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A failed experiment
Hi gang; Well my little pain experiment was a failure after less than 24 hours, the pain in my abdomen ( I believe it's my liver) woke me up and it's terrible. Back on the Dilaudid. I dont know what to do or where to turn. Every day is a horror now and I don't want to put my wife through months (oh God let it not be years)…
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next step?
49 year old son just finished second round of chemo and radiation...scans in couple of weeks....what next? Mayo's cancelled surgery because lymph node was found during ultrasound endoscopy. need encouragement for him, wife and 3 kids...Mr. Mom for last 5 years because wife has travel job. hearbroken mom
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Out of ICU, walking, swallow test tomorrow
Hi all, Just an update on my Jeff. He left the ICU yesterday afternoon, he had been in ICU for 2 extra days because there were no other beds available on thoracic floors. We were more than happy to be in the ICU, they are so attentive and Jeff had a private room. Well he lucked out and still has a private room, and I put…
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new here and to esophageal cancer
My husband has recently been diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the bottom of the esophagus. The PET scan showed a few lymph nodes affected also in the clavicular area. He has started chemo of 1 treatment every 3 weeks and radiation 5 days a week for around 33 visits that we know of. After reading here, I am wondering why…
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rose20, any PET results?
Rose, I have not seen any updates on your brother's PET scan results. I hope everything went well and the results are as good as you wished for. Olya
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9-11
In 2001 Tom was renting an apartment on Liberty street in Downtown Manhattan. A loft space that he and his other architect friends converted to a nice modern apartment. The location was great with a World Trade Center subway just down the stairs. The only complaint he had was the noise of water tracks early in the morning…
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A prayer for all of those who lost and all of us for 9/11/01...
I HOPE no one minds me posting this here today... I say a short and simple prayer today for all of us who lost a loved one, or know someone who lost a loved one in the Twin Towers or the Pentagon or on Flight 93; for all of those brave soldiers who are still serving, who were lost defending us, so we could be home, safe,…
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suffering chemo side effect still? OR is it something else?
Hi all, I know that Lee posted this question a few weeks ago, but, here we are again, or should I say still. Lee did his last week of chemo on August 11, which was cut short due to the feeding tube placement. Ever since then, he's been feeling terrible. He's not nauseated too often, but vomiting a lot, He was up several…
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MIE vs Ivor Lewis
If you have EC and a candidate for surgery, who decides whether the patient should have MIE or the Ivor Lewis? Do you have to be a special candidate for the MIE? If it's minimally invasive, why wouldn't everyone opt for the MIE? Do you have to qualify? Heeran, caregiver to my mom just diagnosed with Squamous Cell T3N2M0…
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John's Post-OP Update
9-10-11 Day One for John has been pretty good. He has a great nurse today (not so much last night). She spoke to physician and requested additional pain meds. He has the pump but that was not managing pain. She requested Toradol and he received a dose at 11 AM and was like a new person. He was up in a chair for 4 hours and…
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Hiccups
My husband has been getting the hiccups during the night. He manages to sleep right through it but I'm a much lighter sleeper and with the whole bed jumping every few seconds it's not so much fun. Has anyone else experienced this weird occurance with EC? On another note, he finished his 28th round of radiation yesterday…
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esophageal cancer recurrence
Has anyone had any experience with esophageal cancer returning? My husband was diagnosed a year ago. He had chemo/radiation pre surgery, then surgery, and then more chemo. The first pet was clean, but the one last week shows a 2cm x 2cm tumor is back. It is between the wind pipe and the stomach (acting as the esophagus).…
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Luis and Jeff T
We came across Jeff Thomas on our walk over to visit him! He was up and walking in a thoracic walker. Couldn't believe how far he had walked on his first day post-op! He looks great and says his only discomfort is in the hip area from surgery. He was talkative and it was great to get to meet him, his wife and one of his…
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John's Surgery Update
Just spoke with Dr. Meredith; John's surgery is done. The MIE was performed and he tolerated the surgery fine. The plan is to extabate in recovery and then to ICU. He stated that he goes to the pathology department and looks at margins. He has clean margins. Will need path report on lymph nodes before we know about post…
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Erica, hope you are doing ok
Erica, Sorry I didn't post sooner, I hope you are doing ok waiting for John's surgery to be completed. Waiting is the hardest part, you will be so relieved when you get to see him and hold his hand. Sending my prayers up for you and John today. Niki
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Info from Dr. appt yesterday....
I went with my dad yesterday to hear for myself the results of the full body scan they did, as he has not had one since he first started chemo in april. Everything looks the same, except for there are more spots to the liver. The Dr. is going to consult with others as to what to approach the monster with for his chemo mix.…
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My Dad is making improvements!
I have not been on this board for a while due to traveling (visiting Dad) and work. Life can be funny sometimes...A month ago his insurance company basically kicked him out of the rehab./nursing home because he was not making enough of 'progress'. However, that was the best thing that has happened. Currently, he is eating…
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Jeff Thomas out of surgery
I had my surgery yesterday....mIe....13 hours ....this guy said he takes his time. I already walked and I'm in a Chair....I'll post more later!
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Callaloo
Where are you honey/ I will call you to see what is going on. Are you vacationing in the sun or just working too hard Love Barbara
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PET results
Got my PET results today, and they were clear. He said that my scan looked so good that we would not continue the chemo. It is a insurance poilicy anyway according to him. the last 6 months was to be a 5FU pill and a very light dose. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for those of you who are facing surgery and post…
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Surgery Date 1st Week of October
Surgery Date 1st Week of October Wow! After a crazy 6 weeks (1st & 5th week continuous chemo) of chemo and radiation. Hospitalized for low heart rate, dehydration and the usually that chemo does to one’s body. It’s been difficult, stressful etc… I’m truly grateful that Dad (68 years old) is getting an opportunity to have…
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Prayers for my brother, please
I know with all the surgeries going on this week everyone's prayers are focused on that but could you please add my brother to your prayers? He goes tomorrow for his PET scan and this is a hard test for him to get through because of the stent he has in place. Pray he makes it through the whole test as this test is so…
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Life insurance
After the recent postings about Social Security Disability, I was thinking about something Chad's oncologist told us when he had a recurrance last Christmas. If you have a terminal illness and are not expected to live over a year, some policies allow you collect your benefit while you're still alive. Chad's doctor offered…
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Nick - Out of Surgery
4 or 4 1/2 hours. Esophagus taken up to what I call the "throat hollow". No sign of cancer spread. Tumor in esophagus appears dead and gone according to Pathologist. Actual Pathology reports will be back tomorrow afternoon with real results. 2 - 3 lymph nodes are enlarged - those will be reported on in the Pathology…
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Xeloda has run it's course
Had a CT scan on Tuesday and had an appt. with my oncologist this morning and the news was not real good.There is now a spot in my liver and some activity again in the esop. Time to look at changes she says to me. After an hour plus conversation, I am coming off Xeloda and looking at starting on Trexatol and if the test on…
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Appointment today, does this sound right?
I am going with my dad to his appointment today. He does NOT want me to say anything to the Dr. about the stretching. He said that when he last talked to the Dr. he had told him the reason that he was having problems swallowing is because he missed a week of Chemo so it was his body reacting to this. I can not find any…
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FINALLY!!!!!! A SURGERY DATE!!!!!
Hi everybody, Well, Moffitt just called me and said they have me scheduled for MIE surgery on Oct 7th. (Of course they added the caveat "subject to change". It's been misery waiting and jumping through the hoops so I'm finally releived to know that it's actually coming. Question......I finished my chemo/radiation regimin…
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Alternative Treatment - Juicing/Budwig
I am new to this site. I just discovered it yesterday. My story as a caregiver is on my "About Me" page. This is such a fantastic site with lots of information. The best I have found so far and I have been reseaching like mad for the past few weeks! We are getting to the end as far as chemo goes so we are looking into…
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New to Board - Proton Beam Therapy anyone?
I just wanted to say hi. I am new to the board. I was diagnosed in February of 2011 with EC. The details are in my bio. I am getting Proton at MD Anderson and am wondering if anyone else has received Proton Beam Therapy instead of regular radiation. Blessings to all, --Deborah
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Oh sleep...perchance to dream...
Anybody got any tips on getting a half-decent nights sleep? My oncologist says that cancer screws up your circadian rhythms, and something sure is! Prior to about 6 months ago I always slept well, no sleep issues at all. Now, I sleep perhaps 2 hours at a time, wake up for 1/2 hour, go back to sleep, repeat. I'm getting…