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Post-Op abdominal pain
I had my MIE 3 weeks ago tomorrow, and the surgeon said at our follow-up yesterday that I'm doing great. It was a huge relief to hear that I had clean margins, all 28 lymph nodes he removed were clean, and I'm T1aN0M0. I actually cried in the examination room when he told me that! I had a week of clear liquids, then a week…
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Should we use local surgeon or Dr. Luketich.
My mother is currently going through chemo/radiation and we just interviewed a surgeon in Omaha. Apparently, I went to high school with him so that would put him at 35 years old. He seems very confident, smart, assertive but I got a bit concerned when he said, "I've already done 10 esophagectomies this year." I asked how…
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Should we use local surgeon or Dr. Luketich.
My mother is currently going through chemo/radiation and we just interviewed a surgeon in Omaha. Apparently, I went to high school with him so that would put him at 35 years old. He seems very confident, smart, assertive but I got a bit concerned when he said, "I've already done 10 esophagectomies this year." I asked how…
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Has anyone heard from Daisylin wife of Lee?
They have been in my thoughts.
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Skin Care after radiation
I presume skin at the radiation site will be sorely affected during the 30 days of rads. Is there a cream I can get for my mom that will help care for her skin? Ginny
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Had to share
I read this today and just had to share it: The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. The he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result…
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Hi... Sal here.. I'm back
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support. Your kind words + the good the bad and ugly are appreciated. The night before last I lost it. I decided that I did not need an appointment with my husband to discuss his life or death situation. I went in guns blazing, no tip toeing around the subject. The…
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pain advice - Fentanyl patch
Hello all; Over the last few weeks I've been having more and more severe pain, typically in the area of my esophagus. It's a hard, burning kind of pain at about pain level 6. I was recently changed from oxycontin to a fentanyl patch (25 micrograms) because I was choking up the oxy tablets. Meeting with palliative care team…
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The big lump - part II
We saw the doctor yesterday and didn't get the news we'd hoped for. They biopsied the lump on my husbands neck and it's cancer. We did find out that his cancer cells are HER2 receptors which makes him a good candidate for Herceptin. I know I've seen that drug on here before but I'm asking for some input on this. Good? Bad?…
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remember me? it isn't looking good for my dad
In March 2010, dad was diagnosed with EC at the junction of his stomach and esophagus, and it was down in his stomach. They said it had started in his stomach and was growing up. He wasn't a candidate for surgery because he had a stroke, has seizures, etc. so they did chemo and radiation. Nearly a year later, we get a…
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What a glorious day...
Today my darling husband (stage IVb) took me to the golf course so I could play a game. We don’t belong to a club; we just play together whenever we can. But because of his PICC line and chemo, it has been at least 3 months since we played a proper round together. Despite feeling incredibly tired, he bravely drove the cart…
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Confused!
Hi again everyone, First thank you all for the support, time, care and prayers, during the most frightening period of my life. There is a wealth of knowledge here and you also get to hear both sides of the story. A must when trying to make sense of this horrible diagnosis. One more question, if I may: If a surgeon offered…
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Whirlwind of Information and nerves
My brother and I took our mom to the Nagourney Institute in Long Beach. He was very pleased that her cancer did not reach the liver yet. He said this type of cancer likes to go to the liver. He feels that it will be very beneficial if mom receives a mild dose of chemo in conjunction with the radiation. He named 2 types of…
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Proactive Approach
After the last Taxotere disaster, my oncologist is going to try and get ahead this time. Had a treatment today that went ok. I am tired and crabby but other than that seem ok. I go in Friday for a Nuelista shot and begin Cepro on the 7th day after teatment for 7 days to ward of potiential infections. If I become dehydrated…
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Need Post-Op chemo help and advice!
Hello one and all! I'm a relatively new member and have been quietly observing since my fiancé Bill’s diagnosis of T3N1M0 adenocarcinoma in early June. You guys have a wealth of knowledge and have been an extreme source of inspiration to me! Right now I need help with centers that do post-op chemo. We live in the Kansas…
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Has anyone heard from Hopper52?
I was sitting here thinking about our friend Michael and was wondering if anyone had heard from him? I looked back and I think the last we heard from him was back on the second.
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The Trauma of a Diagnosis of Cancer
This is a great read that I found this evening. Thought I would share: This article can be found at the following website: http://www.neillneill.com/the-trauma-of-a-diagnosis-of-cancer and is written by Psychologist Dr. Neill Neill. The Trauma of a Diagnosis of Cancer Dr. Neill Neill Most of us personally know at least one…
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Mom is a new person!
This morning my brother took mom for her 2nd CT scan of the tumor, an MRI, and tattooing for radiation. Took 1.5 hours then he took her home. I didn't get to call her until 4:30. I heard a lilt in her voice! She said, "I'm fine! I feel wonderful! I watered outside, I cleaned the kitchen, there is nothing wrong!" I was…
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My Dad Passed Away - October 2nd
I did not get to post to this site much since I only found it a month ago. But I wanted to let you know that I did read as many stories as I could and was able to find answers to alot of my questions from this site. It is so heartbreaking to see how terrible this disease is. My dad went from healthy and happy in May to his…
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My Dad Passed Away - October 2nd
I did not get to post to this site much since I only found it a month ago. But I wanted to let you know that I did read as many stories as I could and was able to find answers to alot of my questions from this site. It is so heartbreaking to see how terrible this disease is. My dad went from healthy and happy in May to his…
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A big lump
My husband has developed a big lump on the side of his neck. It's the right side, the same side that he had radiated. It's bigger than a golf ball and it's painful. I first noticed it a couple of days ago when I gave him a hug on that side and he mentioned that something was "bugging" him on that side. I called the nurse…
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Pain in G-J port?
Hello all; For the last few days I've had pretty major pain around the port of my G-J tube. No sign of infection, the tube didn't get yanked or anything (that I know of), and it doesn't hurt more or less when I'm feeding. It seems mechanical in nature, that is, I can make the pain mostly go away based on position,…
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Heard from jthomas233!!!
Got a message from Jeff and he asked me to update the group. I'll quote from his message: "I met with some post surgical complications...had the mie...developed a leak that wasn't healing...they put in a temp stent that promptly failed as well. I also got pneumonia. I ended up getting the full blown ivor Lewis, passed…
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Tumor markers again
Hi all Just back from the onc's and once again Marks tumor markers are sky high, I asked how much we can rely on these markers as I know from this board that EC and tumor markers are unreliable, with Mark apparently his tumor markers have been consistant with his tumor growth so before chemo really high during the chemo…
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Hospice care
Thanks so much for all the input I have received regarding Hospice. We have signed up and today the nurse came out. She is a wonderful caring person and I think we will build a good relationship with her. Please keep Don in your prayers that the pain will be kept under control. Reba
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Woot for Lee in London!
Sure glad you got to enjoy that Pepsi. How did it taste--was it the best you ever had? Did Chantal get a Pepsi, perhaps with some rum? Melinda
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Last day of chemo!
I just had to post a happy note... This completes my last complete day of chemo. Since February 28th, I have completed some 6 rounds of ECF chemo amounting to 18 weeks. I am very happy to have my 5FU pump removed. I will most likely be up there at 7:45am when they open the doors to have it taken off. Then home for the…
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I did it again.
I went to the grocery store with my full list of items for the week and I left sobbing my eyes out. I ran into a friend who asked how I was and meant it. I lost it. I hate going there, I have cried there more than any other place. Ugh!! I don't get why that is. When I got to the checkout, it was evident I was crying and,…
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Mom CT scan results
The cancer is contained in the esophagus, but there are some swollen nodes directly around tumor. We were able to get in to see the radiologist immediately. We drove like a bat out of hell, but we are here now. They are setting mom up for radiation. In meantime we have appt with a cancer researcher in Long Beach to assay…
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stage iv without mets to nearby organs?
Why is this, stage iv without mets to nearby organs ? I know some "ol timers" have already awnsered this , i will put it add it to my favs - thankyou. Jason