New here from PGH. For my dad

Pghmomma said:

Thank you
very much for the warm but yet a welcome that I wanted to be apart of.

Your words are very very encouraging. I am trying my hardest to have him look up and stand high and strong. Im sure everyone has been thur it, crying is to be expected. Not wanting to let go. I keep telling him then FIGHT. Your gonna be a fighter and not give up. So the words out of you mouth are very helpful. Thank you so much. Im sure to keep you up to date on his information.

Hi there PGH, welcome. Your
Hi there PGH, welcome. Your dad's story with possible EC is identical to my dad's. He is 70 and was diagnosed with EC in November 2008. My dad had 6 weeks of radiation and chemo, pet scan showed significant shrinkage in tumor. He was not a candidate for surgery. Now it is one year later, dad is doing a lot better, has good days and bad days, he is due for another pet scan, and will be having a balloon dialation done to open up his esophagus more, this is due to alot of scar tissue. Acid reflux causes scar tissue as well.

My advice as a caregiver, just be there for him totally. Take this one day at a time. Learn all you can about this cancer. The internet is full of info. This is an excellent site. We can all relate to one another. We all pray a care for each other. Please keep us posted. You and your dad are in my prayers.

You and I are in the same boat! If my dad can fight this beast called cancer at 70, your dad can too!!

Regards,
Tina
P.S let your dad read this site too. I print the pages for my dad to read. It is very helpful for him.

Pghmomma said:

THank you Tina very much!
THank you Tina very much! Reading what wrote has put my mind at ease a little bit I guess. Hearing that your dad is still doing well with ups and downs is very very helpful! My dad is a strong person so I know he will FIGHT till the end! I have done alot of reading on this and off of this site. Alot of the stuff off of this site is very old information and is HORRIBLE. That is why, when I found this site I was at ease. Thank you for your kind words! I will be sure to share this site with my dad.

Hi from Pittsburgh Also



Hi I'm Kathy aka Mumphy,

My husband was diagnosed in May with stage iv EC. Since then he has had his chemo, which beat
him up pretty bad. He was able to have surgery. The only mets that he had and has are all in
the chest area and lower near the esophagus. At first the said probably not but we will see
so we did the chemo. When he had 2 more chemo sessions scheduled the Dr. said before we put him through more lets see whats going on. THE TUMOR SHRUNK AND SOME OF THE LYMPHNODES WERE DEAD. So off to see Dr. Luketich again and he said lets give him a few weeks to gain some wgt
and see me in 2 weeks, 2 week later we were scheduling surgery for Oct. 19th.

I am not sure of your dads exact situation. I can tell you this. If there is a way Dr. Luketich will try. He said to me that we must have had alot of people praying for us to be able to get to the point of being able to have surgery. Then I also told him that I met William and Loretta on this site and he just smiled which for him is rare he is a very to the point kind of guy. He also believes in the power of prayer.

I tell you this story in Hope that you never give up. There will be times when you think you can't do it any more and you get up and do it anyway.

God Bless,
Kathy

Tina Blondek said:

Hey PG, Hope you are having
Hey PG, Hope you are having a better day today. Just noticed that you are in Pittsburgh. As you have read, William Marshall and Kathy's husband, Al, have gone to Dr. Luketlich. Is this where you are taking your dad? Sounds like an excellent place to me! Tell your dad hello and to keep the faith, stay positive,and fight, fight, fight!!
Tina

Welcome to this site!!
Hi,

My dad is also an EC patient, stage 4, he's 70. My story is VERY familiar to Tina's. Both dad's are same age and diagnosed around the same time. We live in Maryland. My dad had 4 rounds of chemo in Georgetown hospital. They were ready to do surgery when I came across Dr. Luketich and then met William and Loretta on this site. They are WONDERFUL people to talk and they pray on everything they say on this board. I would have been lost without them. SO, I spoke with Dr. L a few times, he called and spoke with my parents. This man is a complete and total gift from God. I was so impressed that he took the time to speak with me and my parents. My dad sounded like a wonderful candidate for surgery. Off to Pittsburgh we went. My dad met with the Drs. and was scheduled for surgery the next day. Things didn't go as planned. Dr. L. went in and found the cancer had spread to the lining of the stomach. Bad news for us, but great for my dad since he didn't get cut open with the tradional method. My dad was placed in a clinical study over there. Long story short, with bad weather approaching my parents pulled out of the study. My dad wasn't caring for the study any longer either. So, they have now started with Johns Hopkins. My dad had a stent placed in his esophagus on Wed. the 25th, things aren't going as planned either. The stent is causing great discomfort, but thanks to Kathy aka Mumphy this is normal. Her husband had one. Anyway, I think your dad is in the best place to be under Dr. Luketich's care. He's the Dr. you want working on your dad. If my dad ever does become a candidate for surgery, we'll be back in Pittsburgh in a heart beat!!! Keep your faith and continue to pray. It's a long hard sad road a head, but miracles do happen!!! This is a great site to be part of. Everyone here for the most part has been wonderful. Hang in there!! I know it's hard!!
Erika

emg09 said:

Welcome to this site!!
Hi,

My dad is also an EC patient, stage 4, he's 70. My story is VERY familiar to Tina's. Both dad's are same age and diagnosed around the same time. We live in Maryland. My dad had 4 rounds of chemo in Georgetown hospital. They were ready to do surgery when I came across Dr. Luketich and then met William and Loretta on this site. They are WONDERFUL people to talk and they pray on everything they say on this board. I would have been lost without them. SO, I spoke with Dr. L a few times, he called and spoke with my parents. This man is a complete and total gift from God. I was so impressed that he took the time to speak with me and my parents. My dad sounded like a wonderful candidate for surgery. Off to Pittsburgh we went. My dad met with the Drs. and was scheduled for surgery the next day. Things didn't go as planned. Dr. L. went in and found the cancer had spread to the lining of the stomach. Bad news for us, but great for my dad since he didn't get cut open with the tradional method. My dad was placed in a clinical study over there. Long story short, with bad weather approaching my parents pulled out of the study. My dad wasn't caring for the study any longer either. So, they have now started with Johns Hopkins. My dad had a stent placed in his esophagus on Wed. the 25th, things aren't going as planned either. The stent is causing great discomfort, but thanks to Kathy aka Mumphy this is normal. Her husband had one. Anyway, I think your dad is in the best place to be under Dr. Luketich's care. He's the Dr. you want working on your dad. If my dad ever does become a candidate for surgery, we'll be back in Pittsburgh in a heart beat!!! Keep your faith and continue to pray. It's a long hard sad road a head, but miracles do happen!!! This is a great site to be part of. Everyone here for the most part has been wonderful. Hang in there!! I know it's hard!!
Erika

Hey Erika, What a great
Hey Erika, What a great thing that happened to all of you. So glad you got to go to Pittsburg. So things did not turn out as planned, but dad is still here, and hanging on! My dad goes in for his balloon dilation procedure on Monday 12/7. prayers are appreciated. Tell dad to keep up that fight!! Will he be getting chemo and radiation now that surgery is out? keeping you all in my prayers!
Tina