My first time

I was diagnosed with EC in
I was diagnosed with EC in Nov.2007. After chemo and surgery I am now cancer free. I trie to find a group when I was diagnosed, but was unable to find one fo EC. I joined this one in July. Even though I am disease free, I still have to have regular testing. I have learned so much on this site. It has so many caring people with a wealth of knowledge and support. Most of us react to treatment in different ways, but there is usually someone that has gone thru similar things. Keep checking. there will be others that will be replying to your post. We have a lot of care givers.
SAndra

This is a place to learn and share, welcome
I'm sorry your family has joined our family here, because it means you are facing this difficult journey too. However, this is a place of reality, where you can and hopefully will learn and share your experience too with the rest of us. It was 1.5 years ago that I was in your shoes, facing the unknown. I did not find this resource at first, so you are already ahead of the game. My hubby too was resistant to sharing and "getting with it" at first. He wasn't ready to let ME push him. Fortunately, we also had a male friend who he would listen to. I knew that coming from me, it was my idea, but coming from his friend, he could then come back to me and it was HIS idea to pursue expert second opinions at the BEST, MOST EXPERIENCED place he felt we could handle. You might consider printing off William's message to you and letting him read it and stew about it for a day or so. Hopefully he will then come back to you for assistance in pursuing more aggressive options.
Also, I second William's insistence on the Jtube. At first our local gastroenterologist was pushing for my hubby to get a Gtube. Well, I had read in the cancer protocols that a Jtube was preferred and it just made sense to me not to mess up the stomach they were going to need to use for his esophagus if he had surgery. The docs had already scheduled him for this Gtube placement and I just flat called up and cancelled it. Unfortunately, I was still too new at the game before this and let them put in a stent. The biggest mistake we made. Don't do it. Once we got to Mayo clinic they said "oh, we don't do that." (I can't remember if they said they *never* do it.) Point is, you have got to be as informed and assertive as possible and a bulldog for your hubby's best care. His job is to survive the treatments the best he can and try to stay positive. He won't have the energy for much else.
Along the way, I happened to read the notes from our first doctor team and they noted that hubby was a "very nice gentleman" and that "the wife has done extensive research" and some other comments that made me think they found me a bit pushy. Well, too bad. If I hadn't been pushy, my husband would be dead by now. Sorry to be blunt, but its true. I try to always be respectful and polite, but I am firm.
So, girlfriend, you have your work cut out for you, but we are all here to help. And I also wanted to say that even after all this time and experience that I've been through, I'm still learning from the others here too.

Jen

cancersupport1 said:

Hi "Gatoraid"
Thank-you for
Hi "Gatoraid"

Thank-you for your response. What is so difficult is that we were originally given a very positive response. Now there may be cancer cells in the fluid of his stomach and the operation can't happen. He's in Stage 4 . He will be having chemo again. The following are the drugs that will used:
5-FU
Leucovorin
Oxalliplatin
He has the treatment at the hospital for @5 hours. He then goes home and has the treatment for 46 hours. This happens every two weeks.

I also wish you the best .

cancersupport1,
I have
cancersupport1,
I have finished up catching up on all your posts. My husband Charlie is also stage ivb. I don't have a lot to add but I do think the thing that makes our husbands situation a little more difficult is the fluid in the abdomen. We have been told numerous times this area cannot be radiated and with all those cancer cells floating around, he would not be a candidate for surgery. It had already metastisized to his lung and liver. When Charlie was first admitted into the hospital, they removed 4.5 liters of fluid. Within a couple of weeks it was back and they removed another 7 liters just before he started his chemo. He was hospitalized for his chemo....had Cisplatin, Taxotere, followed by 120 continuous hours of 5FU. He had 4 rounds of the chemo...that was April, May, June and July of 2009. Thankfully (& I do thank GOD everyday) that fluid has not returned. In fact he was in remission after just 2 rounds of the chemo. After that he went on oral chemo (Xeloda which is the oral form of 5-FU) in Aug 2009. He did that along with Hercepin until June of this year when he started experiencing swallowing problems. So the dr decided to start chemo again...this time he is doing Taxol and Carboplatin. He had his 6th infusion yesterday. He is extremely tired but other than that, he is doing OK. Doesn't have the strength he once had and is still having some problems swallowing but he is living with cancer. I know at this point we are extremely blessed for the cancer not to have come back in the lung, liver, or anyplace else. Everytime we have a PET we just hold our breath until we get the results. The waiting his horrible.
I wish you and your husband the best....I will keep you both in my prayers. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know. Where is your husband being treated??
Take care and try to stay strong,
Jane