Surgery Date 1st Week of October

casp42
casp42 Member Posts: 79
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Surgery Date 1st Week of October

Wow! After a crazy 6 weeks (1st & 5th week continuous chemo) of chemo and radiation. Hospitalized for low heart rate, dehydration and the usually that chemo does to one’s body. It’s been difficult, stressful etc… I’m truly grateful that Dad (68 years old) is getting an opportunity to have surgery. He decided that Dr. Luketich in Pittsburgh will do the surgery, how can one compare surgeon…Dr. Luketich does about 200 MIE a year, has done over 1400 MIE.

My heart breaks for the stage 4 patients…… Chemosmoker, Lee in London, Rose’s brother and the list just continues. I may not write much, but I read the board constantly. Looking for advice….

The first week of October can’t come soon enough….Dad had his stress test, still has to have his pulmonary function test and CT scan.

I pray everyday they find a cure for this beast of a cancer!

God Bless to everyone!
Carolyn

PS….Lee in London-loved the you tube video…brought tears to my eyes.

Comments

  • rose20
    rose20 Member Posts: 258
    #2
    Carolyn...
    Do you know the specific day in October for your dad's surgery? May I have your dad's name? Will be praying!!
  • mruble
    mruble Member Posts: 174
    #3
    What a relief!
    Carolyn --

    What a relief it is to have surgery scheduled. Your father, and your entire family, will be in my prayers! Please update us as you are able.

    Mary
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #4
    GREAT NEWS!!!!
    Carolyn,
    I am so happy to hear that you have a DATE or at least a MONTH for surgery! I know how long and how hard it is for the waiting game and the never ending tests to get there!

    Good work. Keep us posted, and thanks for the mention.
    I am happy and pain-free and living and enjoying my life to the fullest each and every day.
    May your dad have the same, and go on to post for years after I am gone. The board needs those who make it and fight and win as much as anyone. I am always so glad to hear that there are those fighting and beating this awful beast, or at least trying. I know it gives many that are candidates for surgery or could be, the strength to try and fight as it take so much strength and courage to face the battle.

    My prayers are with you and your dad now for a date and a great Halloween, POST-SURGERY!

    -Eric
  • Heeran
    Heeran Member Posts: 171
    #5
    MIE
    Hi Carolyn,
    Quick question, if you're going to Pittsburg, how long do you stay there? What is the recovery time before heading back? What happens when you're back to your hometown and there's complications? Do you have a backup surgeon locally? My mom also has been diagnosed with the squamous cell. The doc who completed the endoscopic ultrasound said she was a T3N1M1A but we haven't met with the Oncologist yet to determine what stage that is and if she's a candidate for surgery or a cure.

    Heeran
  • JimboC
    JimboC Member Posts: 264
    #6
    Great News
    You can't go wrong with Dr. Luketich. He did my MIE back on July 1st and I am getting better every day. You'll be in great hands and at a great facility. Dr. Luketich's entire team is incredible. Tell Dad to enjoy the next few weeks and if he can, eat what he wants. He deserves it considering what he's been through. I made a list of several places that I wanted to eat before surgery since I knew my eating would be a little changed afterwards.

    Again congratulations on the great news!
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #7
    rose20 said:

    Carolyn...
    Do you know the specific day in October for your dad's surgery? May I have your dad's name? Will be praying!!

    Surgery Date Oct. 7th
    Rose,

    Thanks for praying! Surgery date is Oct. 7th and dad's name is Hayden.

    Keep on praying!!!

    Carolyn

    PS-I hope your brother Ray scan goes well today, sending lots of hugs and prayers.
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #8
    mruble said:

    What a relief!
    Carolyn --

    What a relief it is to have surgery scheduled. Your father, and your entire family, will be in my prayers! Please update us as you are able.

    Mary

    thanks!
    Thanks, Mary! October can't come soon enough!

    Carolyn
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #9
    chemosmoker said:

    GREAT NEWS!!!!
    Carolyn,
    I am so happy to hear that you have a DATE or at least a MONTH for surgery! I know how long and how hard it is for the waiting game and the never ending tests to get there!

    Good work. Keep us posted, and thanks for the mention.
    I am happy and pain-free and living and enjoying my life to the fullest each and every day.
    May your dad have the same, and go on to post for years after I am gone. The board needs those who make it and fight and win as much as anyone. I am always so glad to hear that there are those fighting and beating this awful beast, or at least trying. I know it gives many that are candidates for surgery or could be, the strength to try and fight as it take so much strength and courage to face the battle.

    My prayers are with you and your dad now for a date and a great Halloween, POST-SURGERY!

    -Eric

    Thanks Eric! Prayers to you
    Thanks Eric! Prayers to you and your family. I'm glad your pain-free and living to the fullest. I've always had the motto, live your life to its fullest, because there is no way of knowing what will happen tomorrow.

    By the way, were you camping in the picture?

    Prayers to you and your family.

    Carolyn
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #10
    Heeran said:

    MIE
    Hi Carolyn,
    Quick question, if you're going to Pittsburg, how long do you stay there? What is the recovery time before heading back? What happens when you're back to your hometown and there's complications? Do you have a backup surgeon locally? My mom also has been diagnosed with the squamous cell. The doc who completed the endoscopic ultrasound said she was a T3N1M1A but we haven't met with the Oncologist yet to determine what stage that is and if she's a candidate for surgery or a cure.

    Heeran

    Heeran,
    It's seems the
    Heeran,

    It's seems the average stay is around 3 weeks, can be shorter or longer. Approximately 2 days in ICU, 5-7 days regular hospital bed, 2 weeks post-op with Dr. Luketich. I pray there won't be any post complications, there are surgeon's back in the hometown. I would ask Dr. Luketich to give that surgeon a call and go from there.

    The oncologist didn't change dad stage. I will never understand why he has squamous cell (wasn't a drinker and smoked probably age 16-19).

    Prayers to you and your mom that she will be candidate for surgery, please keep up updated.

    Carolyn
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #11
    JimboC said:

    Great News
    You can't go wrong with Dr. Luketich. He did my MIE back on July 1st and I am getting better every day. You'll be in great hands and at a great facility. Dr. Luketich's entire team is incredible. Tell Dad to enjoy the next few weeks and if he can, eat what he wants. He deserves it considering what he's been through. I made a list of several places that I wanted to eat before surgery since I knew my eating would be a little changed afterwards.

    Again congratulations on the great news!

    Thanks Jim! Your an
    Thanks Jim! Your an inspiration! Glad to hear getting better every day! Of course, I have butterflies in my stomach. What was the pre-testing the day before? With your lymph node, 3 were positive correct? Did Dr. Luketich decided what type of chemo or your oncologist at home?

    Prayers to you and your family!

    Carolyn
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #12
    JimboC said:

    Great News
    You can't go wrong with Dr. Luketich. He did my MIE back on July 1st and I am getting better every day. You'll be in great hands and at a great facility. Dr. Luketich's entire team is incredible. Tell Dad to enjoy the next few weeks and if he can, eat what he wants. He deserves it considering what he's been through. I made a list of several places that I wanted to eat before surgery since I knew my eating would be a little changed afterwards.

    Again congratulations on the great news!

    Thanks Jim! Your an
    Thanks Jim! Your an inspiration! Glad to hear getting better every day! Of course, I have butterflies in my stomach. What was the pre-testing the day before? With your lymph node, 3 were positive correct? Did Dr. Luketich decided what type of chemo or your oncologist at home?

    Prayers to you and your family!

    Carolyn
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #13
    chemosmoker said:

    GREAT NEWS!!!!
    Carolyn,
    I am so happy to hear that you have a DATE or at least a MONTH for surgery! I know how long and how hard it is for the waiting game and the never ending tests to get there!

    Good work. Keep us posted, and thanks for the mention.
    I am happy and pain-free and living and enjoying my life to the fullest each and every day.
    May your dad have the same, and go on to post for years after I am gone. The board needs those who make it and fight and win as much as anyone. I am always so glad to hear that there are those fighting and beating this awful beast, or at least trying. I know it gives many that are candidates for surgery or could be, the strength to try and fight as it take so much strength and courage to face the battle.

    My prayers are with you and your dad now for a date and a great Halloween, POST-SURGERY!

    -Eric

    Thanks Eric! Prayers to you
    duplicate! Sorry!
  • casp42
    casp42 Member Posts: 79
    #14
    Heeran said:

    MIE
    Hi Carolyn,
    Quick question, if you're going to Pittsburg, how long do you stay there? What is the recovery time before heading back? What happens when you're back to your hometown and there's complications? Do you have a backup surgeon locally? My mom also has been diagnosed with the squamous cell. The doc who completed the endoscopic ultrasound said she was a T3N1M1A but we haven't met with the Oncologist yet to determine what stage that is and if she's a candidate for surgery or a cure.

    Heeran

    Heeran,It's seems the
    duplicate
  • flmo
    flmo Member Posts: 65
    #15
    Wonderful news!
    We chose Dr. Luketich for my husband's surgery in Feb. He's the pioneer in MIE,so we thought it was worth the effort to travel to Pittsburgh from FL. It was the best decision we could have made. I will keep your father in my prayers and hope all goes according to plan on Oct. 7.
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #16
    casp42 said:

    Thanks Eric! Prayers to you
    Thanks Eric! Prayers to you and your family. I'm glad your pain-free and living to the fullest. I've always had the motto, live your life to its fullest, because there is no way of knowing what will happen tomorrow.

    By the way, were you camping in the picture?

    Prayers to you and your family.

    Carolyn

    NOT CAMPING....LIVING.....
    Carolyn,
    No not camping..This is out in front of our cabin in the woods, where we LIVE.
    We are 2 1/2 miles from a paved road, in the woods, surrounded by over 100 acres of nothing but trees, forest, rock bluffs, creeks and rivers.

    We bought the land last year and were building a red oak log cabin by hand on our land (Michelle and I) when I was diagnosed. I have now been assured that hospice WILL come out to our land (takes a 4WD in the winter months!) so I am now confident that I CAN continue to live our dream to the fullest until the 'end'.

    We are sitting in that picture, in front of our "outdoor kitchen." That's my chair (our chairs) out by our fire pit with the earthen berm behind us, where Michelle cooks the very best salmon, meatloaf and anything else we eat, on the open fire. She is amazing, as is her cooking. It is what's keeping me alive, quite literally.

    Thanks for asking! I LOVE to brag about our land and the fact we DID NOT give it up for cancer!!!!

    -Eric
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #17
    chemosmoker said:

    NOT CAMPING....LIVING.....
    Carolyn,
    No not camping..This is out in front of our cabin in the woods, where we LIVE.
    We are 2 1/2 miles from a paved road, in the woods, surrounded by over 100 acres of nothing but trees, forest, rock bluffs, creeks and rivers.

    We bought the land last year and were building a red oak log cabin by hand on our land (Michelle and I) when I was diagnosed. I have now been assured that hospice WILL come out to our land (takes a 4WD in the winter months!) so I am now confident that I CAN continue to live our dream to the fullest until the 'end'.

    We are sitting in that picture, in front of our "outdoor kitchen." That's my chair (our chairs) out by our fire pit with the earthen berm behind us, where Michelle cooks the very best salmon, meatloaf and anything else we eat, on the open fire. She is amazing, as is her cooking. It is what's keeping me alive, quite literally.

    Thanks for asking! I LOVE to brag about our land and the fact we DID NOT give it up for cancer!!!!

    -Eric

    No wonder your posts are so full of life
    It's because you truly are living! Not just existing. Your home sounds peaceful, beautiful, and just perfect.

    I'm glad that you're digging in your heels and staying put. I'm sure you draw strength from your home and life.

    Kudos to you for finding such an "Eden".

    Terry
  • Heeran
    Heeran Member Posts: 171
    #18
    casp42 said:

    Heeran,
    It's seems the
    Heeran,

    It's seems the average stay is around 3 weeks, can be shorter or longer. Approximately 2 days in ICU, 5-7 days regular hospital bed, 2 weeks post-op with Dr. Luketich. I pray there won't be any post complications, there are surgeon's back in the hometown. I would ask Dr. Luketich to give that surgeon a call and go from there.

    The oncologist didn't change dad stage. I will never understand why he has squamous cell (wasn't a drinker and smoked probably age 16-19).

    Prayers to you and your mom that she will be candidate for surgery, please keep up updated.

    Carolyn

    Carolyn, Good Luck With Surgery
    Good luck with the surgery and I'll pray for your father as I'm praying for my mom. I just got the info yesterday that she is also T3N2M0 Squamous Cell just like your father. That would put her at a Stage 3b. There was a distant node that they biopsied and it came back negative so it was a relief. I never thought in my life that I would be so happy my mom had Stage 3 cancer but I was very relieved. I'll check this post to see how your fathers updates come along. Take care.
    Heeran

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