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Esophageal Cancer

Archives for April 2010

my Uncle's EC has spread
My uncle's EC had spread to bone and presently his kidneys have shut down and bowels are not working well. My cousin (his nurse practitioner daughter) said that he is in good spirits, but everyone is in shock I think. It was so hard to write my dad's caring bridge report (that is goo) knowing this news.... Kim
Radiation Therapy
I have finished chemo three weeks ago and now I am being told Radiation Therapy is the next step to reduce the chance of EC coming back. Doctor is telling me 5 1/2 weeks of radiation 5 days a week is what I need. I need input as to what to expect from radiation and any input on side effects would be greatly appreciated.One…
Thanks for all the great information and references!!!
Thank you for all the great information and references!!!! It is good to know that my symptoms post surgery are "typical" and improve with time. In answer to some of the questions: I am 61 years old. I did not have chemo prior to surgery because my EUS showed staging of T2N0M0 but when the surgical material was sent to…
update on UNCLE-- (not doing well) and my DAD
just an update...my dad (stage3-post chemo-rad & the surgery was 12/09) just had check up (2 days of appts) at Duke--my mom said that the Dr's said he passed with flying colors. He will have PET test at the end June-.. He lost a pound I think but is doing very well overall according to his doctors. My parents even sang…
New on board - Recent Surgery and Chemo
I am new to the group but very happy to find a place to exchange information with other survivors. I was diagnosed with Stage IIb Esophageal Cancer last October. I had an Ivor Lewis esophagetomy and gastric resection in December of last year. I started chemo with Cisplatin, Epirubicin, and 5 FU in February and have…
My dad- update
Hello all, We found out today that my dad's tumor did not test positive for HER2. This is disappointing, because we were hoping to try the Herceptin that some of you have mentioned here. They've also found something in my dad's lower spine. They are unsure of what it is. They have chosen to not biopsy it because it's in a…
In a state of Confusion
Like many of you know, who read my last post, my father had his G tube inserted Monday afternoon. With most G tubes they are performed endoscopically. Well, my father was unable to have it done that way, the surgeon didnt want to test the esophagus since it seemed to him that it had closed up even tighter. Three weeks…
For Cancerbeater
Please give us an update, that is one thing you have to do on this board is keep us posted. We all are family and I want to know how you are doing and your wife also. Hopefully you are better, if not get your BIG BOY UNDERWEAR, and keep going on this journey like I said it will get better. Lori/MOE
My fight begins on Monday
After almost 3 months my treatment plan begins on the 3rd,I hope I'm ready for it..After waiting over 3 weeks to get into UCSF for a second opinion everything is a go..Just got marked for radiation and will go to the infusion center Monday morning for Cisplatin and then home with a pump for a 96 hour dose of F5U..Radiation…
Thought I should check in
Hi All, I just wanted to check in to let you know I'm still here. I have had alot going with my aunts funeral and trying to get ready to move. I am sorry that I am unable to post alot, not just yet. I know there are alot of new people on the site that I haven't introduced myself to, but I'm still here lurking in the back…
New on board - Husband has Stage IV EC
Hi everyone - Although I'm new to this site, my husband has been fighting Stage IV EC since last May. He is 48 years old. He has mets to his lymph nodes and therefore has been told surgery is out. He is on chemo indefinately, with perhaps a chance of radiation somewhere in the future. He started on Irinotecan & 5FU last…
waiting for results of lung fluid
Dear WIlliam and Tina I posted under red dye allergy to both of you and realized I may have been posting incorrectly so I will let you know we are waiting since Sunday for the results of the fluid they took off her lungs. They say the high heart rate was her heart trying to move the fluid . There was no infection so now we…
Yovana
The best of luck to you as you start your treatments, Yovana. Your youth and early detection both work to increase your odds of a full recovery. Please keep us advised of how things progress. It's not a lot of fun, but you can come out the other side to find a high quality of life. Eric in Atlanta
treatment question...
Lyle has been gagging soooo much that it is difficult for him to lay down for radiation. His meds just don't seem to be helping him all that much. He has missed a total of about 1 1/2 weeks of radiation treatments between hospital stays and sickness. Has anyone else experienced this? I just want to get the treatments done…
More States declare April National Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
Hi all, Great news - I learned today that Illinois and Connecticut declared April Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Best, Cindy
Sherri - How is the day after?
Just wondering how Jim was doing the day after the mock Therespheres therapy session. We have contacted the Dr in San Antonio and are waiting for him to get the CD from MD Anderson of the Ct and PET scans. We are getting good at waiting. Sally
My Tale
Should anyone wish to read about my own battle with the Dragon (I call it my Dance with the Dragon... you can dance with a dragon, but one slip and he's gonna eat you!)you can find it online at:http://ngc1514.com/Dragon/ The "D" in Dragon must be capitalized. The page has not been updated since 2007, but many people have…
Statistics
In the thread I started about "9 years post-op" some mention was made of statistics and that while they may be grim, they have absolutely NO bearing on an individual. The best article I've seen concerning statistics and cancer is the piece by Stephen Jay Gould written after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It's a short…
G Tube Surgery Today
My father, who I stated earlier was diagnosed with Stage IVB cancer a month ago, had a G tube placement done today. They were going to do it endoscopically but found that the esophagus would not allow for the tube to go down to the stomach because the cancer has squeezed the walls closer. This has changed over three week…
Thanks for the kind words and well wishes
So, we didn't get far with MD Anderson (as Jim and Sally can tell you) so we talked to our onc here today and she will be starting Layne on a strong chemo ...and he is going back on essiac tea and he is a candidate for trials now and for different radiations including spheres if he does well in the chemo. So we are going…
PET scan on friday..........nervous.
My hubby is getting another PET on Friday to see how the CA is now. He has had two rounds of chemo. He has lymph node involvement, but a biopsy came back inconclusive, so we really don't know if the nodes are ca or reacting to the ca. The doc says thats why they want to rescan now, because they don't want to withhold more…
9 years post-op
There is survival and life after cancer. Our oldest daughter called up a couple of weeks ago to wish me "Happy Birthday." I was opened up for my Ivor Lewis esophagectomy on April 9, 2001 - 9 years ago. I had almost forgotten about it! Will be celebrating 10 years since diagnosis this coming October. To those of you…
TRYING TO SEE MY DAD BEFORE HE PASSES
last year my dad was given a 20% chance to make it 5 years . i have not seen him for 6 to 7 years and he has never met my two lil girls. we live in NY and he is in IL. i would like to go see him and let him meet his grandkids but with the work so low right now so is money. i was told that i might be able to find a charity…
Newbie with major feeding tube problems
I am contacting you all late at night hoping that we, can get some information and help for our wonderful father. He has esophageal cancer with a 5 cm tumor, the cancer is also at the base of his esophagus, liver and lymph.We are really struggling with his feeding tube and have been to multiple Dr's and the Emergency today…
Nutrition
Dale just can't tolerate any sort of solid foods at this time. He has severe lower abd cramping with any of them. We have tests ordered next wednesday to rule out a small bowel obstruction. He is drinking four 8 oz cans of ensure plus per day. At 350 calories per can we are getting about 1400 calories. Saw the surgeon on…
Update, no longer NED
Well, our results were no better than Sally's .... we went in exuberant as Layne has been feeling better than he has in ten years! Everyone has been just so amazed how well he has done! And we came out with news that he has mets to the liver and a new lymph gland. We're still in shock (obviously) but we want you to know we…
T3N1M0 to StageIVb in one hour!
Well, we got the horrible news yesterday during our follow up visit at MD Anderson. To recap, Jim had 8 weeks of Taxotere, Oaxaliplatin and 48 hours of 5FU pump every 2 weeks from November until Jan 2 weeks off with PET scan which showed 50% reduction in the tumor and only one small lymph node which he thought might be…
allergy to red iodine dye
My daughter has had two bouts with getting very sick after red dye iv. One was to check for spread of cancer and this week to have a vena cava filter removed. The day after each iv her heart rate shot to 120 to 130 . Her pain in her left side and back is so intense she can hardly stand straight. Also became constipated…
allergy to red iodine dye
My daughter has had two bouts with getting very sick after red dye iv. One was to check for spread of cancer and this week to have a vena cava filter removed. The day after each iv her heart rate shot to 120 to 130 . Her pain in her left side and back is so intense she can hardly stand straight. Also became constipated…
Update on pneumonia and drs visit??
It was not much of a drs visit, he was so backed up coming back from vacation, I never saw him we older patients were changed to a nurse practioner. The only thing she did was prescribe a codeine cough syrup told to finish Levaquin. Now I know the pneumonia will go away but what I wanted to speak to the dr about was the…

Esophageal Cancer

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