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Another Surgery
Don will have Hernia Surgery on March 9th. Will be a one day surgery and should be fine in a few weeks. Dr. said he will be sore a couple weeks but should do well. He said that sometimes Chemo weakens the tissue and can cause this. No matter, it has to be dealt with so appreciate all your prayers. Reba
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Surgery or not
After radiation and chemo, my doctor reported the my PET scan showed no cancer. He then said it was up to me if I still wanted surgery. This was never optional before. He wants me to see the surgeon and do research. If there is no cancer why cut out my esophagus? I contacted a support group and they wrote back: "because…
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Facebook page with clinical trials
Thought some of you might be interested in this Facebook page. It lists clinical trials for ec and gastric cancer. It is hosted by our doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Jaffer Ajani. Thought it might be helpful to others. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Esophageal-and-Gastric-Cancer-Resource/196966500315899 Cheryl
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HELP!!! Need suggestions - J-Tube is plugged and we can't flush it!!!
So, Brendon ran the pump all night and then when he tried to flush it this morning, we can not get anything to go through it... We have tried the "plunge" method, coke, and meat tenderizor... Anyone have any other helpful tips? Not really wanting to have to go to the hospital if we don't have to.... Aughh...if it's not one…
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personal trainers
We have always kept our sense of humor no matter how painful the news was. So therefore we are calling our hospise team personal trainers. John my wonderful husband of 40 years has decided to stop the chemo. He was told by his doctor thursday that he suggested stopping because it was weakening him to much. John does not…
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I'm sorry ---------- but ------
I'm sorry to intrude upon your board but after extensive Internet research, I just don't know where else to turn to for help. If you could point me to the correct board or else help me to understand the following biopsy results, I would be most appreciative. First, To begin with, my husband had an endoscopy done because…
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Not sure what to expect!!!
My husband was recently diagnosed with State IIIA EC. We start chemo (cisplatin and 5FU) and radiation on Monday. 6 weeks of treatment and then surgery to remove entire esophagus following. Any one able to help us through this would be greatly appreciate!! Thanks, Susie
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Stomach pain
Went to Dr today and Don has a Hernia. That is where the pain is coming from. Will see a surgeon on Monday. Keep him in your prayers. Reba
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What do you have to live with after chemo, radiation, and surgery? Anyone having other medical issu
I feel very blessed that my Mom is still with me one year after her surgery. Since then however she has never regained any appetite and now has severe heartburn, back pain and anemia. She weighs 100 pounds on a 5'2" frame. Needless to say she looks bad and that has caused her to be a bit of a recluse. She has visited her…
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DCF treatment
Hi Paul started chemo today (at last) and his regime is as follows; D- Docetaxel C - Cisplatin F - Fluorouracil The nurse told us today this was a NEW combo and Paul was her first patient to receive this. He's having ALL of the above in one day, except for the 46 hours of F at home, we have the lovely bag safely positioned…
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"Chemo is hurting you" ??
My brother just went for his tenth round of chemo today...the dr. told him the chemo is "hurting him" what does this mean??? In my heart I felt the chemo was just tearing him up,after his 9th round of chemo he never seemed to recover. His ankles are swollen, much acid, throwing up...That's why I have asked just when do you…
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Your experience with radiation?
Hi everyone, Tom started his radiation treatment on Monday (daily for 28 days). Of course we got a pile of materials on what to expect in terms of side effects. But I would like to hear from all of you about your experience with radiation. Some of the patients in MSK I've talked to are mostly complaining about sore throat…
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Stomach pain
Don had E surgery on Dec 10th. He is eating well, but now is experiencing pain in the right side of his lower stomach area. Has anyone else had this? We see Oncologist this week so maybe they can shed some light on it. Heat pad seems to relieve it. Reba
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My knight in Shining Armor has passed
At 1:00 this morning my best friend, my husband, and my soul mate Vince Rizzitello passed away in his sleep.He died in my arms with me telling him how much I loved him. He was a Vietnam Vet, a Police officer, and always used to say to me "I have been a soldier my whole life." He tried so hard to fight this beast , his…
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Surgery or EMR for Stage 0 EC
Today I got confirmation that I have stage 0 EC where the cancer has not grown into the submucosa layer, yet. Gastrologist, thoracic surgeon and oncologist have been recommending for the past month that I have the surgery -- remove it and make it be gone. No need for chemo or radiation. The Barrett's tissue would be…
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Brothers update
I've been away for a while. My computer's CPU decided it was sick and was working at about 12%. Still Which was more like my first computer with the 40 mg hard drive and windows 3.1, a 2400 baud modem, and 2 mg of ram. It would take 10 minutes to load a page so I haven't been able to read or post anything. I will slowly…
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Crazy question...
I have a rather silly question. Steve's swollow test should be coming in a day or two. I was wondering if he will have a different feeling when he swollows or fluid goes down? I know his new stomach will fill up fast, but just wondered if it felt different going down. He has been perticular about how things felt going down…
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New EC patient - Veteran currently going through Chemo and Radiation
My husband is going through Chemo and Radiation with plans for surgery once they can shrink the tumor. He was first staged last year as T2N1. It's already been a long haul, as he did not get diagnosed until April 2010 by the VA. This kind of hit us hard, as we just didn't know what to expect and really never heard of this…
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6 WKs out of MIE and no appetite
Jim has had no appetite since having his MIE January 5th. He has been on the feeding tube and is getting enough calories to sustain his weight now. He is down about 16 lbs from surgery so I encourage carnation instant breakfast with whole milk and yogurt. I made lentil soup and homemade chicken noodle soup and he has had a…
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John progress
I am not sure when I updated last. John was off chemo for the past three weeks to give his body a rest and to see if it was the chemo weakening him or the cancer. The Doctors came to the conclusion it is the cancer. Thursday he started some new chemo he has not recieved as of yet. He is still getting Hercepin and now he is…
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Night Owls Unite
I am a night owl...always have been...everyone else is long asleep and I'm still awake..the dogs keep me company...or I will paint...do my best stuff at night. Maybe because it's finally quiet...just night sounds...you can finally relax a bit. How many night owls do we have on the board. I was a night owl even when I had…
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Scan is stable
Though we would of loved to hear shrunk a bit...stable is so much better than growing...he has only had two rounds of chemo so far for the recurence...his doctor called with the result as requested...hey they're learning..His doctors are very happy with the results since many tumors grow in spite of the chemo...his sister…
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48 hours post op..
Steve continues to recoup. Out of ICU and in his own room. He stood up at bedside today and did leg lifts. We continue to move forward. Thank you for all your prayers. William....he told me not to go buy him that fishing pole yet, because I would buy the wrong kind.........lolol..........he trust me to manage his care with…
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?
Hi everyone, My grandpa started radiation and chemo Wednesday. He hasn't experienced any side effects so far besides for not being able to sleep much. I was wondering when the effects typically start? He is getting 5FU through a port for 96 hrs. I am praying that he won't experience the horrible effects of this treatment.…
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Clean Scan....
I just returned from my 1 year checkup at Mayo. NED, clean scan. I am most grateful as this past year with chemo and surgery has been challenging to say the least. I continue to pray for all on this board as we battle this disease. God Bless............ Gerry
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Looking for advice
Hello all. I have only posted once or twice here but I read the posts almost every day. My 54 year old husband, Rickie, was diagnosed with stage IV EC October 8th. He is being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. When he was first diagnosed we were told the tumor was quite large encompassing his whole esophagus. From the…
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Steve is out of surgery, doing well!!
Steve is out of surgery, surgeon is pleased with results. Margins clear in eshophagus. Now we just wait for path report on nodes. He is awake very allert. BP running a little low right now so getting some blood. Thanks to everyone for their prayers. I will keep you updated. Nancy
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Dad Lost His Battle
Dear EC Friends, It's with great sadness that I have to inform you that my dad lost his battle last night about 12:30 A.M. It's been a horrific 4 days in the ER, ICU and Palliative Care. To make a long story short, he basically died from the tumor bleeding and his body not being able to clot the blood because his liver was…
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N.E.D.
We finally got the coveted N.E.D. from our Oncologist today-No Evidence of Disease!!!!!!!!! All the blood work and scans are within normal i.e., No recurrence of esophageal cancer, no activity with the leukemia. We have re-test in June then at second anniversary of surgery in September when all is still unremarkable we…
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CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY?.
Hello everyone: I appreciate having found this site very much. My husband was dx with EC Stage III, in the month of December. He has undergone chemo (3 drugs, 5FU, Cisplatin, and Taxol), and 25 sessions of radiation. He did well considering he began treatment with anemia caused by the bleeding of the tumor. He did not need…