blockage due to radiation. My husband finshed radiation & chemo for throat cancer the beginning of Sept. & is still unable to eat. He finally went in to have esophagus dilated yesterday only to be told that they were unable to do it because he has complete blockage because…
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Update on dad since surgery.
So dad got surgery on 12/7. Spent two days in ICU due to lung problems, they said it was normal when having this type of surgery. So he underwent sooooo MANY xrays. Wednesday he went to a step down unit, got up and walking. Thursday went for the leak test (passed) got one chest tube out and the NG tube out and he was…
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surgery update
The surgery is over and all went very well according to the surgeon. He has been in recovery for nearly 3 hours and I have not been able to see him yet. I am anxious to see him! God has surely answered my prayers and all of yours -- the way we had hoped for. Thank you guys! Now, recovery time... ~Shelly
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Been at This a Long Time
Hi, My husband and I have been at the esophageal cancer battle a long time (almost 2 years) now. Never tire of hearing other stories that we can relate to, so I'm glad I found this site. Does anyone here have squamous cell type (as opposed to adenocarcinoma)? My husband has basaloid squamous cell esophageal cancer and,…
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In Surgery
Hi all. My hubby is in surgery. He went in at 8:29am -- about 1 1/2 hrs. so far. Please say a prayer for everything to go well and for an uneventful recovery. Thank you!! :) Shelly
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Not sure what to make of it all
Steve is not getting better and each day I watch him decline.. We FINALLY have an appt. with an oncologist on Dec. 29th. He talks Plan A (living) not Plan B (dying). He talks real good about plan A, but is leaning toward plan B. This past weekend, he gave two of his real good friends each a ring that he had that meant alot…
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Dad's apt. tomorrow
My dad will be seeing his oncologist tomorrow to go over the results of his PET scan. We know it has spread to the liver, so we need new options. He's pretty grouchy and miserable with that stent. I've told him that he should look into having it removed, but according to him I don't know anything. I can only pray this Dr.…
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Dad had a good day
My father started his chemotherapy (Cisplatin) in the hospital yesterday. He has the port in and is happy about that. He went home last night with the fanny pack of 5-FU. Anyhow, prior to yesterday he seem to be getting more and more depressed as the days went on. I would call my father a "workaholic", so I think the whole…
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Your "Kitten0385", my friend
Hello Friends, I hope that I haven't overstepped any boundaries by posting on this site. Your "Kitten0385" (Cathy) was a very dear friend to me as she was to a lot of you on this board. I worked in Cathy's classroom with her and was blessed enough to have seen her way with children first hand and am so very priviledged to…
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---keep the HOPE for EC---
My dad got GREAT & not so great news. But the GREAT outweighs the "not so great". The ad news is He failed his swallow/leak test, but they will repeat it. Also, he is having a problem with increased glucose and is having insulin (he has never been diabetic before EC). The GREAT NEWS is that the pathology result showed NO…
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need answers if had mets to bones, muscles w/EC
Our pet scan was not good, neither was the biopsy and bone scan. All confirmed mets throughout the bones and muscles in my husband's body. He has the one small tumor in the esophagus that had mets to the lymphs and chest, now he has these nodules in bones and muscles. They are beginning radiation and chemo this week. We…
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Al and I are in need of Prayers!
Hi Everyone, As most of you know Al has either a compression fracture or mets to his lumbar spine. We have an appt tomarrow with the oncologist. They are having a hard time scheduling the biopsy which will determine what this truely is. We are both very anxious in the fact that they are having such a difficult time getting…
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Looking for some advice
Hi Friends, My father has recently been diagnosed for esophageal cancer(squamous cell carcinoma). It was a shocking news for entire family, but still we feel that he could fight with the destiny. I am from New Delhi, India and our public health system(supported by government) is very crowded, and private health care…
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Meeting Betty and Layne in Las Vegas
Tom and I have been to Las Vegas many times each year, but this trip was very special. We got to meet two wonderful people, Betty and Layne Johnson...They are fabulous..Layne put Tom and ease and Betty and I talked over our onion soup.It was so nice to put real people behind the names on the board...and she's as sweet in…
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Wow what a day for Kim's dad!
Hi all my csn folks-- I am praying for all on this site...some are caregivers--worrying about loved ones, some are EC patients--but we are all looking for hope. Well-there is hope. My dad had surgery on 12/7 at Duke. He is not home yet like PGmomma's dad---but is walking 1-2 miles a day and down to a feeding tube, chest…
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how many have port in?
I am thinking of asking my husband's doctor tomorrow if we can get a surg. consult to put in a port., I think this would be much easier for him for chemo, fluids, etc., instead of getting stuck all the time., how many patients actually get this port and are they easier? I am talking about the port that goes into the chest…
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Dry cough
John came home on Saturday from his surgery/hospital stay. He did amazingly well in the hospital. He is on a feeding tube 16 hours a day. We start it when he goes to bed and he is done around noon. This way he has the afternoon and evening 'free'. He is eating small meals and tolerating them well. But the past 2 days he…
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second chemo session
Hi, my husband has his second chemo last thursday, he is on cisplastin and campostar (not sure if spelled correctly)., the first time he did ok, this time has will not drink fluids as this is a big problem as dehydration will be next and he has had diahhrea ever since Saturday. I have been giving him immodium but has not…
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Sheer frustration
Sheer frustration!!!!! My father was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the esophagus over 2 months ago. And we have still gotten nowhere. The following events have taken 2 and a half months. After they confirmed the cancer in the esophagus, they set a date for a pet scan. The oncologist said this was needed to…
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Dad will be HOME TOMORROW!!!
Yes, you read that right! He will be home tomorrow!!!! Im soo happy. Barrium sallow went well, no leaks, okayed for Clear liquids 1oz per hour. All is well. He even spent an extra day in the ICU.. Got moved Tuesday nite, then NG tube came out an he was HAPPY...that really bothered him, just to see him smile again was soo…
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PROFESSIONAL HELP
Hi everyone, I am new to the board. My husband had stage 4 ec. Had the chemo and surgery. He is 7 months post op and had a clean scan last week. For several months he has not been himself. Has no interest in anything, eats only a fraction of what he should be. He is in no pain and has no problem eating if so inclined. He…
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Prayer Request ~
Hi all. My hubby is supposed to have surgery on Dec. 16th, but his recent blood work showed low potassium, calcium, and protein levels. This can cause his surgery to be postponed. We really do not want his surgery to be postponed - he has completed all of the pre-op procedures: stress test, pulmonary test and have done all…
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Second opinion
My husband is stage IV. He just recently completed six rounds of Taxotere, Cisplatin and 5FU and 5 weeks of radiation As some of you may remember we were in the processes of getting a second opinion, well we got it. Of course I wanted the sky to open up, and drop a cure in our laps, but that did not happen. The Dr. agreed…
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Surgery is getting closer. Yikes, I am scared
Hi Everybody, My surgery is getting closer by the minute. I am as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. I have had lots of encouragement from BettyinVegas and William and many others. This board has really helped me a lot. Reading what others are saying and trying to stay positive, I know that it will be a good thing. It is…
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Loretta you are right always go with your gut
Hi, Remember my post about Al's back pain well I was right. He has a compression fracture and a buldging disc in his lumbar spine. Will have to biopsy to double check about mets. In my previous post about being upset that the test wasn't done when it was suppposed to be, and I was anxious about his back pain. You said go…