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feeding tube
Well, finally, today was the big day. Lee had his feeding tube put in. Hooray I hope! They decided on a GJ tube, (gastrojejunostomy) which I don't believe anyone here has ever mentioned. It seems to be like a g-tube insertion, but the tube is fed into the small bowel through the stomach. The problem is that he's in…
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Night in the ER
So we had our first bump in the road last night. As some of you remember Jeff had it fairly easy through chemo and radiation. Had a little nausea that was controlled with meds, only had one instance of vomitting and diarhea. Yesterday he came home from work and said he felt sluggish and needed to take a nap, this was…
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There's no protocol on screening for EC
How often should a family member be screened for EC? Through our journey, we have learned that my husband's uncle died of EC, my husband had EC surgery and is now NED. There are multiple cancers in his family. We encouraged our adult children to get scans. The scan for one child showed he had a ring caused by acid reflux…
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For those wondering about lifetime dietary restrictions following Ivor Lewis esophagectomy
I changed Bill's picture [hope it appears] to show him enjoying an Italian sausage at our recent state fair. (The sausage was loaded with onions, green peppers and assorted melted cholesterol laden additives. Fat content was probably 90%) Now, he didn't eat the bun except maybe a bite or two. He enjoyed corn dogs, pork…
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New here . . .
I am new here to this discussion board. My husband and I have been heads down in battle since November. At that time, we were told of a plan, that included MIE in April. That plan was derailed when liver mets were found the end of March. My husband has had chemo, radiation, and SIR-spheres in an attempt to achieve…
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Increased mucous secretion
Hello My father (aged 56) was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer 4 months back. During last 4 months he has been completely on chemotherapy. He was doing great till recently he encountered viral fever. The fever has now subsided took almost a week, but has left him bedridden. But he is been coughing up excessive clear phlegm…
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Small Delay
We received (on answering machine) call at home today (I was still at work) that they had rescheduled (because NO authorization) John’s surgery from 8-26 to 9-2-11. John called me at work and was so upset, he wants to have the surgery and get this cancer out of his body. Well my first reaction was to also get upset. One of…
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What caused your EC?
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on what they believe might have "caused" their EC. We've all asked ourselves this question a million times, and struggled with faith, and guilt and everything in between; Obviously medical history and lifestyle can be strong predictors of future illness, and this group would be a…
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Hello from Lee in London - Stage IV-b
Hello everyone; My name is Lee and I have EC with mets to the liver and lymph nodes. My wife is Daisylin in these forums, and BTW it's London Canada, not England :) I've been lurking for a few months and want to thank you all for contributing to a very valuable resource, and how empowering to find a focused forum populated…
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2nd post-op scan not as good as the first.
I went in today for my second post-op follow up CT scan. I have a swollen lymph node on my windpipe in the lower neck area. I’ll have a PET scan next Friday (8/26/11) to see if there is any up-take and if there is I’ll be scheduled for a biopsy. I’m nine months out from my MIE (T2N1M0) and thought things were going good…
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3 more and maybe wrong staging!!!!
Mom has 3 more chemos. of cictplatin and taxol . Then we will go from there ! Mom has one tumer on the ec. some nodes in that area also. and one spot near the abdomen - no other organs though. I will try my best to get her up to Dr. Miller and his other Dr. he works closely with in Atlanta. They did stage her as iv thats…
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Song to all the caregivers
To all the caregivers, This morning on Good day America, I saw a video by Martina McBride--I'm going to love you through it. I cried when I thought of all the love and care I received when I was in my darkest hours. This is a video about cancer and all the caregivers. If you haven't seen it, Please go online and watch and…
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Another challenge
Haven't been up to posting anything on the site lately. Don had a biopsy yesterday on as lump that came up on his chest. They suspect that the Cancer is now invading his bones. We haven't heard from the report yet. He is in a lot of pain. Living on Pain pills now. Please keep us in your prayers. Reba
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AND THE HITS KEEP COMING
Just an update on me. Just received a call from the surgeon's office. Their tumor board met this morning and discussed my case/scans/etc. The nurse said Dr Meredith didn't think I have carcinomatosis. Praise God! He wants to press on with the surgery and go in and see what it looks like..........and of course we have to…
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Not great, not terrible
Hi friends, Jeff had his PET/CT yesterday and we got his results today. The nurse practitioner came into the room first and had not reviewed the scan yet, she basically read verbatim the report to us. She said the scan shows activity in the mid to distal esophagus (which we knew, that is where the tumor is). The she said…
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Suggestions
Hi Everyone, Although it has been a while since my first and only post, I have been reading every single day and all of you going through this struggle have been in my thoughts and prayers. I come with a couple questions today. My mother is post Esophagectomy 13 days. She had the invasive procedure here in Canada and has…
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Getting ready to move from sophomore to junior class!
John had all of his post radiation/chemo testing done in the last couple of days. CT-Chest, Abdomen, & Pelvis with Contrast, PFT (Pulmonary function), Pet/CT, & appointment with his Internal medicine physician for pre-surgery clearance. Results: CT 1. Increased Soft Tissue thickening involving the distal esophagus when…
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Update on Mo
Sorry I haven't posted in so very long. We are just "keepin, keepin on" day by day. Today was to be his beginning of the 2nd cycle of cisplatin and epirubicin and beginning of week 4 on 5FU 24/7 pump. They are giving him a week off due to severe stomititus. He has blisters covering the inside of his mouth, tongue and lips.…
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An Eventful Day with Not So Good News - Stage II to ???????
Had my appointment with the surgeon today. He remarked that the original tumor has shrunken significantly. However,he saw some things on the CT scan in the abdominal area and said it could be carcinomatosis. He had me do a PET scan this afternoon and sure enough, the original tumor has essentially disappeared but my…
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Room for one more in the Junior Class???
Friends and Classmates- Well...it' must have taken some time to grade that last test, but my surgeon finally called me late this afternoon! My petscan was good and there was no evidence of local or distant lymph node involvement and disease seemed to be contained to the esophagus-----BUT they never know that until the post…
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answer needed regarding surgeons
On Monday Dad will start week 5 (cisplatin & 5FU) chemo and radiation again for the full week, as of right now he has 10 radiation tmt left. It’s been up and down, like a roller coaster (hospitalized--couldnt get good down, wbc @1.6 had neupoena shots! Is there anyway to find out how many surgery a doctor has performed…
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One short second time around
Well my brother Raymond passed away Monday morning.... It was definitely a shocker since we only found out August 4th that the cancer and returned. Though in one way I am glad he is no longer in pain and is now not hungry anymore... I also am very mad after him just being told he was in remission at the end of March...…
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Good news!
Luis had his biopsy today. The surgeon removed three lymph nodes and surrounding tissue. The frozen pathology tests all came back negative!! They will do a longer test that will come back in a couple of days. But as of right now, the surgeon says it was a false positive on the PET scan and is planning on going forward with…
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just a little question to my American friends
As I've mentioned, we are in Canada, land of the free..... free health care that is. I am very thankful for that, and please don't misunderstand, I truly feel for all of you who are struggling with finances, and red tape while fighting for your loved ones lives. I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, I know we have it…
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a message for Chemosmoker
Hi, sorry you did not mention your name, so Chemosmoker it is I guess! Just wanted to welcome you to our 'happy little family' and also to ask you a few questions. We are all here to help, so please feel free to give us more details. I have read your "about me" page, and am a bit confused. You say that you are only doing…
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There is a God!!!!
Well, we made the call to our cancer team today, and asked again (for the third time) for a feeding tube. This time they had no argument, and are scheduling us for next week. He needs to be off chemo for a week, and his blood levels need to be good enough. I hope that with his starvation and dehydration diet these last few…
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Thanks William
Dear William, (I've tried to send this a couple of times never seeing this attached to your letter. Wanted to make sure you got this now). I'm writing to you to say thank you so much for the time and extensive information you sent me. I did reply back to you but I didn't see it posted, so I'm writing again, sorry if you…
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Complications after surgery
My bother just has his esophagus removed, its been 17 days ago and he can barely talk, he isn't in pain to talk but just very hoarse.. has anyone else had this problem. He has tried to eat without a lot of sucess... He has a test before he was released from the hospital and they told us nothing was wrong.. Everything…
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j-tube removal or replacement?
My husband is post MIE from 7/21 with Dr. Luketich (UPMC). He has been in rehab for conditioning because he had some dementia pre surgery. The question is his j-tube is clogged and not in place (confirmed by abd. x-rays). He is tolerating a soft diet great along with liquids but do you think I should ask them to re-insert…
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His ship has sailed; raise a glass to the Captain
My husband and best friend Stephen passed peacefully Friday night with his close family by his side after a long battle with Stage IVb esophageal adenocarcinoma due to Barrett's esophagus/acid reflux with mets to the lungs. We all admire his courage, dignity and grace throughout this entire year. He fought this disease on…