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My dad
My 78 year old,relatively healthy father was just diagnosed with stage iv esophageal cancer with mets to liver and lymphatic system on Dec 18th 2010. He has finished 11 radiation treatments, has had a port placed and is to receive chemo starting Jan 26th. His appetite is poor, and painful over liver area.. The doctors give…
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Question about electrolyte levels and severe weakness
Last chemo was in September, just before a fractured hip happened at the end of September. In December, the Most recent PET, EGD, and CT revealed nothing seen. Dale is eating well, taking protein supplements and should be getting stronger.......right? Well, he seems to be getting weaker, losing a few more pounds, and got…
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Enoxaparin blood thinner
Hi everyone, Tom had two rounds of chemo so far (cisplatin & irinotecan), and has been handling it more or less ok. However, few days ago he said that his legs been sort of painful. So this morning when we went to the hospital, we decided to check this out as well. And (of course!) the ultrasound detected deep vein…
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Things Improving After Breaking Free from a Medicare Advantage HMO
Because so many people diagnosed with EC are over the age of 65, I wanted to share my personal experiences dealing with my dad's health insurance company. My dad had a Medicare Advantage HMO policy through a small, regional insurance company. My dad was diagnosed with EC in November 2010. He had complained of symptoms…
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Feeding tube question
We are doing well dealing with Jim's feeding tube, but I have some questions that I believe you who have them or have had them can answer better than the "pros." Jim is progressing well, but has no desire to drink fluids or eat a "thick liquid" diet. He says he is not hungry or thirsty. The rep who brought out the pump and…
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my dad-new to this
my dad was initially dx with esophageal cancer stage IV with mets to his liver and nodes, the local oncologist said chemo only to substain his quality of life and left it at that with one year max. we went for a second opinion at duke university medical center and that doc said it has only affected one node and the spots…
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Good report
Don and I went to surgeon on Thursday. He said that Don is doing great and he would not have to see him again unless he has problems. He told him to eat whatever he wants to and can tolerate. We are praising God for the good report. Now he will see the Urologist on the 7th of Feb. Pray that this will have a good outcome.
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How far along is this cancer?
Hello, I received news today regarding my brother-in-law and am looking for help. A few weeks ago he was having trouble swallowing- feeling as if the food would not go down. He is 46 yrs. old. He had a light procedure on Thursday and CT scan. The doctors were amazed at how this tumor was rather large near his breast bone.…
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Status of My Dad
Hi All, To update you...my dad was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. They ended up putting a filter in his leg because one of the doctors thought he saw some very small what he thought was residual stuff/clot (not sure what the medical term is) from his major clot that happened back in April/May. Originally…
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Questions for Sherri and others about multiple chemo regimens & recurrence
I haven't had any treatment in 6 months and, although docs won't say I'm in remission or even NED, things appear to be stable. I've learned from reading this forum how quickly that can change for stage IV EC, or any stage for that matter. I just met with my oncologist and we discussed the following questions which maybe…
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Question specifically for those with pre-op and post-op chemo
HI, My father has stage 2b, had pre-op chemoradiation and then the MIE on Dec 3rd. The pathology revealed 1 lymphnode of 11 removed with residual active tumor. William has given me great advice and today the oncologist recommended(at my insistence) that my dad have a 9 week course of post-op chemo, but dad isn't sure he…
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Update on My Father
Well, he's still in the hospital. They want to keep him one more night for observation. Since they stopped most of the bleeding and he's gotten his fourth unit of blood, his hemoglobin numbers are finally up and are remaining steady. Thank you God! He had an ultrasound of his legs to make sure there where no new clots. All…
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Feeding Tube to be inserted Today
Hi, I have surgery today to insert J tube feeding tube into my small intestine at Brigham and Woman's Hospital in Boston. It is an inpatient procedure with three days of recovery and training for the J Tube. I will begin Chemo Therapy once the incisions have healed properly. A J tube was needed because my cancer has…
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My father's treatment plan (stage IIIa) T3,N1,M0
Hi all, Just wanted to update you on where we're at. Dad has commenced his EOX Chemo and is finding it okay - he's on 2700mg a day of xeloda.... He has stopped taking Curcumin as it was making him sick with this Chemo - but I have also read since that Curcumin (with it's anti-oxidant) properties shouldn't be tanken with…
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Tom's chemo started today at the u of chicago
We were both glad to see his Drs..Villifor and Campbell...they spent a lot of time with him as did the nurse in charge...explaining side effects etc...good they handed him the sheets...cause who knows what he remembers..me everything.. He has a brother to taxol and carboplatin....Dr. Villifor said due to his excellent…
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UPMC'S great drs and my husband Vince
Hi all, Since I last wrote we have been having the storm of the century in Georgia. For the fist time this week the Cancer center opened and Vince got his 5th chemo Monday Dr. Gibson from UPMC called me to talk about Vince and the chemo he is taking here. After a lengthy discussion he felt that possibly the chemo Vince is…
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Question about side effects from rad
Hubby has been having some side effects that I wanted to ask you all about. His rad is finished now, but we were told it will continue to work for a couple of weeks after. He has been having upset stomach with occational spitting up of nasty bile like liquid. Brownish color he says. Also is having delayed gastric emptying.…
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Update on My Father
Asking for prayers yet again. Just heard from my mom. My father saw his oncologist this morning. His blood work came back with an extremely low hemoglobin number. He also had blood in his stool. So...the doctor admitted him to the hospital. He got three units of blood and the doctor is going to run another endoscope test…
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newly diagnosed in Boston-- Allan-- age 67
Hi, my name is Pat. Allan, age 67, my dear partner of 18 years, has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer that has spread to his liver. This last month has been a whirlwind of doctor visits and the upshot of it is that he is not expected to recover. The whole thing started when his gall bladder was removed…
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UPDATE ON Linda's Jim
Well, this roller coaster ride just keeps on moving! Yesterday was a very tough day for Jim, but in the late afternoon he got the respirator out and had to cough up gunk for hours. It was excrutiating for him with those chest drains in. He was a real trooper and definitely is a fighter. The doctor explained to me that of…
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Update on Vince
Hi The last time I posted I ranted and raved about my husband having fluid build-up in his abdomen. I have calmed down since then a bit. I spoke once again to Chuck Hileman at UPMC and he sent an e-mail I had written to the oncologist Dr. Mark Gibson regarding all that was happening with Vince. Well I got an e-mail from…
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Some Tips before meetings and Appointments
Hi, Three things have worked for meet to get the most out of all meetings and appointments. Plan, record and review.....I go over each meeting several times in my head before the meeting. I begin taking notes of things I want to know right after the meeting is scheduled. My sister attends all the appointments and meetings…
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my dad and our fight
My father is 64 yrs old, a week before thxgiving we were told he has mastastic stage ivb esophageal cancer....with this we had one round of chemo with f5u pump, this has led him to become very ill and in the hospital the week of xmas. So chemo has been placed on hold till this up coming week in which it has been…
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Don
It has been a while since I have posted anything on the site. Don is doing very well. He is eating a lot better and sleeping well at night. He has some soreness in his back, but of course that is to be expected. He had an 8 inch incision across his shoulder and Dr told me he would be breaking a rib to do the surgery. He is…
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Mr. Marshall
Thank you so much for sitting down again and writing to me. yes, I do believe there are alot of things that I am here for, one is to help my daughter fight her lyme disese which we have been doing for six years. The stress that we have been under didn't help her disease so we are both on a new mission to get better. I…
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Please Say a Prayer for My Father
My dad is having extreme pain in his arm. He went to the hospital this morning and they were going to do an MRI on it to see what's going on, but he couldn't hold it in the position they wanted him to because it hurt too much. That is saying a lot of my dad. He has an extremely high pain tolerance and is a "tough guy",…
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Recent MIE at USC in LA
I have posted a few times before regarding my EC. The MIE went well (91/2 hours)with Dr. Stephen Demeester on Dec. 14. scopes went in through abdomen and right chest, with incision left neck. In hospital 10 days. Excellent care and pain management. I am back home in El PAso, Texas learning how to eat. Have lost 25 lbs. but…
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Not understanding the DR's right now....
I have been running every day whether for my brother Raymond or for a new position in my workplace. I just now saw everyone's post on my last note about my brother deciding not to have surgery. I guess I didn't get back on here for a bit because I have been a little depressed that no matter what I told him he will not hear…
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update on my mom
Lap Exam confirmed EC has spread to the liver. Mom (Beautiful Betty) has stage IVb and they do not recommend any surgery. Sad news, not what we (Don and I) wanted to hear, and she is having trouble accepting it. She was expecting a surgery to remove the cancer and feels cheated out of a chance to enjoy life a little…
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Phase 3 clinical trial
On October 5,2010 my husband Rickie was diagnosed with EC. He is 54 years old. He had been having some pain in his upper stomach starting in the spring and thought he was developing an ulcer. He cut down on his eating and began to lose weight all the while telling me he was dieting. During later summer he began to have…