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Anxiety-8 weeks post chemo-STILL NO SURGERY DATE
I swear, I have to keep reminding myself to " just breath". My stress level is through the roof! I can only guess what my hubby is feeling/thinking right now, all I know is he is so scared and has a short fuse. We met with the surgeon yesterday and got all the nitty gritty details of the laproscopic esophagectomy (THE but…
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Jerry's Update for Jan 11
So... Where am I? As you know, I was diagnosed originally Stage IV (Terminal) , but I screamed, hollered, and got a 2nd opinion from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and the University of Washington (who all work together) and got a REAL staging to T4N1M0. Not good, but a revert to Stage III and…
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Dad met with Oncologist today. Not the greatest news. When is it time to recognize that sometimes ho
Hi EC forum friends, I'm having a sad day. My dad just phoned me and updated me on his first appointment today with Dr. Noble (an Oncologist) here at Sudbury's Northern Cancer Centre. Back in early December my dad went for his PET Scan in Toronto, ON. The PET scan showed that there was cancer in the Esophegus (which we…
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TNM system for staging
TNM is an abbreviation for tumor (T), node (N), and metastasis (M). Doctors look at these three factors to determine the stage of cancer: How large is the primary tumor and where is it located? (Tumor, T) Has the tumor spread to the lymph nodes? (Node, N) Has the cancer metastasized to other parts of the body? (Metastasis,…
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feeding tube
hi again everyone. Today Jarrell is in being hydrated. He weighed in at 118 pounds and we were told if he isnt eating by thursday they will admit him and place a feeding tube in. He hates this idea was just wondering about the procedure and the complications. they are not sure yet what type they would have to give him.…
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Five Years Cancer Free and doing much better
I haven't posted in awhile. I am now 37 years old. I wanted to let you all know that it has been 5 years since my seophageal cancer. Many of you know that I have gone through many, many dilations. I have FINALLY gone for about 9 months without a dilitation!!!! I have kept my g-tube and have gained 40 lbs. since a year ago.…
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Please, Please take note
I have a concern about this site and the safety of its users. We had a women in our state recently shot an intruder one week after she lost her husband to cancer. It made national news. On the news tonight they stated the motive of the intruder was pain medication. I had brought this topic up several months ago with…
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First follow up PET
Wow, talk about anxiety. Dad's clinical signs (dysphagia) have gotten much better in this first six weeks of cisplatin, taxotere, and 5 FU. Medical Onco says he is thinking 4 months of that cocktail before we think about adding rads in so still a rough road ahead. But man I wish I could log on to the imaging site and pull…
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Post surgery sleeping...
I don't think I've posted here though I have read many of your posts. All have been helpful. I was diagnosed with Stage III EC (can't remember the nomenclature), have done chemo, including an infusion pump, and 28 sessions of radiation. Things look good so far and I am scheduled for resection of the esophagus in two days.…
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Question
Hello Everyone I am not sure if anyone can use this or not or if this even the correct way to go about it but I have some formula for J tube feedings that I did not use. My wife (Susan) has tried to get the insurance company to take it back with no luck. We tried the health care supplier we got it from and they don’t want…
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In need of a friend
hi My name is Ida. and my husband was diagnosed with esophageal cnacer in July. It has been a roller coaster ride every since with many ups and downs. He was misdiagnosed in Jan 2011, so the cancer is in the late stages. he has gone thru chemo and completed 28 radiation. The radiation really done him in. He isnt eating a…
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Prayers for strength
Thank you everyone for your kind words and condolences. This is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to face. At least when we were fighting this terrible disease we were together, but now he is gone and my heart aches for him. I pray for strength to face the days ahead. I have posted a link to Rickie's obituary.…
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New dealing with mom's struggle
Hi, My 55 year old mom is battling esophageal cancer. On Easter day of this year, she was working (at a hospital luckily) and started to feel faint, several of her nursing co-workers forced her to go to the ER. She was treated by a wonderful doctor that admitted her with the suspicion of a bleeding ulcer due to the stress…
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Adriamycin(Doxorubicin), Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), Taxol (Paclitaxel)---Any experience with any of
The past week has been a flurry of phone calls, tests, appointments, etc. for us. Barring any compelling reasons otherwise from an onco surgeon that I have a second opinion appointment with tomorrow, we have a plan. Are there any sayings about "The couple that chemo's together ---?" Starting Tuesday, for my triple negative…
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Advice needed / family dynamics
Hi everyone, I am seeking advice from you guys that have "been there". My dad is having surgery at the Mayo in a couple of weeks. The problem is with my Mom... she refuses to talk about anything or engage in a conversation about the schedule with Dad's appointments, etc. If I do bring it up, the next few times I call my…
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Checking In & Jim's latest C-Scan
Hi Dear EC Friends, I needed to take a break from the list, but have checked in occasionally. I am saddened by the loss of so many brave friends, and so many newly diagnosed. It is unfortunately the way of this beast called esophageal cancer. Jim had his most recent catscan at 16 weeks, one year from his surgery, and it is…
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Recurrence confirmed. It's a scary time.
Well, the pathology 2nd opinion has confirmed a recurrence at the anastomosis. Bob is scheduled for a PET scan on Wednesday. We are praying that it is only a local recurrence and then get a treatment plan set up. This is scary stuff. Bob had been having trouble swallowing so had an endoscopy and stretch where everything…
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Caregiver working while EC spouse is at home
I know there are a couple of people who post on this site that had/have continued to work while remaining in treatment and I find that absolutely amazing. The insurance we have is through my employer so working as much as possible is a must in order to maintain that benefit. I have completed the FMLA paperwork and will…
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Terry V ?
Terry, how are you guys doing???… You are always so responsive and supportive to all on the board. But how are you? I hope all is well. How is Nick getting along? ... Just wanted to check in with my favorite caregiver! Sal
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Coffee and Cheese
Has anyone else lost their taste for coffee. Before I started chemo I drank coffee all day and loved it ever since i was first in the service. I cannot stand the taste of coffee now. I keep trying it from time to time but still dont like it. I am also having some trouble with cheese and dairy products. Has anyone else…
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severe pain in abdomen
Hi guys Dad is having severe pain in abdomen right of umblicus since past 3 days after ivor lewis surgery on 28 th december cat scan and x ray are normal no cause could be known. Gastrographic test was also performed 3 days back it showed no leakages. Stools and toilet are normal. Doctors have not been able to idetenify…
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What to Expect.....Endoscopy Squamous Cell
Dan fininshed Chemo/Radiation. Side effects were minimal during treatment, afterward some hair loss and undescribable pains here and there. His Esophagus is still very sore from the Radiation, his stricture opened up for awhile and was able to eat(somewhat) instead of drink his meal. Now 7 week after treatment, his…
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Hi Everyone-New Here
Hello, My dad has esophageal cancer. He has gone through his chemo/radiation and is preparing for surgery, which will occur in a couple weeks. He is doctoring at the Mayo in Rochester, MN. I am looking for support and education. Our family consists of my parents and I also have a sister. We are both married. My Mom is…
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Scared and sad...
I just found this site today and I wanted to post on here just to find others who may be going through what I am. The week before Christmas, my dad was diagnosed with esophogial cancer. You have to forgive me because I am not quite practiced on the lingo and abbreviations and medical speak yet. What I know is that he had…
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Sad, strange story...
Hi y'all, I hope all readers are feeling some peace and calmness today.. I'm having a bad one myself and it brought me here. Here's my story.. I met a man, Mick, 7 years ago, on the internet. I designed his business logo and aside from the occasional 'hey how ya doin' message we did not become friends or date. At the time…
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Our journey has ended
Wednesday morning around 5:30am, my best friend, husband, father of my children, and life long love lost his courageous battle with the beast. It was 15 months to the day from his initial diagnosis. He died peacefully at home with his family around him, and is now free from all the pain he had been suffering. He reached…
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Eric AKA Chemosmoker update from Facebook
SURPRISE!! IT'S ERIC!! I am HERE! HOME! THANK God-literally! I am feeling 10,000% better! They gave me three units of highly-compacted red-blood cells and I woke up feeling like a NEW NEW NEW person. AS long as my body doesn't leak the blood too fast, we should be able to keep this up for WEEKS God-willing, and I can…
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Symptoms for over a year and still no answers
I am a 39 year old woman who has been having symptoms for more than 1 and 1/2 years that no one can figure out and I'm very worried. It started with a mild sensation of something in the throat that I would feel once in a while as well as fairly regular nausea and feeling of bloating/fullness. I never thought the 2 were…
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updated again
Pray for ray, he had his new chemo today and so far so good. He lost 4 pounds since last week. His blood counts were really good. He feels good right now, keep praying (Kathy) UPDATE:1-7-12 The chemo he is now on is F5u and Oxaliplatin Today Jr. is so very sick, threw up what little he has in him and his pain has…
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Sometime's you just have to roll with the punches
Hi All As those of you who have followed us, Mark is stg iv with mets to the lungs and now mets to the bones, they were suspected but now confirmed. After a couple of months of telling our Onc of pains to the hips and knees, we finally had an X-Ray done to those areas and have found that the Cancer has actually eaten into…