Update from France after esophagectomy July 8

LimogesGuy
LimogesGuy Member Posts: 18 Member
in Esophageal Cancer #1

I did reach out for support here after a cancer was detected in my lower esophagus in January.

Time for an update.

Eating became so difficult a J-tube was fitted in my stomach to keep my weight up.

I underwent 5 weeks of Radiation and chemotherapy during April/May, which shank the tumour so much I was almost eating normal again.

I had a bit of a setback with a pulmonary embolism which postponed my surgery from June 13 to July 8.

After surgery I spent 4 weeks in hospital slowly recovering. The minimally invasive robotic surgery was 100% successful. It was just my lungs playing up.

On 31 July I was released and I am home doing fine eating small meals again and feeling lucky, confident of another lease of life :-)

Comments

  • adawn
    adawn Member Posts: 6 *
    #2

    Wondering how you are doing. How are you dealing, with the nausea, aspirating, sleeping upright, and loss of health in general. My husband struggles everyday I could use some good advice on how to help him feel happy and healthy again

  • LimogesGuy
    LimogesGuy Member Posts: 18 Member
    #3
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1719147#Comment_1719147

    The nausea was really only a problem before the surgery, while on the 5 weeks radio and chemo regime. I also produced a lot of foamy spittle during that time.

    After returning home, like you say, I felt quite weak and I felt like I had been through the wringer. I was 25 KG lighter and didn’t like to look at my flabby skin in the mirror.

    Let’s call it what it is, I was clinically depressed.

    After a shouting match with my poor suffering wife, I talked to the supervising doctor about it and they prescribed some anti depressants, which I have to admit, I didn’t take.

    What they also did is have a psychologist talk to me after my two weekly immunotherapy sessions and just talking about it and getting it of my chest improved the mental side of things.

    Also like you say, sleeping at a 33 degree angle on your back takes getting used to.

    I would still get the occasional reflux of acid from my stomach resulting in coughing fits.

    But I have to say, nearly five months after my operation, these mishaps are getting rarer and I slowly seem to be getting my strength back and started doing jobs around the farm again.

    I am eating normally again, although much smaller portions and snack in between meals.

    I recently had another full MRI scan and there have been no new tumours detected. Again I was surprised how that lifted a weight of my shoulders and lifted my spirits.

    Next meeting with my oncologist planned for March on the new year.

    I wish you and your husband all the strength and if you have any questions, fire away.

    We also have a twice weekly zoom call you might consider joining from time to time.

  • adawn
    adawn Member Posts: 6 *
    #4

    Thank you f

    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1719155#Comment_1719155

    Thank you for sharing your story, I feel more optimistic for my husbands recovery. I will check out the zoom meetings too.

  • LimogesGuy
    LimogesGuy Member Posts: 18 Member
    #5

    The zoom meeting is. Organised by folk on the SmartPatients website. A guy galled Mr. GVW who posts a lot will give you the details.

  • mandarapte
    mandarapte Member Posts: 6 Member
    #6

    hi,

    It was nice to read your post. Very heartning.

    Stage 3 esophageal cancer. Scheduled for surgery this week. Started Apr 24. Went from eating nothing to almost normal after radio chemo. But its still there.

    Food is a big part of my life. I love to eat. So not being able to do it normally really scares me. It was good to hear your experience. the doctors say things will kind of come back tonormal eventually (within limits), but its good to hear from someone who has been through all this themselves.

    Like you I do have good family support - thank god.

    And I can identify with the psychological impact of going through all of this. I think I too have a touch of depression as I go throughthis. More so, my wife too. She worries more than I do I think.

    Please share the zoom link you mnetioned. I would love to join.

    Thank you

  • LimogesGuy
    LimogesGuy Member Posts: 18 Member
    #7

    Good luck with the surgery. Let us know how it went. Here’s my memo on the Zoom calls

    Or... if the one touch link

    https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4550284795?pwd=UjBHQ0J2V1pOc21SOExTR2N1UXNpQT09

    does not work, here's the codes:

    ID - 455 028 4795
    Passcode - tuiBE5

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