Hi, I'm new!

lightning 777

My name is Bruce, I hope I'm posting in the right place.Since I was diagnosed with stage 4 Esophageal Cancer, which had metastasized to my liver and lymph glands.

I'm 65 years old, my wife and I have two adult sons. Both are married and have children of their own. Both our sons live in Colorado, my wife and I live in the state of Washington.

I was given Chemo and Radiation, the chemo was a little rough, the radiation went well. I've had a second round of radiation, I told the Chemo. Dr., No More chemo!

I'm doing ok, I'm taking Oxycodone and Hydrocodone for pain! I've lost about 14 pounds.

I've asked the Drs. how much time I have left, all I get are vague answers. I have my personal Dr., he's an Internist, I have my Chemo Dr. and I have two Radiation Drs.

The first time I saw the Chemo. Dr., he said that I have up to 6 years to live! The last time I saw him, he said I have months to live!

I don't understand why the Drs. can't seem to get on the same page!

BMGky

Welcome to this site. Sorry
Welcome to this site. Sorry you have had to find us. Hopefully, others with greater knowledge will be letting you know what they think. I just wanted to respond and let you know your post is being seen. Best of luck to you. BMG

ritawaite13

Hi Bruce
Welcome to this site, although myself and others are always saddened to see new people with this awful disease. My husband was diagnosed Stage IV this past July. Others will be weighing in with much advice for you. I am not as eloquent as many of them but did want to welcome you. You've definately come to the right place! The people here are amazing! So knowledgeable and supportive. You will make friends with people all over the place that you may never meet. My only advice is to live each day to the fullest! Love your family and friends deep and hard. No doctor can tell you how long you will live, only God is in charge of that. Everyone on this site is different. Some are taking everything that's offered in the way of traditional and non-traditional medicine and some are refusing any treatment and opting for quality vs quanity of life. I'm sure Eric, Sherri, William, Cher, Michelle and others will be on here shortly welcoming you with open arms. Ask any question and vent if you need to. You've found the right place for all of it. I encourage your wife to also become acquainted with this board. This journey is one you have both been forced to take so you should both avail yourselves of everything this site has to offer.
Take Care,
Rita

chemosmoker

Welcome Bruce!! Hope we see you a lot more!
Bruce,
Hello and welcome to our little hell and heaven here on the internet. Of all the MANY sites and boards for cancer, there is NONE like this one. We are a family and we welcome you with open arms and tons of support. I hope you will post often and become a part of our world!

My name is Eric. I am stage IV right along with you. My cancer has spread to my stomach, to distant nodes, and is on its way to wherever it wants as we speak. What fun.

I have a feeling your FIRST talk with our chemo doctor (I assume that's an oncologist) was based on pre-testing and pre-lots of information as mine was, too. My first visit with my oncologist (the 2nd one we went to) told me I would do 9 rounds of chemo, have surgery to remove the tumors, 9 more rounds of clean-up chemo, and I would be CURED (her word) and go on to live the rest of my life. After a few PET and CT and LNA tests, she was telling me what the others told us, that I have 6 months to live.

I do believe they mean well and want to give us hope, have us at least TRY.
I opted to do NO chemotherapy or radiation (which they didn't offer in the end anyway for treatment) and went with quality of life over quantity of time. It was the best decision I could have ever made. It is a very personal decision and was ONLY right for me.

I lost over 64 pounds that I didn't have to lose. I have gained back to a normal weight almost and I am eating like a horse. I take it a day at a time and I am grateful for every minute of every day of every week and so on.

I have a WONDERFUL caretaker named Michelle, my wife of 16 years. If it weren't for her, I would't have ever made it THIS far.

I take Oxycodone for breakthrough pain, and Oxycontin for pain management, and Xanax for nerve pain and muscle pain. I m doing alright. I am glad to be able to do this well. I am looking forward to the Spring. That's a HUGE goal for me for right now. That, and putting my toes in the sand of the beach. That's next!

I was diagnosed in June of this year at 43, and had NO idea anything was wrong when I went in. Had a little trouble swallowing, but they thought it was a skin tag. They are always so optimistic in the beginning, all of them.

As for doctors being on the same page, let me know if you figure that one out, ever! My doctors couldn't even decide if I had stomach or esophageal cancer for the first few weeks of testing! Then they all have different opinions on how to treat it, what chemo regimen, what radiation, or none, and so forth. What a bunch. We have learned we have to educate ourselves and be VERY proactive and fight for our own care and advocate for ourselves. Doctors are VERY human and they make mistakes.

Again, welcome to our board. Hate to welcome anyone to EC, but glad to have your input and I hope you will stick around! I hope TO stick around.
God bless,
Eric

AngieD

chemosmoker said:

Welcome Bruce!! Hope we see you a lot more!
Bruce,
Hello and welcome to our little hell and heaven here on the internet. Of all the MANY sites and boards for cancer, there is NONE like this one. We are a family and we welcome you with open arms and tons of support. I hope you will post often and become a part of our world!

My name is Eric. I am stage IV right along with you. My cancer has spread to my stomach, to distant nodes, and is on its way to wherever it wants as we speak. What fun.

I have a feeling your FIRST talk with our chemo doctor (I assume that's an oncologist) was based on pre-testing and pre-lots of information as mine was, too. My first visit with my oncologist (the 2nd one we went to) told me I would do 9 rounds of chemo, have surgery to remove the tumors, 9 more rounds of clean-up chemo, and I would be CURED (her word) and go on to live the rest of my life. After a few PET and CT and LNA tests, she was telling me what the others told us, that I have 6 months to live.

I do believe they mean well and want to give us hope, have us at least TRY.
I opted to do NO chemotherapy or radiation (which they didn't offer in the end anyway for treatment) and went with quality of life over quantity of time. It was the best decision I could have ever made. It is a very personal decision and was ONLY right for me.

I lost over 64 pounds that I didn't have to lose. I have gained back to a normal weight almost and I am eating like a horse. I take it a day at a time and I am grateful for every minute of every day of every week and so on.

I have a WONDERFUL caretaker named Michelle, my wife of 16 years. If it weren't for her, I would't have ever made it THIS far.

I take Oxycodone for breakthrough pain, and Oxycontin for pain management, and Xanax for nerve pain and muscle pain. I m doing alright. I am glad to be able to do this well. I am looking forward to the Spring. That's a HUGE goal for me for right now. That, and putting my toes in the sand of the beach. That's next!

I was diagnosed in June of this year at 43, and had NO idea anything was wrong when I went in. Had a little trouble swallowing, but they thought it was a skin tag. They are always so optimistic in the beginning, all of them.

As for doctors being on the same page, let me know if you figure that one out, ever! My doctors couldn't even decide if I had stomach or esophageal cancer for the first few weeks of testing! Then they all have different opinions on how to treat it, what chemo regimen, what radiation, or none, and so forth. What a bunch. We have learned we have to educate ourselves and be VERY proactive and fight for our own care and advocate for ourselves. Doctors are VERY human and they make mistakes.

Again, welcome to our board. Hate to welcome anyone to EC, but glad to have your input and I hope you will stick around! I hope TO stick around.
God bless,
Eric

No one knows
Hi, Bruce,

I'm sorry we're both here, but, if we have to deal with EC, this is a great place to be.

My husband was diagnosed in late June with stage IV EC. Like you and your wife, we have two adult children with children of their own (so far 6 between them and twins coming in March!) The twins are coming to our son and his wife who live in WA like you. Our daughter's family is in KS where we are.

As for your question about doctors, my father-in-law always said, "They don't call it PRACTICING medicine for nothing." In any case, NO doctor can know how long you have to live. Please, believe that. Research thoroughly all your options, make your choices, and just LIVE each day.

You and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers.

Angie

LilChemoSmoker

Hi Bruce!
Welcome to the board and I am glad you posted! We are a great group of people who are all learning to live or cope with EC.

My name is Michelle and I am wife/caregiver to Eric (chemosmoker) and we have been married for 16 years. My husband was diagnosed in June of this year with Stage IV and is in palliative only care. As we learn to navigate through this horrible cancer, we have learned from many here and through our own experience that we are ALL terminal in life. Some of us know what will end our journeys here and some of us will never know. But the when, none of us know and the doctors are all too often wrong.

I encourage and welcome your wife to the board as well, should she decide to join us. There are a lot of us caregivers on this thread as well as the caregivers thread on CSN.
Keep posting as we all have something to contribute that someone else will be able to take with them. I pray that you may find peace and love in each day moving forward.

Hugs,
Michelle

wagnhc

Hi Bruce!
Welcome to this site. I just found it about a month ago and these guys and gals are a wealth of knowledge. I don't usually post much but your story caught my attention because it was my dad, age 65, who was diagnosed with EC. I know there are mixed opinions about having chemo or not but I am glad to see that you have chose not to continue. My dad had chemo and it was terrible to watch it make him so sick. I just wanted to say Hi. Good luck to you!

*Heather

sandy1943

Hi Bruce, Welcome to our
Hi Bruce, Welcome to our family. You have come to the right place and will meet a lot of knowledgeble, caring people. I encourage your wife to post also. We have so many caregivers with a lot of questions and answers, always willing to help.
I am cancer free after going through treatment for stage 111. My treatment was different from what yours will be, but I am always available to give hugs and prayers, Sandra

kateel

Wecome to this great site!
Welcome, Bruce. You will find that these folks will always be there for you with advice and prayers. My Bill had EC, got through the surgery in April, was cancer-free, and was doing well, but then had a massive stroke (not related to the EC) and passed away last Saturday. So, as you can see, no one can predict the future. Only God knows that. You just keep on trying and take one day at a time. You are in my prayers.

God bless,

Kateel

Unknown

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

megmacmd

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Great Post
As usual you always manage to put things so eloquently they dont sound as bad as they are. I am restudying the bible with a group of great women who are such a comfort to me. Time wil tel when the end comes and it will be when it is to be.Have decided to stop chemo as a stage 4 and basically my own caretaker I have chosen to live life on lifes terms without a lot of fuss just want to enjoy the last time I have to work and enjoy my children without all the chemoside effects hopefuly hospice will handle the end pain for me I do trustin the Lord to guide me in my final journey whatever that may be Hope it will be a relatively peaceful one without too much sorrow for those left behind. But I have had agreat 56 years on the earth great famiy and friends fabulous career as a Pediatrician couldnt ask for more Just hope the end will be good for all. You always have something inspirational to add thanks being at peace with what has been is the best feeling anyone can leave this realm with thanks for your continued input Meg McIntyre

lightning 777

OFF LINE !
I almost forgot, we are going to Colorado, I'll be offline, Sat.11/19/11 through Wed. 11/30/11. We will be with our sons and their families during that time period.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!

lightning 777

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Thank you!
Sorry, it took me a while to respond. I forget to check my e-mail and/or, forget to respond.

Yes, the number 7 is significant in the Lords vocabulary. The number 7 can be found throughout the Bible, it means complete, Blessed, there's
more. The number can be found in Genesis through Revelation.

Our Grandson was born July 7, 2001. He weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces. That was not a coincidence! God has plans for our Grandson, his name is Levi Thomas, first and middle names!

I will probably post some more today!

Before I forget!

From: Bruce and Lora, HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

ritawaite13

lightning 777 said:

OFF LINE !
I almost forgot, we are going to Colorado, I'll be offline, Sat.11/19/11 through Wed. 11/30/11. We will be with our sons and their families during that time period.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!

Safe travels
Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
Rita