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Update on Jeff...and blessings for Jeff Thomas, Nick and Terry, and Erica and John
Hi folks, I want to let everyone know how much I appreciate your support and comments. Jeff is doing very well, he is in the ICU and they are managing his pain well. Today he moved from his bed to the chair, and then tonight he took a walk around the ICU! The nurses say he is doing really well. All of you that are…
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PET results
Not very good news. The EC has spread to Don's bones. In his sternum, hips, ribs, spine. None in his vital organs. Dr says he has 6 to 8 months and they will keep his pain at a minimum. We still believe in prayer, and will take each day as it comes. He said for us to do whatever he feels like. A hard thing to hear but…
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Progress for Luis
Luis passed his swallow test yesterday and today the doctors took out his NG tube!! He is feeling so much better without the dreaded NG tube! They have begun him on clear liquids as well. He is only to take in 4 oz over 6 hours but he said he is glad to taste apple juice again. Hopefully, the chest tubes will be removed…
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Surgery is scheduled
As a reminder, I'm one of the "lucky" ones who is early Stage I and will have an MIE with no pre-op chemo or radiation. My wife and I met with the surgeon last week and he said his Assistant would call me with the date for my surgery as soon as it is scheduled. That was on Wednesday and I hadn't heard from her yet, so I…
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Rough week
I haven't posted in awhile as we have had a rough week dealing with chemo. Rickie went in to the doctor’s office last Monday, Aug. 29th for his usual regime of Erbitux and Irinotechan, and then returned on Tuesday morning for his sandostatin shot. He has never really suffered from nausea, but this time as soon as we got…
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Something nice for a change
Sorry if stuff like this isn't allowed, but this kinda sums up the strange people that Chantal and I are. Our wedding video from Vegas 2010! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAR6-PdF5Uc
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Esophageal Dilation or Stent?
I have read the difference between the two, but if someone who has had this or a caregiver who has experience with one of these could tell me, how do you decide which would be better?
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Thank you all for your encouragement
Thank you all for such wonderful thoughts of encouragement. You give me strength to face the next day. There has been no change in Bill's condition after his stroke a week ago, still not waking up. God bless all of you in your personal struggles. Kateel
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Conflicting test results
Hi, My father was diagnosed with stage IVA carcinoma esophagus cancer on Feb 2011. He underwent 35 days of radiation and 4 rounds of chemo. After 2 months of his treatment, he got his pet scan and endoscopy done. His pet scan results shows positive results (SUV 9) but his biopsy is negative. We got another biopsy done…
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Jeff out of surgery
Jeff's surgery lasted 8 hours, he is in ICU now. He had the Ivor Lewis, he is being given drugs for the pain. Will post more later. Thanks to all for their prayers and thoughts. Niki
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T3N1M1A
My mom went into the hospital to do the endoscopic ultrasound and they biopsied 2 lymph nodes. 1 Close 1 Far. The biopsy results will come back Thursday but the odd thing is, the doctor told me she's T3N1M1A. How can he give me this information without the biopsy results coming back? I've gone to the ECA website and it…
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Stable is good
We received CT scan results today. Chad (my husband) has been on Irinotecan since sometime in May and has had several scans over the last three months. Today's results show the nodes in his neck remain unchanged. While we would have hoped for them to be smaller, we're very thankful that they aren't bigger and there is no…
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Upcoming surgeries
Thank you Niki for posting this so we can know the upcoming surgeries. Praying for you and Jeff today!! Laura and Luis - Aug 30th Niki and Jeff - Sept 6th Jeff - Sept 8th Terry and Nick - Sept 8th Erica and John - Sept 9th Bob Haze- Sept 23 Carolyn's dad Hayden- Oct. 7th
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William are you out there
Hi William and Miss Loretta I know things have been rough for you both, what with the weather and Miss Loretta's Mum, just worried about you both, hoping you are all ok, love to hear from you and know you are ok. Ann
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Niki & Jeff-Thinking of you both!
Niki, Thinking about you and Jeff tonight and sending positive energy your way! What time is surgery tomorrow? I hope that you will be able to post and let us know how Jeff (and you) is doing. John does not have his surgery until Friday so if you need to talk to someone I sent my cell phone number to you in private e-mail.…
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Bill had a stroke
Will it never end????? Bill was doing so well after his EC surgery. His was April 25th, and his doctor said he didn't have to come back until his 6 month check-up. Well, last Thursday, he had a rather severe stroke of the cerebellum, with bleeding on the brain. He is in ICU and they have performed surgery and inserted a…
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Haven't been on in about two years but all is good
Hello all I haven't been on in a couple of years, but definately have been reading everyones posts. Jeff is doing great and is in remission of this ugly disease it was 2 years July 22, anyone have the ivor Lewis this is what he had surgery wise. Jeff still goes to doctors every six months but all in all is doing great! For…
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Nikimo - Thinking of you both as you near surgery hour
Niki & Jeff, Be calm and know all is as good in your world as it can be as you, Jeff, undergo surgery tomorrow. We pray for an easy and successful surgery, and a good pathology report following. May your path to recovery be speedy and smooth. Niki - you have my mobile number still, I believe. Call if your nerves get to be…
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Not Curable but Treatable?
Hello, I wondered if anyone could help me. Any assistance or suggestions that can be provided would be greatly appreciated. My mother is 86 years old and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in February. She had a PET Scan done in February and another PET Scan done recently in August. The initial PET Scan showed that she…
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Help Please !!
Hello Everybody, This is my second post... since my dads (50 yrs old) Diagnosis Ca Esophagus (GE Junction)Adenocarcinoma T3N1M0 LINE OF TREATMENT Esophagectomy done 3 cycles of Post-Op Chemo consisting of (180mg Docetaxel, 150mg Cisplatin and 1000mg 5-FU) His latest PET scan after the above treatment shows- Few wall…
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Some of the strongest people I know!!!
To all of you fighting this horrible disease... I was thinking of my brother this morning all that he is going through that only those of you with this disease truly understand. I'm sure there are many unspoken emotions that you go through. My brother can not eat!! To get down creamed soups or a little mashed potatoes to…
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Recent diagnosis - Stage 1
I was diagnosed with EC a month ago from the biopsies after a routine surveillance endoscopy. I got lucky and had an endoscopic ultrasound a week later, which confirmed the diagnosis and showed that the lesion is growing into the wall of my esophagus. But it also showed that it was very small and only into the 1st mucous…
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OK ...some levity...
We took off on Thursday to spend labor day weekend at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale in advance of my surgery on the 8th. My 15 year old son had his nose buried in a book for the whole plane ride. He was reading "Presumed Innocent". I was very impressed, because he is not usually a reader. In any case, today I started asking…
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1st post
Guess I'll start by saying Hi and thank you all for sharing. Today is day 3 of chemo for my husband, finally, as he was dx in mid june! Laproscopy shows esophageal tumor quite long and involves upper portion of stomach and 3 lymph nodes.No staging was mentioned. Will be sure to get info on the 19th. Plan: chemo, radiation,…
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Social Security Disability
I've been meaning to post this for some time but keep forgetting (probably due to chemo brain). I think something that all newly diagnosed EC patients should do is apply for Social Security Disability. Esophageal Cancer is on the list of conditions that requires a speedy decision and is usually favorable. Even if you are…
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EC back
Sorry to say that Don's EC is back. He has a tumor that came up on his Clavicle bone. Had a biopsy and it is Stage 4. He will have a Petscan Tuesday to see if it is anywhere else in his body. Will find out on Wednesday. If it is, there will be nothing they can do and he does not want to go through anymore Chemo and I'm not…
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yet another feeding tube question....
Just a simple question here, but for some reason we are getting mixed answers from our visiting nurses and our oncologists. Do you permanently need to keep the feeing tube covered with the gauze, tape and padding? Our nurse says it ALWAYS will have to be covered and cleaned on a regular basis. Our doctor said that although…
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esophageal stretch?
I have read that many of you have had stretches done to the esophagus. We mentioned it to our doctor during the visit from he** last thursday. He told us that Lee does not need it. He did not give any reasons, and since the visit was going badly to begin with, I didn't push it. As of this time, the results of the CT showed…
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esophageal cancer
This is my first time writing. I was diagnosed with stage 1 esophageal cancer. They removed my entire esophas and 26 lymph nodes Jan 11, 2010 and I've never been the same person since. I'm grateful to God that they feel they got all the cancer but its beeen such a long journey. They had to stretch my new esophagus 4 times…
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For Daisylin, LeeInLondon, Chemosmoker
Chantal, Lee and Eric, I have been intending to write this for a few days. MrsBotch's thread made me realize the time is right. I have seen all of you exemplify grace, courage, and faith from what you relate in your posts. Your experiences have brought true meaning to these words for me. I have followed Chantal posts and…