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Esophageal Cancer

Archives for January 2012

Jerry's January 23 update
Well, looks like I "jumped the gun" on my surgery date. February 16th is a pre-op meeting with surgical team in Seattle, including a CT scan, and surgery is actually scheduled for March 2. My doctor is a busy, busy guy. So. That's THAT news. Finished the treatment course on the 17th, and now I'm just trying to eat and have…
Cannot comprehend what is happening to us.
My husband Alan has been ill since Christmas. For three weeks he was treated for a water infection, he saw three doctors, had water samples, one even being sent to the hospital which came back free of cancer cells and four lots of antibiotics. I just knew something was wrong as he was getting worse not better, so I phoned…
This is an uplifting segment about curing cancer from CBS Sunday Morning
You never know when the answer will be found. I'm sure there is a cure to be found. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57358994/calif-hs-student-devises-possible-cancer-cure/?tag=pop;stories
New profile pic!
I have decided to change my profile picture to one that was taken in happier times. This pic of Rickie and myself was taken on our 35 wedding anniversary, 2 months before we knew anything about our journey down the road to battle the Beast. I have decided I want to remember Rickie exactly as he looked in this picture, with…
Not what I wanted to hear today
Two week check up after stent placed. Still have a leak and now going back for a scope and possible replacement/repostions of the stent. Haven't been able to eat or drink since December 9, 2011. It's time to fix the leak and let me get on with my life.
Possible Tumor found in Liver
Today I received the results of my 4th cat scan since my surgery in December of 2010. All of my scans have been clear up to now, but this last scan showed a 1 inch circular shaded are in my liver and I am obviously flipping out. after going through radiation and chemo followed by surgery and a year of clean scans I was…
As if EC isn't enough--
Larry is having cardiac bypass surgery tomorrow am. He has no history of cardiac issues, has had no chest pain, and periodic treadmill stress tests have been fine. He started coughing and having trouble breathing Monday afternoon and was found to have fluid in his lungs. Nothing to do with EC. He's felt fine since the…
Surgery update on Bob
Surgery was yesterday for Bob's recurrence and the news was totally unexpected. The local tumor in the esophagus was removed but was found to had grown into the aorta and trachea. 95% , or more, of the tumor was removed, but our surgeon could not get clean margins. Bob is doing well, a think even faster than his first…
Radiation ?
Hi all As those of you that are aware, my husband is stg iv with mets to the lungs and bone, he recently had a rod inserted in his leg to strengthen it as the cancer had basically eaten a hole in his femur, this has been really hard on him and now he relies heavily on morphein (thats not spelt right), to help with the…
Stand Up To Cancer
I saw this on facebook today and just wanted to share this with all of you: “Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.” Saw this on Stand Up to Cancer on fb ... had to share it Judy & Don
Eating tips after completion of chemo and radiation
My father just completed post op chemo-radiation on Friday. Any tips for increasing calories and desire to eat. He did have mouth sores from the chemo which in all probability were also present in the esphogus. Currently he has no desire for food and everything either tastes like nothing or tastes terrible. He goes to the…
Dad's recovering
Hi everyone, I finally made it to the Mayo today. It was so good to see Dad. His surgery went well, they took his whole stomach. He is up walking and looks really good for what he has been through. I am glad to be here for my Mom as she is really stressed out still. I am sending her as much calming energy as I can,…
Update On John (Member Class of 2011)
I know that is has been a while since I posted, (I do try to read others post most days). John has bounced back from all the EC issues and then my Mom kind of fell apart (sound familiar Loretta/William) and I started a new position (promotion, thank you very much) at work. Life has not calmed down but enough about my crazy…
Radiation may stop early??
Hello everyone... We are 22 days into 26 day radiation cycle with chemo. Today was out last chemo for this 6 week round. The doctor said today that they may be concerned about the ammount of radiation that my fathers lungs are being exposed to. So we will know tomorrow of we are done with radiation.. What are your thoughts…
Roux-Y
Dad had a full day of appointments at the Mayo today. The good news - his tumor has strunk significantly, there is no cancer anywhere else. I feel a little overwhelmed because this whole time I thought he was going to have the IL, but come to find out, there's only 2cm of the tumor in the esophagus, so he is having the…
Chemo and cramps
Did anyone have problems with cramps during chemo? Bill has been doing remarkably well with the chemo as far as nausea etc, but has been suffering severe cramps in his legs and around his abdomen. He mentioned it in passing to the PA last week but I think he kind of understated it enough to where the PA did not think much…
Update on my Dad
Hi everyone, Just a quick update that Dad is at the Mayo today having a PET scan and CT scan. If all looks good, he will have the Ivor Lewis surgery tomorrow. Big day! He had no mets back in October and has since done chemo/radiation so I hope the tumor has shrunk and they can schedule surgery for tomorrow. He will find…
Update on Dad (Jerry)
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! My, what a year it's been, looking forward to a more positive one. My dad Jerry, who was diagnosed as T4N3 IIc May of 2011, had his latest results from PET/CT scan this past week. To the oncologists' surprise, the 9cm tumor at the base of the esophagus was almost gone, except for a little spot to…
Well - dad has passed away..
My brother and I went to the game, after speaking w/dad nurse who said go, he'll be fine for a cpl days at least, maybe cpl weeks. As soon as we got to our seats, got the phone call he was rushed to ICU, pressure bottomed and H&H too. They transfused 2 more units in ICU. My brother and I ran out down the stadium ramps,…
Friday the 13th brought good insurance news
Hi, Hope it is alright to post about good insurance news and also a warning about Cobra. My hubby and I found out we would be covered by Cobra when he retired 5/2010. We did not know that Cobra is not considered employment based insurance go figure, so we thought we could just apply for Medicare B as Cobra ended. Not true…
Thinking about everyone
I wanted to swing by and say Hi to everyone. This is my good week in my cycle so I feel great for the most part. I stay pretty tired, which is from the chemo I'm sure. My next (and hopefully final pre-op) round of chemo is this coming Friday. I never thought I would find myself wanting surgery as bad as I did for the MIE…
Anastamotic leak
On January 6, 2012 had a fully covered esophageal Wallflex stent placed due to a anastamotic leak. How long will it take before I can drink liquids? Please let me know your story as this is getting very difficult. When I first came home from the hospital I was able to eat ice chips and now for the last three weeks all I…
How long should one wait between last chemo/rad to surgery?
Does anyone know the standard or what there Doctor said? Thanks Lynn
Dad in hospital..
I deleted some posts I had made a cpl weeks ago from here because William something or other freaked me out big time. I didn't like the info he gave but more so the way it was delivered, nor did I appreciate the personal questions so I was leary and deleted the posts. That being said, I'd like some general feedback (w/out…
Update on Bob's recurrence
The PET scan is done and did not show anything other than the local recurrence in the esophagus. We were told this is a very rare occurence. Bob will have a very long and complicated surgery next Wednesday to remove the tumor at the anastomosis. There may be a series of surgeries as the reconnection may involve removing a…
Good News
Two weeks ago my oncologist for the Esphageal Cancer told me that my tumor markers dropped from 800 to 76. She wanted me to meet with my Eye Oncologist to see if the tumor in my left eye was still there. I told her my eyesight was fully restored and I thought it was gone. Dr. Sighn checked my eye with his magical eye peice…
Radiation Machine Down for Past 3 days
Don started his treatment of daily radiation and chemo (Taxol and Carboplatin) on Wednesdays. Our chemo doc told us that the workhorse of Don's treatment is the radiation which accounts for about 80% and then chemo is 20% and the chemo is kinda like a booster to the radiation. Well the radiation machine that Don uses…
Taxol advice?
Larry starts on Taxol (and possibly a Phase II Antibody) on Tuesday. I have 3 more weeks of Adriamycin and Cytoxan and then will have 12 weeks of Taxol. So, any tips, hints, etc would be greatly appreciated! Angie
Chemosmoker home with pain pump and GLAD TO BE WARM!
Hey all. Home from the Hospice center, with a pain pump, instead of having to take liquid or pills every 3 hours, and glad to be done. This should make sleep a little better!! Am shocked to see it is 28 degrees in Nashville with Snow and 70 here in Florida where we are. Wow!! Love to all. Hanging in there. -Eric
Treatment for my dad starting today.
My dad is having his first radiation and chemo treatments today and I am not sure what to expect when I go see him later. I almost didn't come back to this board. I appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness and good intentions behind some posts, but I think I will allow the doctors to fill me in with the facts for now.…

Esophageal Cancer

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