Udate - it's been awhile

Hope_Faith

Hello everyone! I haven't posted in quite a long time. My hubby was diagnosed with T3N1M0, and had surgery back in Dec. 16, 2009. He's still recovering. He had some complications after surgery, but is getting stronger everyday. He only has one more chemo treatment left and (hoping and praying) it will be his last. He's lost 100 lbs. since last August. He lost the most after surgery- mainly due to having C-diff, an intestinal bug that he picked up at the hospital. It took a while for them to diagnose this and he lost a lot of weight then. He also had two infections right after surgery -- one of those was at the junction where the new stomach attached to his throat. So, he was basically swallowing and it was coming out of the neck incision from surgery. That took a long time to heal and I was taught how to pack his wounds. I'm glad that's over with. He also had a strange thing happen to his big toe on his left foot. It seems to have some sort of nerve damage or infection after surgery and the dr.'s didn't know what it was. It was swollen, red, and very tender to the touch -- it is finally getting better, but still has to take Oxycodone for the pain. He is so ready to be done with chemo and I don't blame him. It has been very hard on him. Reading about others that have died from liver failure due to the chemo or from met's does make me very concerned for my hubby. In fact, that is why I could not get on this web site for these many months -- heart break at the loss of all the loved ones on this site, and scared mine would be next.
I do have encouragement though because the surgeon who performed my hubby's surgery said she felt he was misdiagnosed -- she thinks he's an early stage 2 and there was no lymph node involvement. We're hoping she's correct, but only God knows the truth. Looking forward to when this can all be behind us - but I know that he'll have to have scans every now and then that will remind us and make us a little frightened of the results. We have two young daughters and I want him to be here to help me raise them in the Lord.

Praying for everyone on this site and for the cure of esophageal cancer - and all cancers.
God bless,
Shelly

Unknown

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Tina Blondek

unknown said:

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Congratulations
Hi Shelly
So nice to hear from you! And thank you for your husband's great news! Never be afraid to share and spread your good news. Please continue to keep in touch, and keep us updated on your and your husband's progress.
Tina

Hope_Faith

unknown said:

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Hi William
Thanks for your response. Sorry for the confusion. Here's the scoop:
My husband was staged a T3N1M0 prior to surgery in August 2009. The N1 because there was a swollen ("suspicious") lymph node next to the cancer part of his esophagus. He had chemo/radiation treatments before surgery which was last Dec. He had the MIE surgery. The surgeon thinks he's actually a T3N0M0 because they found no lymph node involvement and the cancer did not go as deep into the esophagus as originally thought. However, his oncologist still says my hubby is still a T3 -- the chemo/radiation effected the look of his esophagus for surgery. My thoughts are, the surgeon is considered an 'expert' on esophagectomy's and sees them all the time. She seems like she would know the difference between what a T2 and a T3 looks like. Well, no matter - God is the only one who knows for sure.

My hubby has had two round of chemo post surgery and one more to go. He's hating every minute of it. He's had two and wants to be done - no more chemo. He thinks he has had enough and the rest is up to God. He says it is his gut feeling. I fear either way, but I will just have to have faith that all will go well - even though he's going against the Dr.'s wishes. My husband says it is too much and wants to heal and get strong again. I have to support what he wants, but it is a little frightening because we have two small children (ages 8 and 4). He wants to work 11 more years - go give me retirement as I am a stay-at-home mom. I have had thoughts of needing to go for my BA degree online so that I can be prepared for the future job wise, if need be. My hubby doesn't want me to. He thinks it will take time away that we can be together. I see his point in this. He says to worry about it when the time comes. I guess that's easy for him to say, but it's not easy for me. I feel a big weight on my shoulders, but I know I need to give it over to God - that's the hard part sometimes.
Well, thanks for listening and I will try to stay around more
~Shelly

Hope_Faith

Tina Blondek said:

Congratulations
Hi Shelly
So nice to hear from you! And thank you for your husband's great news! Never be afraid to share and spread your good news. Please continue to keep in touch, and keep us updated on your and your husband's progress.
Tina

Hi Tina
Thanks for your response. It is hard for me sometimes to open up and let others know what I am feeling. I am a stay-at-home mom, and so the thought of my hubby not being around to support the family really frightens me because of how we have planned our life in raising our kiddos. I know I need to put more faith and trust in God instead of in myself to get through this journey.
Take care and many blessings to you and your family,
Shelly