Just got my treatment plan

JimboC
JimboC Member Posts: 264
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Last week everything came together. I am diagnosed as stage III T3N1 and so far M0. This will be confirmed by a PET CT this week. Dr is recommending 3 rounds of chemotherapy (ECF) followed by surgery then another 3 rounds of chemotherapy. I get my port installed tomorrow and start the chemotherapy a week later. The surgeon had some concerns with mie due to my size. I'm a good bit overweight so I've started working on that understanding that chemotherapy will take care of a good bit of that as well. I'm worried but hopeful.

My alter ego is Spooktalk Frank from the podcast Spooktalkular which I do with my wife Laura. Tonight we will announce an indefinite hiatus while we battle the beast.

So many thanks to everyone on here. You all are a huge source of hope for me. When I first found this site, I read a story about a firefighter with a similar diagnosis and his success made me start crying with happiness finding that it was survivable.

Comments

  • cjmac49
    cjmac49 Member Posts: 100
    #2
    Good Luck Jimbo. Take it
    Good Luck Jimbo. Take it day to day.

    Jim
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #3
    Hi jimbo, My diagnoses was
    Hi jimbo, My diagnoses was similar to yours. I had the chemo, and then the ivor lewis surgery. I didn't have radiation.My surgery was in May '08. Because of a bloodclot, Chemo was stopped two weeks into post op chemo. My scans show I am cancer free and I'm feeling great! Good Luck on the weight loss. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
    Sandra
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    #4
    cjmac49 said:

    Good Luck Jimbo. Take it
    Good Luck Jimbo. Take it day to day.

    Jim

    Thanks, I'm learning that
    Thanks, I'm learning that there are good days and bad. I've never been a moody person but lately.... ;)
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    #5
    sandy1943 said:

    Hi jimbo, My diagnoses was
    Hi jimbo, My diagnoses was similar to yours. I had the chemo, and then the ivor lewis surgery. I didn't have radiation.My surgery was in May '08. Because of a bloodclot, Chemo was stopped two weeks into post op chemo. My scans show I am cancer free and I'm feeling great! Good Luck on the weight loss. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
    Sandra

    I just read your profile and
    I just read your profile and it is amazing. It really gives me hope. Looks like you had the same chemo as I. How bad was it?
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    #6
    Well, we announced the
    Well, we announced the indefinite hiatus of our show tonight to our listeners. It was probably one of the toughest things that I've ever done but we felt we owed it to our listeners. It actually felt like therapy to sit and talk about it. One of our listeners sent me some cancer bands yesterday. He lost his sister to cancer. I was so touched that I broke out into tears. I am finding that my world is filled with amazing people.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    JimboC said:

    Well, we announced the
    Well, we announced the indefinite hiatus of our show tonight to our listeners. It was probably one of the toughest things that I've ever done but we felt we owed it to our listeners. It actually felt like therapy to sit and talk about it. One of our listeners sent me some cancer bands yesterday. He lost his sister to cancer. I was so touched that I broke out into tears. I am finding that my world is filled with amazing people.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    #8
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    William,
    Forgive me In
    William,

    Forgive me In advance for my rambling. I had my port installed today and whereas in my drinking days, I was a hoot when I was out of it then, now I've found out different. ;). I am so honored that you would take the time to listen to my ramblings. I hope I represented the EC community as well as I could. It seems so weird to make plans out too far, sometimes I feel like I'm playing a cruel joke on myself to do so. I'd be happy an honored to talk to you sometime. I'll send you my contact here in just a few. As for the shirt, I've already been thinking about how tough that would be to walk in to get treatment with that on it so I'm working through an alternate saying. ;) Perhaps the "Cancer Sucks" one. I am also an Elvis fan. You've gotta respect the king! I did get my PET date. It's this Friday. Mothman is one of my wife and mines favorite festivals during the fall. It was such an honor for us when we got invited to emcee last year. Look forward to hearing from you.

    Thanks

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