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Esophageal Cancer

Archives for March 2012

Posted by Michelle - LilChemoSmoker on Facebook this morning
Posted by LilChemoSmoker this morning We have entered the final stretch of our journey together in this life. Eric has become unaware of his surroundings and "why" he is here or "what" he is to do next. He does not want to sleep, but his body is tired and winning that argument. We have had nine months today since his…
pull-up stomach needing stretched?
So how often after surgery do other people need their new esophagus stretched? My husband was eating better and better and then it started going the other way. SInce he is currently getting chemotherapy, his surgeon said we had to wait, but for the last few days he can hardly eat at all. He's too skinny to miss meals,…
I have lost my forever love - Brian
My darling forever love quietly slipped away yesterday afternoon surrounded by his loving family. He made an enormous effort to say goodbye to all the significant people in his life. He left me the precious treasure of a most heartfelt, powerful and poignant video and for the last two or three months we have lain on our…
week one down - so far so good
Hello all, Just another update. Dad just finished week one of the rad/chemo combo. He is having radiation every day and chemo (Taxol/Carboplatin) infusion every wednesday. So far so good, except for being a little tired he hasn't had any symptoms. He did fast for 48 hours before the chemo and 6 hours afterwards, so maybe…
Mom got mad!
My daughter and the nurse were giving mom a bath and changing sheets. She was being jostled around and bothered. she opened her eyes and frowned! they called me and I could see mom looking at me so we talked! I told her the PICC line was gone and rubbed and rubbed her arm. I told her that her orchid bloomed. I told her who…
Mom update - Not good
Mom has slipped into a semi comatose state. We had a crisis around 2 a.m. but things have settled for now. She still has 24/7 nurses from Hospice. I want her to wake up if even for just 5 minutes. Her breathing is so raspy. Suctioning helps, but they need to know how to properly do it. Thankfully, the dreaded PICC line was…
Rick's post-radiation recove
Hi everyone from UWMC, That is the University of Washinfton Medical Center in Seattle. Rick, my husband, who is the IV 3.5year survivor I have written about before is not doing well following his second round of radiation which ended February 15th. He had twenty rounds of very targeted radiation aimed at the tumor at the…
Against the odds
Hello neighbor, I recently saw a post on here regarding hope and being realistic...especially when it comes to being stage 4. Personally, I think it's important to know what you're up against and then try and beat those odds. Of course quality of life is extremely important. And to choose to go through aggressive treatment…
Some happy news on our family's challenges
Some of you may remember that our family has had some challenges in the last 9 months. 1)Husband, Larry, was diagnosed with Stage IV EC (distant supraclavicular nodes involved) in late June, 2011. He had 9 rounds of Oxaliplatin and Xeloda which were effective and he tolerated well. These ended just before Christmas. PET/CT…
Nick has passed away
My dad Nick, passed away very early on March 13th after an 11 month battle with EC. My mom and myself were by his side. He was diagnosed last April as stage III with possible lymph involvement, but even after undergoing six weeks of chemo/radiation and then the invasive surgery, the cancer returned and he went downhill…
PET results
Jr. got his results of the PET scan. I do not know all the details but from the phone call from mom the small spots that were on his lungs are gone completely. No signs of cancer anywhere else in his body. The oncologist and nurses were actually elated themselves. So I'm not sure if they will continue with the treatment…
Not What I wanted To Hear
Went to have my CT scan and see the doc yesterday and did not get the message I wanted. I have been on a chemo holiday for six weeks and now it's over. The CT scan shows that the spot in my liver has doubled in size since last scan 8 weeks ago and the mass in the espohagus is thicker over the same time period. CEA is 7.5,…
results of tumor board
Dr Orringer gave me the go for it to get persurgery chemo and radiation started. Have an appt this thur, with chemo oncologist and next wed with radiation oncologist. I am soooo ready to start fighting this beast with-in!
Second round of chemo
Well, I started round #2 today. Leukovorin, oxaliplatin, and 5FU. So, we shall see what we shall see. I have the wonderful little pump for the next couple of days, Then two weeks of recovery, and then chemo and the pump again for 6 rounds of chemo every two weeks, and a CT scan again. So we shall see what we shall see. Did…
Surgery is the decision
Thank you so much for the advice and kind words. You are truly God sent. My father had 5 biopsies and 4 were cancer free, the 5th had Barrets cells.. No cancer but... Due to this the surgeon suggested surgery and my father agreed. I will keep you posted on date and progress... Once again thanks for being there... Lynn
It is with a broken heart
that I let you all know that Mark lost his battle with this horrible disease on friday, 9th March, he has left such a hole in mine and my children's heart, I cannot believe he is gone, I thank you all for your support over the last 18mnths I will be back but need time to be with my family they are so young, thank you all…
Forty three year old diagnosed in January 2012
I am a 43 year old woman diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Never smoked ,drank or did any hard drugs my entire life. Lymph nodes were found on my left neck and GE junction. My doctors still considers this localized disease. Any thoughts. Any survivors out there. Currently taking intense chemo/radiation treatments.
Esophageal Spasms
For anyone who has yet to experience these... Mom (in Hospice care since yesterday) started having severe pain in her chest area. I thought it was her heart. Morphine (liquid via g-tube) did nothing to control the pain. I sat with her as they hit - every few minutes - fleeting but intense. Finally, I asked my daughter to…
Decisions Decisions.... Surgery or No Surgery???
Update on Popi... Background: -T3N1 in Nov, 2011. -Chemo and Rads completed. Jan, 2011 -Endoscope and PET March, 2011.. -Results from PET, no spread or cancer detected. -Results from Endoscope-Surgeon said he could not find any evidence of cancer:) He took 5 biospys of the area where the cancer was. We will get results…
Long overdue update on my dad- Hospice called in
It's been a rocky year with many ups and downs. My dad was diagnosed in April 2011 with stage III EC. He received six weeks of chemo/radiation, and in August 2011, had a complete removal of his esophagus at Beth Israel in NYC (which is about an 8 hour trip from where he lives, by the way). Six or seven of the nodes removed…
facebook
So many of you here I feel I know, you have supported me and came though in prayer on my brother's behalf. Thank you all!! If you have facebook add me. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000338419302 I am under the name Judy Bailey I am very careful at who I accept so make sure you let me know you are from the EC…
MIE over Thanksgiving- Recurrance ALREADY??
Hi friends- I've been MIA from this board mostly because we've been focusing on my mom's recovering from MIE. They had clean margins and all 22 lymph nodes came back clean. MIE was performed over Thanksgiving. First post-op PET was 2/6/12, where the doctor noticed some "areas of concern" but thought it may be post-op…
Mourning Dawns
As much as I don't want to be in a position where I need to join this group, the reality is that I'm now a candidate for membership. I know a number of people here are members. Would you mind telling me how to join? Thanks, Mary, widow of Chad Diagnosed October 12, 2009 at 4a; left us behind 3/1/2012
Please pray
Please pray for my brother Jr. Those of you who know him, he is not doing well at all tonight. He took his last chemo treatment Wednesday and it always makes him terribly sick and weak but tonight he seems to be worse than the other times. Mom went into his room to pray for him and he can only lay there with his eyes shut…
chemo and rads
Now I need to decide where bto get my chemo. U of M is an hour away I live in jackson mi They have a new cancer center and it is only 10 min away.Can I trust a local hospital???
Fentanyl Patch -- Shivering???
Fentanyl Patch. Mom just started using this around 2 pm. Nurse was here when we applied the first one. She was pain free in under 20 minutes. About 1.5 hours after going to bed she called me - she was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm. I put another blanket over a doubled quilt. Still shook. Got a third blanket and…
Going good
Well next Wed will be treatment number 3 of taxotere, and so far the last one went a little better than the first. He still gets leg swelling, and pain, but not as bad as the first time. My husband was kinda proud of himself, cause he gained 15 lbs, this chemo doesn't make him sick. He asked me tonight what I would do with…
What to expect first day of chemo?
Hello all, Dad is scheduled for Chemo Wednesday morning. At this point I can't get off work until thursday, and I'm worried about him going through this first treatment alone. I have heard some people say that the first day isn't too bad, but it gets worse the 2nd-3rd day. I plan on driving to portland early thursday…
A matter of time?
My 71-year-old mother was diagnosed with EC due to Barret's Esophagus on 11/7/2011. On Nov 9th, we had our first oncologist appointment and were told we needed to undergo several tests to determine the stage of cancer and whether or not she was a candidate for surgery. Based on the endoscopy and the CT Scan, we were told…
mruble
so sorry to read of chad's passing. I pray for God's comfort during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugs, sandra

Esophageal Cancer

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