New Member-March diagnosis-August surgery

I have been reading advice on the site for some time, and decided I needed to quit being a "Peeping Linda", as William would put it and be an active participant! My husband, Bob, age 56 at diagnosis of esophageal cancer March 31, 2010. Originally diagnosed at stage 2-3 due to the fact that they couldn't get the ultrasound completed as the scope would not fit down the esophagus due to the obstruction. Original staging at T2N1M0. Followed by Cancer and Leukemia Society Clinical Trial of Cisplatin and Irinotecan, then radiation. Our pre surgery treatment was done in Omaha, NE at Nebraska Cancer Center-Methodist Hospital. We did get a second opinion on treatment at Mayo Clinic. We decided to have surgery at Mayo because of there experience. Surgery followed on August 16th. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Dennis Wigle performed an Ivor Lewis, minimally invasive, with robotic assist. The pre surgery tumor was then staged at 3, and post treatment at yT2. Esophagus removed, part of stomach, and remaining made into the new esophagus. 37 lymph nodes removed, 16 clear nodes in the esophagus area, 10 clear abdominal, and 1 with scattered malignant cells with extensive treatment evident. Surgery went well, about 8-9 hours. Started approximately 9am and out of recovery around 9:30pm. No intensive care, or resperator, and into regular room. Tubes are everywhere, but more come out every day. Walking went well. I cannot say enough good things about the Dr's, nursing stff, and care at Mayo Clinic. They were simply wonderful. Drain tubes for the lung were the hardest and most painful, but they were out by day 3. Recovery went well. Surgery on Monday, and released to go home on Friday, what they call day 4, as surgery day didn't count. The first 2 weeks were simply healing and resting. Then came a little more activity. Dr Wigle did not allow any food, or drink, for 4 weeks following sugery. Only your own saliva is allowed. Feeding by j-tube, which my husband did not like at first, and as they had told him, it would become a friend. It did, and kept him will nourished and very hydtated on Promote. We had previously been on Nutren 2.0 before surgery, but the Promote was definately better for after. Nutren was for the calories during chemo-radiation, and Promote for for the protein for healing. Liquid diet for 2 days, and then followed by most anything he felt like eating. I must say 5 1/2 weeks out the eating is going so well. He is able to eat virtually anything and does not have any major dumping issues. Once in a while, and it is usually with not having a full feeling and eating a little too much. I felt I needed to post as having a very recent surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I believe they do the most esophageal cancer surgeries of all the Mayo Clinics. I believe Dr Wigle is the only Dr to do the robotic assist. Bob had 7 small incisions, 2 being chest drain tube holes. All of these healed well. The feeding tube has been challenging as it has always been painful. We will not get it out until out follow up on October 15, which was delayed a bit, because we felt like a trip to the mountains was warranted, so delayed our follow up just a bit as he was doing well and no real issues. Ok'd to travel and also to fly and be at high mountain altitude. All in all it has had some really tough times, but as scared as we are sometimes it is reasurring to know that even with a tough diagnosis that treatment and surgeries can go well. I am by no means saying it was a breeze for any of this, but want to offer hope to some who are where we started last March. Today Bob is still recovering, gaining strength, learning to stop eating sooner than he thinks he should, oh, and regaining some of the hoarse voice he experienced from trauma of surgery. Only real pain remains in the right chest area where the lung was deflated and very much of the robotic work was completed from. I am not totally sure if the information was correct, but we were told Dr. Wigle is the only one trained on robotic procedure. In the hospital we saw Dr Wigle, and his team, at least once every day, his MD assistant usually twice a day, and the PA once or twice a day. Nurses could not have been more qualified, or attentive. And this hospital "sparkles" with cleanliness! We don't know of follow up plan yet, but will be addressing that soon. I have no problem saying that we put everything in God's loving hands from the start. My husband had told me "If it happens I get more time with my family I am happy. If I don't, know I am with the Lord, and I am happy." Amen! Sorry if I have been a little long. I am doing the "abridged edition" of almost the past 6 months of our lives! I should have joined sooner and please know I have been helped by so many of your posts. Linda, Bob's wife, caregiver, and he intoduces me as his "girlfriend"! We had our 38th wedding anniversay in June!