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Esophageal Cancer

Archives for August 2012

Praise and Thanksgiving form The Midwest
It has been 6 months since my husband Tim had esophagectomy at the IU hospital. On his 3rd month, adjuvant chemo was not an option as he was still weak from the surgery. Chest X-rays always come back clear. Yesterday, he has hist chest and abdominal C T scan and it all came back CLEAR. All organs are clean. Praise God for…
upcoming surgery
My husband is having an esophagectomy done by Dr. Luketich at UPMC a week from today. I am also a member of CancerCompass which has also been helpful and informative. I read many of your posts today and found very helpful information. My husband has stage 3 adenocarcinoma and is her2 positive. He has had radiation, chemo…
upcoming surgery
My husband is having an esophagectomy done by Dr. Luketich at UPMC a week from today. I am also a member of CancerCompass which has also been helpful and informative. I read many of your posts today and found very helpful information. My husband has stage 3 adenocarcinoma and is her2 positive. He has had radiation, chemo…
New to CSN - Had chemo and surgery - a couple of questions for the group.
My husband Richard, was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in February. We started our first round of Chemo in March. Had our break in June and then had surgery at the end of June. It has been a long and lonely road as there isn't any support group at the VA where he is being treated. Richard spent 2 weeks in ICU after…
Urgent: EC IV M1b: anything we can do besides Chemo?
Hello everyone, My name is Lilly Xu and my father in China was recently dignosed EC IV M1b. He had a successful surgery 4 years ago because of EC.In the past few monthes, he complained about the belly ache and doctor gave him some medicine ( they thought it was just some minor digestive problem), but recent CT showes…
Regurgitation
Hi I had the FULL surgery four months ago does anyone suffer Regurgitation ?
Happy Update from Judy Reed about Don
Judy posted this on facebook and asked that it be reposted here. " I am hesitant to post this but I think we have been given about as close to a miracle as you could ask for. Today brought on a miraculous change in Don. This morning the docs were talking about sending him to Ann Arbor to see if their specialists could…
Pretty serious mouth sores
Hi everyone, I spoke to Dave this afternoon and he said that his mouth sores have "taken a turn for the worse" (his words) and that radiation thinks that chemo is causing them and he needs to stop chemo for a bit. They prescribed a pretty heavy duty pain med for him, and emailed Dr. Kelly his medical oncologist. His…
Pain Management
It has been two weeks since my son passed away at the VA hospice in Palo Alto, California. Approaching the end, when he was still able to talk, he said his pain level was "0" when asked by staff. I am so grateful that medications were able to relieve his pain. Thought I would pass this on since it has been asked on several…
The beginning
I could really use any advice from anyone about how to find the best cancer doctor in Northern California/Bay area for my brother to treat his esophageal cancer. I know this will be a difficult road and I could sure use some guidance and support. I feel lost and am very scared for him. I am not ready to loose my big…
Week 1 of Combined Chemo / Proton Radiation Complete
I've completed week 1 of planned 5 1/2 weeks of combined Chemo / Proton Radiation Treatment. Treatment plan is 1000 mg Xeloda Morning and Evening Monday thru Friday with Proton Radiation Each day. I also have an IV Drip of Benadryl / Steroid and Docetaxol each Monday. No noticeable effects yet and I wonder if this is just…
Just got my surgery date
I'm scheduled for esophagetomy on 8/23/12 for cancer at the ge junction. I'm stage 1B. Can anyone tell me what to expect about the surgery? My doctor has given me his talk but I'd like to hear what someone who has been through it to let me know what it was like for them. Thanks John
Ray Jr.
As of today my brother seems to be feeling better. He had the stitches removed at the site where they put in the feeding tube, he said it was not a pleasant experience. He feels so much better and he believes it is from that Essiac Tea he is taking and of course the nutrients he is probably now getting through the feeding…
Bill 3 month check up
I almost hesitate to post this with so much sad news here right now, but I know I have always appreciated reading the happy news so hope this will bring a little brightness to someone's day. Bill had his 3 month check ups this week at M D Anderson - PET scan, CT scan, endoscopy, and meetings with main oncologist and…
Don and Judy this is all of our biggest fears
We are so -so sorry to hear this news. We pray this is resoved with a simple and beign result. FEC Phil & Dianne
Coming to terms
Before my diagnosis of stage 4 inoperable EC that's spread too far for radiotherapy, I found it hard to believe others in similar positions seeming to be facing up so bravely to what the docs were predicting for them. And then I joined the gang. After maybe 2 days of shock or something (can't remember now) I entered a…
Tumor Board
Said November 12th, your Dad is Stage IV. They said, your Dad has the largest mass we've ever seen. They said, he can't have surgery. They said we can try chemo/rads but we're not confident for remission. They said 6-12 months. We said, holy ****!!! Sunday marks 9 months. My Dad now says, PET shows no cancer activity, two…
from JREED in txt - UPDATED 08/11
I received this from Judy via phone text this AM.... Just wanted to let you know that our nightmare has started. They are 99% sure this is a recurrence and Don is going downhill very quickly. PET scan will tell the story. His left arm is very swollen this morning. He has not eaten in 4 days. They are going to put in…
Jazzman back
Here is results from PET scan. There is no evidence of abnormal activity within the esophagus and there is no evidence of metabolically active adenopathy or distant metastatic disease.
Need input...16 days post Ivor-Lewis surgery
I handled everything really well, but this pain seems to be hanging on longer than I want it to. I've weaned myself down on Percocet now it's one tablet every six hours or so. It hurts like heck to do almost anything. I'm wondering if it's the ribs broke that's causing this pain. I'm trying to regain my strength but it's…
Muscle Wasting
My Dad is Stage IV. Overall, he has been doing quite well. In 2010, he weighed about 190 lbs. @ dx. He has been through a lot the past couple of years, but has managed to keep his weight between 180 - 190lbs. Recently, I would say within the last 30 days or so, he has looked a little thinner... like NOTICEABLY thinner. His…
Stage IV in MO, what are others doing
This is an opening post for "rettaschu". She is coming over from another website. Boyfriend of 10 years was dx'd with Metastatic Esophageal cancer in January of 2012. The cancer had spread to his liver (several spots). He has been getting chemo every 3 weeks and is still doing wonderful with it. Spots on liver had shrunk…
Help needed asap for one of the young ones on CC website , need a survivor
Hi Survivors, It is wonderful all the work you do on this discussion board. I shouldn't even ask but could one of the veteran survivors jump over the cancer compass.com on the discussion topic "Just need to chat" There are 2 EC patients, 1 stage IV being told Chemo only. I can only tell about the flip side of what did not…
Trying not to panic
Rocky was DX 10 months ago stage IV. Everything to date has been going pretty well considering. The PET scan three weeks ago was NED! Rocky NEVER had a swallowing problem, even in the begining. From the start he had no issues with food, ate what he wanted, spicy food, whatever, and did not lose much weight throughout…
Is esophageal cancer genetic?
My mother's mom died of esophageal cancer, and now my mother also has esophageal cancer. Is esophageal cancer genetic? What do you think? Do you have relative also has EC?
Another update on Dave
Hello everyone, Well tomorrow Dave will be finished his 3rd week of radiation. Two more to go! And now we are separating the men from the boys, so to speak. He has been doing well, is on a continuous 5FU drip, oxaliplatin every other Thursday, and of course daily radiation. I continue to be amazed at his spirit and…
Recovery milestone
I want to preface my post by saying, as I have before, that I’m sensitive to the pain and anguish so many on this board are going through, and I’m fully aware of how incredibly lucky I am to have been diagnosed early and treated successfully…so far, at least. But I wanted today to share a very positive experience I had…
Jenny32's last post??
Hi all, Strangely, I found much comfort in Jenny32's last post about her dad's final days. I want to refer to it now because my Mom is just about there....hospice called and they will be there tomorrow or weds at the latest. As sad as I am, it's nice to read others words and experiences. I can't seem to find it.
For Caregivers that have faced loss....
I found a most amazing letter online tonight while searching for something to heal my heart. Perhaps you will also find some comfort in this physician's words to the wife of a patient that lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/02/15/letter-to-a-widow/ Letter To A Widow Posted by…
Spreading the word about esophageal cancer
This is just kind of a fun post, but thought I'd share. I was sent some tee shirts and other "swag" from the Esophageal cancer network. The t-shirts are really nice, a pretty lime green color with periwinkle blue (EC color like pink for breast cancer)as the logo color. Now I'm not a t-shirt kind of girl, I'll wear them to…

Esophageal Cancer

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