Back from Mayo yesterday after Ivor-Lewis

JanBred
JanBred Member Posts: 42
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I'm feeling amazingly good after surgery. Dr. Deschamps in Rochestor MN is an awesome doctor. They found one lymph node positive, and removed all of them, so I will be getting one more round of chemo in a month. Hopefully I will survive this. It's been a hurting ordeal, but I wasn't put in ICU afterwards, just recovery for 2 hours. MIE was on front side with IL thoro on right side. I'm concerned about the one lymph found that was cancerous, but was told chemo will take care of anything left. I am driving my car today and not needing home health care. Jan

Comments

  • Bermudagirl
    Bermudagirl Member Posts: 114
    #2
    Wonderful!
    Congratulations on your accomplishment. I wish you continued good health.
  • captdave
    captdave Member Posts: 153
    #3
    that's great! Continued
    that's great! Continued quick and total recovery.

    Dave
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #4
    That is what follow up chemo is designed to address
    Jan,

    I had an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in 2009 and after my surgery my pathology showed one positive lymph node. I completed follow up chemotherapy and have had clear scans since then.

    Follow up chemo is not fun while recovering from surgery, but it is manageable, is meant to hunt down those cancer stragglers that may be left around.

    Congratulations on completing the surgery!!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • christinagf
    christinagf Member Posts: 11
    #5
    paul61 said:

    That is what follow up chemo is designed to address
    Jan,

    I had an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy in 2009 and after my surgery my pathology showed one positive lymph node. I completed follow up chemotherapy and have had clear scans since then.

    Follow up chemo is not fun while recovering from surgery, but it is manageable, is meant to hunt down those cancer stragglers that may be left around.

    Congratulations on completing the surgery!!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    Good news
    Glad to hear that your recovery is going well! My dad is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Deschamps next Wednesday. Any advice or tips for us as far as the hospital stay or what we (my mom and I) will be able to do to help him while he's there? My mom plans to stay in the hospital room with him. Do you think that's a good idea? Do they have VCR's in the rooms?
  • GerryS
    GerryS Member Posts: 227 Member
    #6
    Great news!
    Happy to hear things went well. I,too, had Dr. deSchamps and I also had one node with cancer. I did two rounds of chemo and have had clean scans for 2 1/2 years and counting. Great place, Mayo and staff! God Bless!

    Gerry
  • JanBred
    JanBred Member Posts: 42
    #7
    christinagf said:

    Good news
    Glad to hear that your recovery is going well! My dad is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Deschamps next Wednesday. Any advice or tips for us as far as the hospital stay or what we (my mom and I) will be able to do to help him while he's there? My mom plans to stay in the hospital room with him. Do you think that's a good idea? Do they have VCR's in the rooms?

    Mayo/Deschamps
    There isn't too much that you can do, but let the Dr.'s and nurses help him. I stayed at the Kahler across from Mayo, but my surgery was at St. Mary's. I had a semi-private room on 5th floor and there are TV's/vcr's. The first day was hectic with five appointments, but after that was just waiting around. I don't know their policy with spouses staying with the patients, but he will not know too much under heavy sedation for 24-48 hours after surgery. I skipped SICU, so hopefully he can go from surgery to recovery to room. Good Luck.
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #8
    GerryS said:

    Great news!
    Happy to hear things went well. I,too, had Dr. deSchamps and I also had one node with cancer. I did two rounds of chemo and have had clean scans for 2 1/2 years and counting. Great place, Mayo and staff! God Bless!

    Gerry

    good news is wonderful
    So glad you did so well with your surgery and like everyone is saying don't be afraid of having a positive lymph node. I had Stage III with a positive node and then a positive one after surgery. Had Taxotere 2 months after surgery and have been clean with all clear ct scans for 2 1/2 yrs (gee Gerry did not realize we are partners in the same time frames). It was hard but it was so worth it. My onc dr put it this way: Some people believe in post surgery chemo and some don't but I don't want to see you next year with a recurrence!!! good enough for me. Good luck on your recovery, you sound amazing for your time frame etc.
    take care,
    Donna70
  • JanBred
    JanBred Member Posts: 42
    #9
    christinagf said:

    Good news
    Glad to hear that your recovery is going well! My dad is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Deschamps next Wednesday. Any advice or tips for us as far as the hospital stay or what we (my mom and I) will be able to do to help him while he's there? My mom plans to stay in the hospital room with him. Do you think that's a good idea? Do they have VCR's in the rooms?

    Mayo/Deschamps
    This is a suggestion from my friend who drove me to Rochester...depending on where you are staying... motel rooms have microwaves/frig/coffee makers, so I would pack a cooler with beverages and munchies unless you plan on spending a small fortune at the local restaurants. I heard many horror stories about this surgery...so was scared to death, but I have to say it wasn't as bad as the stories. They had to break two ribs too..The more your Mom can get him to walk, the faster he will heal. Blessings.
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #10
    GerryS said:

    Great news!
    Happy to hear things went well. I,too, had Dr. deSchamps and I also had one node with cancer. I did two rounds of chemo and have had clean scans for 2 1/2 years and counting. Great place, Mayo and staff! God Bless!

    Gerry

    good news is wonderful
    Sorry for double post.
    Donna70
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    christinagf said:

    Good news
    Glad to hear that your recovery is going well! My dad is scheduled for surgery with Dr. Deschamps next Wednesday. Any advice or tips for us as far as the hospital stay or what we (my mom and I) will be able to do to help him while he's there? My mom plans to stay in the hospital room with him. Do you think that's a good idea? Do they have VCR's in the rooms?

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • GerryS
    GerryS Member Posts: 227 Member
    #12
    Donna70 said:

    good news is wonderful
    So glad you did so well with your surgery and like everyone is saying don't be afraid of having a positive lymph node. I had Stage III with a positive node and then a positive one after surgery. Had Taxotere 2 months after surgery and have been clean with all clear ct scans for 2 1/2 yrs (gee Gerry did not realize we are partners in the same time frames). It was hard but it was so worth it. My onc dr put it this way: Some people believe in post surgery chemo and some don't but I don't want to see you next year with a recurrence!!! good enough for me. Good luck on your recovery, you sound amazing for your time frame etc.
    take care,
    Donna70

    partners.........
    Lets keep up the clean scans!
    Gerry
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • JanBred
    JanBred Member Posts: 42
    #14
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hey William!!
    I was in St. Mary's Hospital 7 days, but could've left a day earlier. Weds. the 25th to Weds. the 1st.
  • JanBred
    JanBred Member Posts: 42
    #15
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    I was not in the ICU at
    I was not in the ICU at all...just recovery for two hours then the 5th floor where my semi private room was..They called me amazing!! I have an 8" incision behind my shoulder blade and two broken ribs and many "port" like incisions in front lower chest area. Removed 18 lymph nodes, and one was malignant..3cm grade 1 tumor they called it near junction. I think I'm doing well...no health aides, doing my own thing, but pain hits me hard every five hours if I don't take the meds. I ate yogurt and chicken noodle soup today...really want a rib-eye..lol I had a j-tube put in on my initial DX in April. Thank goodness, as I have asked many nurses why they don't do that for all C patients..weight maintenance is important. Oh, I asked Deschamps how he broke my ribs..his reply was scissors...made me laugh..it hurts to laugh ya know with ribs cut..
  • Bermudagirl
    Bermudagirl Member Posts: 114
    #16
    JanBred said:

    I was not in the ICU at
    I was not in the ICU at all...just recovery for two hours then the 5th floor where my semi private room was..They called me amazing!! I have an 8" incision behind my shoulder blade and two broken ribs and many "port" like incisions in front lower chest area. Removed 18 lymph nodes, and one was malignant..3cm grade 1 tumor they called it near junction. I think I'm doing well...no health aides, doing my own thing, but pain hits me hard every five hours if I don't take the meds. I ate yogurt and chicken noodle soup today...really want a rib-eye..lol I had a j-tube put in on my initial DX in April. Thank goodness, as I have asked many nurses why they don't do that for all C patients..weight maintenance is important. Oh, I asked Deschamps how he broke my ribs..his reply was scissors...made me laugh..it hurts to laugh ya know with ribs cut..

    Wow!
    You're amazing! My boyfriend will be having the THE at Hopkins in early October. I'm going to be sure to tell him how quickly you bounced back. I'm sure you are inspiring alot of people. Best wishes for a continued speedy recovery.
  • captdave
    captdave Member Posts: 153
    #17
    Bermudagirl said:

    Wow!
    You're amazing! My boyfriend will be having the THE at Hopkins in early October. I'm going to be sure to tell him how quickly you bounced back. I'm sure you are inspiring alot of people. Best wishes for a continued speedy recovery.

    I believe that how well you
    I believe that how well you recover and bounce back is largely related to what kind of shape you go into surgery in. The better physical condition you are in the better chance to have a great recovery all things being equal. My surgeon wanted me to walk a couple miles a day prior to surgery. Well, i was a pretty faithful elliptical exercise machine user and was doing three miles a day on it so I just increased my training level on the elliptical. My surgeon believes that getting your lungs and the rest of your body in top shape is like training for a fight and you are training for a fight.

    The other variable that is within the patients control is attitude. Attitude or mental approach to the EC and surgery is huge. Have a winners attitude! BE WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE AND GIVE 110 PERCENT. when the ask you, or in your case Dave to walk three laps around the nurses station walk four. The patients job is to help the Doc's and nurses etc.. help them.

    A little back ground on me. I had the THE at the University of Washington January 6 after a seven day stay in the hospital I was released. I was walking over two miles daily while in the hospital the last three days of my stay. when I got home I continued walking. I was finally cleared to return to work on March 9 exactly two months after my surgery. My job requires a stringent physical requirement that doesn't allow for light duty. So I was cleared for work with no restriction or limitations.

    I eat whatever food I want and have had no issues with swallowing or dumping. Granted I stay away from carbonated beverages and do not eat dry foods especially over cooked pork or chicken. But aside from those few precautions my diet is unrestricted.

    All this is to let you and Dave know that you can make a quick and successful recovery from a THE. Part of it is obviously the skill of the surgeon and part of it is the patient being as well prepared going in to surgery as possible both physically and mentally.

    Best wishes to Dave on his surgery and look forward to hearing how he is progressing on his recovery.

    Dave

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