-
Dialation
How do you know when you may deed dialation done to the esophagus? I am having some problem with getting caught sometimes.Unsure if it's me not chewing enough or if I'm truly having problems.
-
Green mohawk a hit!!!!
Hi, Well it was worth all the food coloring and drips all over!!! The patients and nurses loved my green mohawk for St. Patty's Day. And it made my day too. My onc dr was having a very bad day with a new patient added that put him way behind, my appt was 10:30 and I saw him after 12 noon and he got a big kick out of my…
-
Surgery update
Well hello gang, I just wanted to give you all an update on what I’ve been up to this past couple of weeks. On March 8th I had the MIE (Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy) by Dr. James Luketich at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, PA. Although this operation normally takes between 5 & 7 hours, I was “on the table” for 9 ½.…
-
Lyle's stent...Ugh!!
Lyle had his stent place yesterday morning. He came out of the procedure with a lot of pain and vomiting. Pain came and went...like a cramp. Pain meds didn't seem to do the trick. He spent the rest of the day and night in pain and vomiting. News came down the pike today that the stent has already fallen and has to be…
-
Urgent Question Re: Stents
My mom is in the hospital again with complications from her first stent. They are thinking of doing a parallel tracheal-esophageal stent. However, this comes with some serious risks. Obviously the biggest is death from hemorrhage. They are thinking of doing surgery as soon as tomorrow morning. Has anyone on here dealt with…
-
DO YOU want an ESOPHAGEAL AWARENSS MONTH in your state?
Hi everyone. My dad has EC stage 3, has had chemo, radiation & surgery. Recently we found out that his brother is also diagnosed with this disease! He actually has hi treatment planning meeting w/ oncologist on Wed. My 11 year old also suffers form reflux. So....I feel the need to put my frustration, fear, concern & anger…
-
April is Espophageal Cancer Awareness Month in Delaware
Good News - Jack Markell, the Governor of Delaware, and Matt Denn, Lt. Governor of Delaware just issued a proclamation declaring April Esphophageal Cancer Awareness Month in the State of Delaware. Cindy
-
Radiation question
Lyle started radiation today and chemo on Thursday. Tomorrow he will have a stent placed in his esophagus and we have questions. We understand that the stent may not work and that it may fall into the stomach...but he used to have a tube catheter in his body cavity for a type of dialysis and it kept getting infected with…
-
a new book: 100 questions & Answers about Esophageal Cancer
A new book out: 100 Questions & Answers About Esophageal Cancer, 2nd Edition (Paperback) by P. Ginex EdD, RN, OCN cut & paste link: http://www.amazon.com/Questions-Answers-About-Esophageal-Cancer/dp/0763760528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268697681&sr=1-1 I just got this book---wish I had it at the beginning of my…
-
My St. Patty's day, last chemo!!!!
Hi, Well this Wednesday is my last chemo treatment of taxotere and I am glad that this will be over soon. I get sick everytime for a week and a half esp with j tube problems and the Neulasta injection causes trouble too but happy that I am coming to the end of the treatment road. But my St. Patty's day will be at the…
-
Chemo, Weight and Temperature
Hi everyone. Sorry haven't been here much. Still getting used to all this as is the family. We're still in the 'lots of visitors' stage. As I mentioned before, dad started chemo on Tuesday. He came home with an infusion pump that day and it was removed on Saturday. So far, so good. No nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, etc. Yes, I…
-
To "William Marshall" a big thank you from me!!!!
Thanks Mr. Marshall for responding to my question about Eddie and the bike situation. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write to me about this. I totally agree with you on all accounts, my daughter and I do need a break and we are going to plan one very soon, just for a day or so and get out of here. I could…
-
rib pain
my husband had an esophagatomy almost 6 weeks ago. How long does the severe pain in the rib area continue? Also, he is on pain meds every 4 hours. The docs suggested that he could take advil 2 hours after the pain meds. any other suggestions??????
-
What to do when husband will not accept his condition?
As you all know, ed is doing more chemo since his last three rounds did nothing, he has lost about 90 pounds and is seriously depressed. At xmas, he asked if I would buy him a motorcycle (remember he has not driven one iin 35 years) and I said "maybe, after chemo and see if you get stronger and gain weight"., well, the big…
-
TIRED OF SAD NEWS WANTED TO SHOUT GOOD NEWS
Hello everyone, We have had so much bad news on this site for the past 2 months I wanted to share some good news, and hopefully I won't step on any toes, or hurt any feelings. As you all know when I came on this site I was so scared I didn't know what I was going to do, if you don't think I was read back on my posts and…
-
Hey Luis,
Hi, Thank you for your kind words, but all I did is give you a good swift kick in the you know what. You are doing the rest. I was really glad to see that you posted. I was actually starting to worry about you. I hope things continue to go well and please keep me posted on your progress. Remember I am just the messenger,…
-
my dad
Well, I don't even know where to begin with this. My dad was having regrets after signing the consent form to stop his chemo. He felt the Dr. pushed him into doing this. Well, my parents left for California Wed. morning to meet with a Holistic/Alternative Medicine. My dad said this is the last favor he will be doing for my…
-
My Dad Passed Away Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Hello once again, Thank you for all of your wonderful responses to my previous post. On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, dad passed away in the arms of my mom, brother, and nephew. I had just left him that afternoon. I do not feel guilty though, because knowing him, if I had been there that night, he might not have let go. I did…
-
My Dad was diagnosed with EC 1 month ago...weight and many other questions
My Dad was diagnosed 1 month ago with this nasty disease. My families life has been turned upside down. I found this site and all of you amazing people on the day we found at my Dad had this dreaded disease. I have been reading most all of the posts, i have shed tears while reading, and have gained so much knowledge. I…
-
Husband passed away this morning
After a very long hard battle, my husband died early this morning in our bed with me by his side. He tried so hard to be here for as long as possible but unfortunatly it wasn't up to him. The children are doing good. Hasn't quite sunk in yet but will slowly. I'm just going on auto pilot now, getting things done that need…
-
Stent...can you tell me about it?
The doctor is recommending a stent and or feeding tube before Lyle starts his treatment. We don't know what we're doing. We are trying to learn and learn but then another doctor pops in with something to add! Ugh!! This is hard!!! (said smiling) I'm not complaining...I would just like to know some of your experiences with…
-
New update on husband-not good news
To all who have emailed me, talked to me on the phone and posted on my posts, I just wanted to update all of you. Eddie is not doing well, he is going into his second round of chemo next week after the past three rounds failed and showed that the cancer actually grew while doing those chemo sessions., his attitude is very…
-
how long to get used to feeding tube?
Tyler had a g-tube inserted 5 days ago. We talked to the nurses from the formula company as well as hospital dietitian. They said to gradually increase amounts of formula and either syringe or IV bags could be used, whatever was tolerated. Things seemed ok with the syringe until yesterday. From Monday midnight til Tuesday…
-
Dad started chemo Tuesday (Carboplatin & 5FU) - Drugs and Blood Count Questions
Dad started chemo Tuesday. He was there about an hour and a half and came home with a pump that will be removed Saturday. Doesn't got back again for about a month. The drugs listed in the binder they gave him are: Decadron Aloxi Pepcid Carboplatin (400 mg) 5FU CADD (or CAPD) (7200 mg) Found information about the drugs on…
-
My brave brave husband
My husband has not been doing well the past few months. His cancer is growing very rapidly and taking over his body. We called in Hospice last week to help keep him more comfortable but on Thursday the doctors told him the chemo Taxol and Carboplatin he had the week prior had a positive response. We asked the doctors if he…
-
Starting Chemo Monday
Surgery on Dec. 21, 2009. One lymph node postive. No chemo recommended since they didn't do it before surgery. Since leaving Houston with no Chemo, my surgeon said to find an oncologist that would give me chemo. I saw an oncologist yesterday in Baton Rouge, and will be admitted to the hospital Monday to start 96 hours of…
-
New and so many questions
My husband, Alan was diagnosed with gastric/esophageal cancer in May 2009. Since that time he has had 5 weeks of daily radiation and two week-long chemotherapy treatments as an inpatient. Following that, he went to Stanford hospital to have surgery to remove parts of his stomach and esophagus. It was a very difficult…
-
New and so many questions
My husband, Alan was diagnosed with gastric/esophageal cancer in May 2009. Since that time he has had 5 weeks of daily radiation and two week-long chemotherapy treatments as an inpatient. Following that, he went to Stanford hospital to have surgery to remove parts of his stomach and esophagus. It was a very difficult…
-
New and so many questions
My husband, Alan was diagnosed with gastric/esophageal cancer in May 2009. Since that time he has had 5 weeks of daily radiation and two week-long chemotherapy treatments as an inpatient. Following that, he went to Stanford hospital to have surgery to remove parts of his stomach and esophagus. It was a very difficult…
-
My dad's Time has come.....
Hello to all my wonderful CSN friends, My dad has had more than enough of this horrible cancer. I can not blame him. He put up a great fight against the ec and won, but when it went to his liver in December, it has been all down hill. He did finish one round of chemo for the liver cancer, but that just about killed him. He…