New here....My mom was just diagnosed with esophageal cancer

JenK320

Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer and my mom, Nicky, was just diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It is a complete shock to everyone as she does not fit any of the risk factors and cancer does not run in our family. She is 57 years old and healthy otherwise. She wasn't feeling well since October of 2009 and had cold/sinus symptoms. Late November into December she did complain about minor difficulty in swallowing and did see a doctor before holiday time. The doctor thought it was a cold or bacterial thing, prescribed her antibiotics and she was on her way. She did not get any better and did wait a little after the antibiotics and then went back to the doctor. He ran bloodwork, all was normal and told her it should disappear on its own. Well, that did not happen and the swallowing did get more difficult. She did switch doctors and the new doctor prescribed her a steroid and nexium and told her to call if it was not better. She completed the dosage for a week, was not better and the doctor referred her to a gastro. Her first visit was on 2/22/10 and the gastro thought it was a reflux issue or sinus drip and scheduled her for an endoscopy to confirm. Her endoscopy was completed on 2/15/10 and that is when they found the tumor. The biopsy came back on 2/17/10 and confirmed adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The doctor did not waste any time on 2/15 and had scheduled her for the CT scan and upper GI series for 2/18 and 2/19. A bone scan was completed on 2/22 and she met with a thoracic surgeon and another gastro the same day. Good news from the tests is that it is only the 1 tumor in the esophagus and 2-3 nearby lymp nodes, but the second gastro thinks the tumor is failry large and that it has been there for awhile. Tomorrow and Friday she will undergo an EUS and then PET to properly stage it. She is on a liquid diet right now and is getting a mucus/foam discharge coming up at times. We are hoping for the best possible for her and I hope she remains strong. I am currently pregnant and due in June. She is worried she is not lgoing to make it to see the baby and I am trying to remain positive.

I am glad I found a place to give her story and hope the best for everyone that has goine through this or currently is. If there is any advice any of you have for now, please feel free and give it to me and I will keep you posted on her progress.

Thanks!

Unknown

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K_ann1015

just keep posting Jennifer!
Jennifer,
So glad you found us! When you have a concern---9 times out of 10---someone here has had it before---not that everyone is alike---but boy is it a comfort to know that you are not alone...


I am a daughter also--my dad had EC Diagnosed "officially" 8/4/09--stage 3 adeno-carcinoma-- he had radiation & chemo (clinical trial) at DUKE...Surgery 12/08/09---doing weill with minor bumps...I will share any --but all of the patients are different--but then SO much alike---esp emotionally... Hang in there--we can share here---cry--fear--but most of all H O P E !
Kim

JenK320

K_ann1015 said:

just keep posting Jennifer!
Jennifer,
So glad you found us! When you have a concern---9 times out of 10---someone here has had it before---not that everyone is alike---but boy is it a comfort to know that you are not alone...


I am a daughter also--my dad had EC Diagnosed "officially" 8/4/09--stage 3 adeno-carcinoma-- he had radiation & chemo (clinical trial) at DUKE...Surgery 12/08/09---doing weill with minor bumps...I will share any --but all of the patients are different--but then SO much alike---esp emotionally... Hang in there--we can share here---cry--fear--but most of all H O P E !
Kim

Thanks for the support
Kim,

Thanks for your support. I am glad to hear that things are looking better for you father and hope the same for my mother. She is in good spirits for now, but is a worry wart and is having problems with her liquid diet. Hopefully, there will be more informaiton by Monday. I will keep everyone posted and welcome any advice anyone has.

Jen

Tina Blondek

JenK320 said:

Thanks for the support
Kim,

Thanks for your support. I am glad to hear that things are looking better for you father and hope the same for my mother. She is in good spirits for now, but is a worry wart and is having problems with her liquid diet. Hopefully, there will be more informaiton by Monday. I will keep everyone posted and welcome any advice anyone has.

Jen

Welcome!
Hi Jen and Mom,
Welcome to our csn family! Thanks for a complete story on your mom. You have all the info, and the drs sound like they are right on top of things! That is great. This is a great place for you to come to to discuss, ask, complain, vent, rejoice, etc. For sure, one of us here has been there, or knows someone who has. Just keep asking all the questions, write all the answers down, have a good relationship with all of the drs and nurses.

I am a caregiver for my dad, Ray, dx in 11/08 with ec. Had 6 wks of radiation and chemo. He did very well and beat his ec. In december of 09 he complained of severe pain on his right side, also still had some trouble swallowing. Had this checked by ultra sound, they found he had a blocked bile duct in his liver, and lesions on his liver. Stayed in hospital for 8 days. Had surgery to put stent in his esophagus to open it up more, and a stent in the blocked bile duct. Recovered from that slowly but surely, now has to deal with the cancer in the liver. He is now taking oral chemo for his liver. He is having a very rough time. Lots of side effects. He is very tired and weak. Most days he wants to stop all of this and just give up. Some days he is willing to continue fighting. We have to respect his wishes. Of course I want him to keep taking the chemo, but I am not the one suffering so much. It is a very hard thing to go through.

Tell your mom to stay as positive as she can. Have a strong faith. She will have good days and bad days. She is doing all of the right things. This is a curable cancer if you catch it early and treat in right away. Sounds like you and your mom did that! Your mom will definitely be here to see her grandchild be born. She is not going anywhere just yet.

This is a long and bumpy road. Hang in there, and keep keeping on. Stay in touch.

Tina

Ellie_E

Welcome!
Hi Jen,
I'm so sorry your mom has EC, but I'm glad you found this site. Her drs. seem to be very proactive so that's great. My husband, Jim, was dx last September with stage IV and is only on chemo, but he is feeling well and so far has not had any adverse reactions to the chemo. At first, we were shell shocked, but then I found this site. It has given us so much hope and information. The people you will meet here are so caring and supportive. Your mom will be in all our prayers. Hang in there.
Ellie

dragonflymom

Hi JenK,
I could have
Hi JenK,

I could have written your exact post. Our moms seem to have very similar EC symptoms and staging. My mom's doctors also moved quickly and she too was on a liquid diet and complained of "foam" in her throat. She is 55. Unlike your family though, cancer is all too common in ours, so it's not something we are new to.

I pray that your mom's treatments go smoothly.

JenK320

My mom's Cancer is staged
My mom just found out that her esphageal cancer was staged at 2b. We are still waiting for her to complete her PET test and then they will decide on a course of action. I know many of you and others out there were staged with 3 or 4. The doctor did see positive when he told her, but I am still scared for her and know that there is a long road ahead.

mumphy

JenK320 said:

My mom's Cancer is staged
My mom just found out that her esphageal cancer was staged at 2b. We are still waiting for her to complete her PET test and then they will decide on a course of action. I know many of you and others out there were staged with 3 or 4. The doctor did see positive when he told her, but I am still scared for her and know that there is a long road ahead.

JenK
Hi I'm Kath aka mumphy,

I have been reading the posts daily and not posting that much. Sounds as if the DR.s are right on it. I pray for you that the stage will continue to be 2b.

If they still want to do some mild chemo prior to surgery for the lymphnodes let them.

I unfortunately like many others on this site have come across just about anything. So if you need help or have questions just ask. This place is also great just to vent if you need to get anything out.

God Bless you and your family.
Kath
P.S Now you also have to keep us posted on the baby on the way!!!