3 half yrs....clear

micksmy
micksmy Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
hi all, my name is mike, i had ec, 4yrs ago at age 45, it was detected by pure luck while checking out another matter, i was just on stage 2, so didnt really have many recognisable symptoms, i had lost weight but put it down to hard work, also i had always suffered from acid reflux, but who dosnt i though.i developed barratts esophagus, which in somecases then causes the cancer.
i was living in the uk at the time and had all my surgery there.i had no chemo as they said there wasnt time, so after various tests and scans i had the ivor lewis opp.
i lost 2 thirds of my stomache and some of my esophogus, i didnt loose any weight at frist, but after a yr i had lost 50 pound, i have since put about 10 back on and seem to have stabalised at this weight..175...
i still have numbness around the scars, but thats a small price to pay, i also cant eat as much, and have to chew everything almost to a pulp.lol.i take meds for acid reflux twice a day and believe me if i miss them i know about it,
i was a smoker and drinker and that probably paid a large part in the cause,
i do get a sore throat now and again but not sure if thats anything to do with it.
my doctors say they dont need to see me anymore unless i want them to.
i was in hospital for a total of 9 days, 9 mnths later i started back to my old job, a stone mason. i have lost some strengh but i get by,
i just wanted to write this post to let people know, that youll always know you had it, by the scrs alone.lol...i tell people i was bitten by a shark..lol..but recovery is possible and think positive,,,,my prayers go out to all who are going throught it as im sure people prayed for me.if i can help with any questions please ask......good luck

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  • micksmy
    micksmy Member Posts: 2
    unknown said:

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    3 half yrs clear,,,,,,,,william marshal
    thanx for your reply william, yes i live in usa now, and go back to uk for 2 months every winter. i had been for chks while i was there, but they say no need anymore unless i demand it. i had never heard of minimal invasive op untill you mentioned it, so uless they started it in the last 4 yrs, im not sure if they do it in uk,..
    i still take 2 lansoprazole tabs every day and still suffer acid reflux,, i also get hicupps now and again.
    i originnaly had a hiates hernia, and while checking that out they found my cancer, where the stomach and esophogus meet. it was on stage 2. i was very lucky not to have had to have chemo, just the ivor lewis opp. they took 40 or so lymph nodes also, i cant remember a lot of the terminology, or also all the details, i lived alone at the time so didnt really talk to anyone about it, so cant remember a lot of it,...i still go some days with out eating becuae i simply have no apetite at all, my weight is a steady 175 for the last 18 mnths now..was 215 at opp. sleeping with a wedge is not to much of a problem, but definitly need it.
    i still get sore throats and to be honest am a little worried. i think im going to take your advice and get a thorough chk,,,i was going to when last in uk but i was scared to,
    all in all i feel ok , just trouble swallowing now and again.the hospital i had my opp in is called papworth,,its in cambridgeshire in uk..they specialise in cancer opps, so i was very lucky to live near there. anyway thanks for you reply and keep up the good work, your a big help to many people......thank you
  • micksmy said:

    3 half yrs clear,,,,,,,,william marshal
    thanx for your reply william, yes i live in usa now, and go back to uk for 2 months every winter. i had been for chks while i was there, but they say no need anymore unless i demand it. i had never heard of minimal invasive op untill you mentioned it, so uless they started it in the last 4 yrs, im not sure if they do it in uk,..
    i still take 2 lansoprazole tabs every day and still suffer acid reflux,, i also get hicupps now and again.
    i originnaly had a hiates hernia, and while checking that out they found my cancer, where the stomach and esophogus meet. it was on stage 2. i was very lucky not to have had to have chemo, just the ivor lewis opp. they took 40 or so lymph nodes also, i cant remember a lot of the terminology, or also all the details, i lived alone at the time so didnt really talk to anyone about it, so cant remember a lot of it,...i still go some days with out eating becuae i simply have no apetite at all, my weight is a steady 175 for the last 18 mnths now..was 215 at opp. sleeping with a wedge is not to much of a problem, but definitly need it.
    i still get sore throats and to be honest am a little worried. i think im going to take your advice and get a thorough chk,,,i was going to when last in uk but i was scared to,
    all in all i feel ok , just trouble swallowing now and again.the hospital i had my opp in is called papworth,,its in cambridgeshire in uk..they specialise in cancer opps, so i was very lucky to live near there. anyway thanks for you reply and keep up the good work, your a big help to many people......thank you

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