Surgery - Esophageal Cancer

MariT
MariT Member Posts: 1
in Esophageal Cancer #1
My son will have surgery on 2/22 in Boston. He has been such a success story to date but knowing all he will be going through soon has become very real.

Any words of advice or guidance will be greatly appreciated!

Comments

  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #2
    Welcome MariT
    We wish the very best for your son's surgery and recovery on the 22nd. My husband Don, is completing his chemo and radiation therapy - he has another 2 weeks and hopefully there will be no delays. We do not yet have a surgery date, but like you, I am anxious and will breathe much easier once the surgery is completed and the healing begins.

    Don is T3N1M0 - Stage 3 and is tolerating treatment quite well - of course, a few bumps here and there with nausea, feeling very tired and loss of appetite - but still - for what his body is going through with chemo and radiation - he is holding up well and looks good.

    Do you happen to know what stage your son has been diagnosed at? What tests and treatments has he already had?

    You have certainly come the right place as far as caregivers, family members and survivors - Welcome! Please feel free to ask any questions, seek advice or vent - this is site full of wonderful people and you will feel right at home here.

    Sincerely,
    Judy
    wife of Don
    T3N1M0 (Diagnosed 11-21-2011)
    began chemo/rad Jan. 4 (6 chemo treatments taxol and carboplatin and 28 radiation treatments)
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #3
    Sorry, your son has got Ec.
    Sorry, your son has got Ec. It is so real. What is his stage? How old is he? Are you his primary care giver? Please give us more info?
    We are a very caring group of people. Some, like me, are EC suvivors and some are caregivers, so we have a lot of experience and knowledge. If you have questions, some will research for you. It's always good to communicate with people that have been through it or are going through it rather than just have the medical view.
    I forgot to say welcome, so Welcome and Please let us know more about you and your son,
    Sandra.
  • Rick0311
    Rick0311 Member Posts: 38
    #4
    Welcome MariT
    Welcome MariT;

    I am sorry to hear your son has EC. I am an EC survivor and had the Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) 31 August 2011. I am 4 months No Evidence of Disease (NED) now and healing pretty well, I am still gaining strength and have some eating issues but feeling better every day. All of us here are caring and concerned and you have come to the right place. What was your son staged at, has he had chemo or radiation? Do you know yet which surgery he will have? Sorry to ask so many questions. My thoughts and prayers go out to you, your son and your family.

    Richard (Rick) Watson
    Neoga, Illinois

    DX – 0411
    EC – T2N2M0
    Chemo – Cisplatin, four treatments
    5FU, four treatments, five days times 24 hours each time
    MIE – 083111
    Barnes Hospital, St Louis
    Dr Brian Meyer
    NED
  • jim2011
    jim2011 Member Posts: 115
    #5
    MIE
    I had the MIE surgery April 7, 2011 and now almost 10 months later I feel great. Not normal or maybe its a 'new normal' but very much up and around and back to working.
    The scans and blood tests showed no cancer after chemo and radiation so I did not want the surgery. My wife immediately got me in to meet the surgeon and even a 2nd and third opinion. I had won the battle but I needed to win the war so I got ready for surgery the very next week. Probably the best move that I ever made. First being lucky like your son that surgery is available to him and then following the doctors instructions afterwards.
    Started in a pre-surgery ward signing papers and getting an IV to help me relax.......then I woke up being wheeled to a room (not ICU). Surgery completed. Recovery is a process but the healing has begun and I look forward to watching my grandchildren grow up for many many years to come.
    I wish your son the best!
    Jim
  • hdwchisholm
    hdwchisholm Member Posts: 20
    #6
    Surgery
    MariT, Which doctor and hospital in Boston? I have been researching different doctors in the country for my 21 year old son who has esophageal trauma from being poisoned with an alkili, caustic substance last July in Norway. He will probably need a partial or full esophageal transplant as the doctors in Cleveland feel that the esophagus is too damaged for dilation. Be positive. Be open. Talk with your friends. This has helped my wife and me. Also your friends may have another friend who can provide guidance or support or referrals. Have your son communicate [email, text, facebook, phone, etc] with his friends. My son's friends have been a source of tremendous support. Keep your son busy with books, computer games, things he likes to do. Be ready for meltdowns [as we experienced yesterday]. Let him yell and scream if needed. Our son also has been amazing but the emotions can build up and then explode. Good luck to you and your son. Prayers are with your family and the medical personnel.
    I hope this helps. Homer
  • BobHaze
    BobHaze Member Posts: 163 Member
    #7
    hdwchisholm said:

    Surgery
    MariT, Which doctor and hospital in Boston? I have been researching different doctors in the country for my 21 year old son who has esophageal trauma from being poisoned with an alkili, caustic substance last July in Norway. He will probably need a partial or full esophageal transplant as the doctors in Cleveland feel that the esophagus is too damaged for dilation. Be positive. Be open. Talk with your friends. This has helped my wife and me. Also your friends may have another friend who can provide guidance or support or referrals. Have your son communicate [email, text, facebook, phone, etc] with his friends. My son's friends have been a source of tremendous support. Keep your son busy with books, computer games, things he likes to do. Be ready for meltdowns [as we experienced yesterday]. Let him yell and scream if needed. Our son also has been amazing but the emotions can build up and then explode. Good luck to you and your son. Prayers are with your family and the medical personnel.
    I hope this helps. Homer

    MIE in Boston
    For what it's worth, I had an MIE performed at Mass General Hospital last fall by Dr. Christopher Morse. Dr. Morse trained under Dr. Luketich some years ago and has performed over 120 MIE's now. I had a very positive experience.

    Bob
    T1aN0M0
    Dx 8/3/11
    MIE 9/23/11
  • hdwchisholm
    hdwchisholm Member Posts: 20
    #8
    BobHaze said:

    MIE in Boston
    For what it's worth, I had an MIE performed at Mass General Hospital last fall by Dr. Christopher Morse. Dr. Morse trained under Dr. Luketich some years ago and has performed over 120 MIE's now. I had a very positive experience.

    Bob
    T1aN0M0
    Dx 8/3/11
    MIE 9/23/11

    Luketich & UPMC
    Bob, Thanks for your comments which are on another blog. Glad you are doing well. We had an amazing visit with Dr Levy and Dr Luketich this afternoon. We discussed all issues and scenarios for an hour and a half. Very thourough, detailed , and careful. We are blessed that a friend of a friend put us in contact with Dr Luketich. Best, Homer

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