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New Cancer Diagnosis
My wife has been fighting breast cancer for 4 years now, it is stage 4 metastatic breast cancer of the bone now. Just this month we were given a diagnosis of a new cancer, esophageal cancer - barely 2 weeks ago. So now we are fighting 2 different cancers at once. She is getting radiation on her bone tumors and getting…
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Taking a much needed break and will meet Jim's Sherri in person in Florida
Vince has been gone for 3 weeks and the sadness is overwhelming at times. i need to get away so my 90 year old mom and I are going to Ft. lauderdale today. We will get to my Friens Lin's house tomorrow and stay until Tuesday. Afeter that we are driving to Oviedo and I will finally meet Sherri who I have developed a special…
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HER2+ Testing and Insurance
What has everyone's experience been with HER2+ testing and insurance covering it? I have BCBS insurance. If it isn't covered, how expensive is the test? Thanks everyone!
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Charlie is in heaven
Hello All, Haven't been very good at posting lately.....most of my energy was caring for Charlie and keeping up with his CaringBridge site. With a very heavy heart, I need to tell you Charlie went home to be with the Lord last night. He had been under hospice care in the hospital since last Thurday. I am already lost…
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Frustrating/endless delays
My apologies for what is about to be an uneducated rant, but I desperately need some affirmation as to whether or not this is warranted. Having experienced dysphasia and ongoing weight loss since October of last year (which was unsuccessfully treated as an ulcer) my mom was scoped 2 weeks ago and her cancer was found. It…
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L-Glutamine: use and dosage
I've read about people taking L-Glutamine during chemo, radiation, pre- and post-surgery period, and was trying to discuss it with Tom's medical team at MSKCC. I was surprised that none of the doctors seem to be very enthusiastic about it even though the supplement clearly showed benefits and had no adverse reactions and…
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The Mental game
Hi I really don't want to only post/ask about sad things, but has anyone got any tips for overwhelming sadness? Unfortunately Paul's medical team here left us with the statement "lets hope he has a good response to chemo" farewell message. After being told his bones (shoulder, neck and hip) showed worrisome results, then…
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I am happy to report a clear CT scan
I had my CT scan this morning and my oncologist gave me the results this afternoon. I am happy to report that God has been kind enough to allow me to have another clear CT scan. I am grateful to God and to all my friends here for their prayers and kind thoughts. Best Regards, Paul Adams McCormick, South Carolina DX…
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Update on my dad and prayer requests
My dad (age 66, stage 3 EC) finished his 5th and last week of radiation last week. He has not been able to eat recently, but thankfully has the J tube to help. Over this past weekend, he also began having trouble swallowing. He is severely fatigued, and sleeps almost all day and night. He went this morning for his weekly…
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New prayer request
Don is recovering very well from Hernia surgery. Now we have another thing to face. Before he had his EC surgery they had found a small spot on his kidney. When they did another CT scan a couple weeks ago they said that there had been no change in the last 3 months which we thought was good news. However, they now see…
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Just got my treatment plan
Last week everything came together. I am diagnosed as stage III T3N1 and so far M0. This will be confirmed by a PET CT this week. Dr is recommending 3 rounds of chemotherapy (ECF) followed by surgery then another 3 rounds of chemotherapy. I get my port installed tomorrow and start the chemotherapy a week later. The surgeon…
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Just diagnosed with Stage IV and terrified! Need help please.
It has only been two weeks since my initial endoscopy, but it feels like an eternity. I originally went in for gastritis and came out terrified with the news of the possibility of EC. Four days later when the biopsies came back it was confirmed that I have it. Then it was on to the PET scan. My wife and I figured since I…
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dry cough after surgery
My husband had his esophagus removed on Feb. 23 by Dr. Luketich at the University of Pittsburgh. I must thank Bill and Loretta Marshall for directing me to this wonderful doctor! The surgery went very well. My husband was in the hospital for 5 days and then he recuperated at Shadyside Family House in Pittsburgh for 10…
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Initial consult with Thoracic Surgeon - What to expect and questions to be asked...
It has been a few days since I logged in here, but a few days can make a world of difference! As a result of much prodding on my behalf, mom will be going to see a Thoracic Surgeon at an esteemed Cancer Center tomorrow. Waiting ROUND 1 will soon come to an end. Fortunately, she has been far more accepting of my sister and…
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Update from Linda and Jim in Idaho
It has been a while since I posted and I saw that someone asked how we are doing. Jim is progressing very slowly in his healing and emotional status. The pneumonia really set him back and discouraged him. I believe he is finally over that struggle, and now the issue is the eating and the feeding tube. He is fearful of…
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Vitamins and Herbal Supplements Should Be Avoided During Chemo and Radiation Therapy
I have gastro-esophageal junction cancer, T3N1, 11 months in, one 9 week EOX chemotherapy, and a second 6 week chemo/radiation therapy completed. My follow-up endoscopy biopsy from Feb 24, 2011 came back with "no evidence of malignacy." My follow-up PET scan is at the end of March and my fingers are crossed. I attempted to…
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My Dad Ray's 1st Year Anniversary In Heaven March 9, 2011
Dear EC discussion board friends, I wanted to include all of you in our celebration of my dad's 1st anniversary in heaven. You have all been a part of our journey with EC. Thank you all for all of your help, your thoughts, and your many many prayers. Now, please pray for me and my mom, brother, and family as we conquer…
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Up coming surgery
Thank you all for posting your experiencs her for all to see. Mine in at the GE juncture , did Chemo and radiation for 5 week at Jefferson in Phila, I am diagnosed stage two with a pet scan that said it had not spread before treatment started. I am done chemo and radiation three weeks now and have another Pet scan next…
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Up coming surgery
Thank you all for posting your experiencs her for all to see. Mine in at the GE juncture , did Chemo and radiation for 5 week at Jefferson in Phila, I am diagnosed stage two with a pet scan that said it had not spread before treatment started. I am done chemo and radiation three weeks now and have another Pet scan next…
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do you want your state to declare April EC awareness month?
I am a daughter of a wonderful guy with EC. He inspires me by what he has pushed himself to do since his surgery 12/09. Unfortunately he is in the hospital right now (Duke) due to complications after having a nodule removed from his lung. the surgeon believes it is EC---pathology results have not come back yet. I could go…
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Stomach Pains
Paul had his diagnosis 6 weeks ago with mild swallowing issues. Over the last 4 weeks he has started to get stomach cramps and no matter what they prescribe or what he does, he can't get any relief. Sometimes it's after he eats, no matter how bland the food is (poached eggs etc) just wondered if this was a symptom of the…
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It has been a long time
It has been a long time since I have been on here.... Between work, Raymond (my brother) DRs appt, his chemo, radiation, family, etc... It has been quite an exhausting few months though my brother is way more exhausted going through all of this I am sure. I think is was because he was so exhaused that on week 5 of…
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My mom was just diagnosed
I'm terrified! Of course, to learn about the staging, prognosis, treatment, etc., but even more-so about whether or not I will be able to be the positive support she will need through this ordeal. Mom has always been my support system; strong (often to the point of stubborn), independent and able to find the silver lining…
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We found a pot hole in the road...
Less then 24 hours after discharge, Steve is back in the hosp. Seems he has a bleed in his gut somewhere. He went in with a hemoglobin of 6.2 and dehydrated. We started noticing some symptoms of this before discharged and question it, but it was dismissed as residual blood from surgery. The weakness and tiredness we were…
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Please help! Suggestions needed
I was wondering if anyone could share with me any ideas for things to eat on a soft food diet. My husband has been having great difficulty swallowing and is becoming limited to soft or liquid foods. The doctor does not want to put a feeding tube in at this time as he feels that it will delay the much needed chemo…
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Just found out
I am newly diagnosed. This week actually. I went in Monday morning for a upper GI because I had been having problems swallowing and 15 minutes after I left the test, my family Doctor was on the phone for my wife and I to come in. Originally it showed up as a 4cm mass. Thursday I had a CT performed which determined that it…
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The troops have arrived
Just a little update on John. We had our first week of our personal trainers (Hospice) assisting us in our care for John. It is going well. I have learned alot, cried more than enough and laughed and shared many a story and memory. John is doing well for some one who has had stage IV EC for almost two years. John is still…
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Frequency of Pet or CT post surgery
I was wondering what is the typical frequency on post curative surgery PET and/or CT scans. Thank you for your input.
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Stage IV treatment
We are back at home after having gone to MD Anderson for a 6 week scan in the clinical trial that Rickie was in. Apparently he was receiving the placebo or else the drug did him no good and the cancer has grown. We had that feeling before the scan, as suddenly in the last week or two he has started having difficulty eating…
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For William: I have sent you a private message.
I do hope you read the message I sent you this morning. I am hoping to get your response to my brother and sister-in-law before they see the doctor tomorrow. Thank you.