HELP

jenene
jenene Member Posts: 40
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
My husband was just diagnosed with esophageal cancer. With liver cancer as well. We are in the very early stages and are just in shock. He is 37 and I am 34. We have a 3 and 1/2 year old daughter. I am just writing for some advice. All I hear is the worst case scenraio. I want to hear about survivors. Are they out there? Any help for us!!! Please I need all the help I can get.

Comments

  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    Yes there are survivors
    Jenene I am really sorry to hear you are going through this at such a young age...everyone here will tell you to get to a big teaching university...one with a reputation for cancer and cancer research..My husband was much older than yours but it's been a year for him...he was in a clinical trial and had no surgery, not eligible.

    You will get wonderful advice here and people who will listen to you any time of the day or night..

    orion
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  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Welcome
    Hello Jeanene and welcome to you and your husband. I was a caregiver for my dad. He passed away in march from ec with mets to the liver. My dad was 71 and his cancer was at Stage IV. My dad also had a heart condition and suffered many years from depression. You and your husband are both young. This is to your advantage. I totally agree with Sherri and Jim. They have been through this same exact cancer diagnosis. All that she says and recommends is 100%. Theraspheres is the newest type of treatment for liver cancer. EC can be treated with chemo, radiation, and surgery. Take this journey with cancer one hour at a time. Start writing in a journal. You will need to jot down your feelings, thoughts, questions, answers, tests, results, etc. We are always here for you. Prayers will be being said for both of you daily. Keep in touch with updates as much as possible. Everyone here on this discussion board is loving, caring, and most informative. God bless you both and give you the peace and strength you will need during this time.
    Tina in Va
  • unknown said:

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  • FaithandPeace
    FaithandPeace Member Posts: 3
    Faith and Peace wil carry you thu
    I have just joined this website tonight and read your post. I understand your concern and shock because you and your husband are so young, but I can tell you this is absolutely beatable.

    I told my husband the day we got the news over the phone, that I didnt just get a call that my husband had a fatal car accident, I found out my husband had cancer. I still had him and we would fight this together.

    We have been in it together since we learned, and we have enjoyed every day. There are a lot of treatments ahead of you, as many have provided in the many posts. But I want to tell you just to have faith and find the peace you need to walk this journey with your husband. You will find so many blessings as you travel with him .

    Prayers for you that all will be well, dear, all will be well.
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    welcome to our board
    Jeanine

    Welcome, sorry you had to find us this way, I too was a caregiver for a loved one, he was 45 years old at the time of diagnosis, hadn't been to a doctor for over 20 years when what we thought was his gallbladder giving him trouble all test were negative for that so they did a scope and thats when he found out he had stage 2 esophogeal cancer, we both were devasted, fortunately no kids were at home. He is now a one year survior of this beast and is doing well, still has his ups and downs but doing okay.

    Sherri Bailey has most all the answers she has went throught everything and is always one step ahead of the doctor, so please follow through with her if she can help. Her husband has fought a wonderful fight and is still fighting.

    Just remember we all have the same thing in common either cancer or caregiver, we all have either walked this crazy road of Cancer or are in the proces of walking this crazy journey and try to help all are CSN loved ones along the journey.

    We would love to hear more and how diagnosed. You never know what life will bring you and you can do this you have to be strong and know that you will and can get through this,

    Always remember put on your BIG GIRL PANTIES, and know you can do it, and always remember from a dear friend that "LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR A STORM TO PASS ITS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN"

    HUGS
    Lori aka/moe58
  • jenene
    jenene Member Posts: 40
    MOE58 said:

    welcome to our board
    Jeanine

    Welcome, sorry you had to find us this way, I too was a caregiver for a loved one, he was 45 years old at the time of diagnosis, hadn't been to a doctor for over 20 years when what we thought was his gallbladder giving him trouble all test were negative for that so they did a scope and thats when he found out he had stage 2 esophogeal cancer, we both were devasted, fortunately no kids were at home. He is now a one year survior of this beast and is doing well, still has his ups and downs but doing okay.

    Sherri Bailey has most all the answers she has went throught everything and is always one step ahead of the doctor, so please follow through with her if she can help. Her husband has fought a wonderful fight and is still fighting.

    Just remember we all have the same thing in common either cancer or caregiver, we all have either walked this crazy road of Cancer or are in the proces of walking this crazy journey and try to help all are CSN loved ones along the journey.

    We would love to hear more and how diagnosed. You never know what life will bring you and you can do this you have to be strong and know that you will and can get through this,

    Always remember put on your BIG GIRL PANTIES, and know you can do it, and always remember from a dear friend that "LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR A STORM TO PASS ITS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN"

    HUGS
    Lori aka/moe58

    thank you all
    It all started a few months ago when he was having trouble swallowing food. He told me it felt like things were getting stuck. I told him to see a doctor, of cousre being a guy he said he was going to wait for the yearly physical. He went a couple weeks ago and they drew his yearly blood work. It came back with abnormal liver counts and elevated white cell counts.

    They then decided that they wanted to do a ultrasound of the liver. On the ultrasound they found spots and wanted to do a liver biopsy. The liver biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. We met with an oncologist who was 85-90% positive from his symptoms that it was the esophagus. We had a barium cat scan done which showed what he suspected.

    Tomorrow he is having an endoscopy with a colonoscopy. Hopefully they can biopsy the tumor as well. Friday he goes in for a barium swallowing test. This is where we are.

    We live in Washington state, near seattle. We have beendoing research all over the US for docotors to see. I want things to get moving. They aren't moving quick enough. I just want to know what steps we need to take and how quickly. Thanks all for your support.
  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    jenene said:

    thank you all
    It all started a few months ago when he was having trouble swallowing food. He told me it felt like things were getting stuck. I told him to see a doctor, of cousre being a guy he said he was going to wait for the yearly physical. He went a couple weeks ago and they drew his yearly blood work. It came back with abnormal liver counts and elevated white cell counts.

    They then decided that they wanted to do a ultrasound of the liver. On the ultrasound they found spots and wanted to do a liver biopsy. The liver biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. We met with an oncologist who was 85-90% positive from his symptoms that it was the esophagus. We had a barium cat scan done which showed what he suspected.

    Tomorrow he is having an endoscopy with a colonoscopy. Hopefully they can biopsy the tumor as well. Friday he goes in for a barium swallowing test. This is where we are.

    We live in Washington state, near seattle. We have beendoing research all over the US for docotors to see. I want things to get moving. They aren't moving quick enough. I just want to know what steps we need to take and how quickly. Thanks all for your support.

    Welcome
    Jenene, welcome to the group. I am new and am also a caregiver to my husband. My husband was recently diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. We are on the merry-go-round of chemo and radiation. I am sorry you are having to go through this. It was so difficult to read how young you both are and with a small child it must be hard. I will keep you in my prayers. I am glad you have Sherri to give you wonderful advice. God Bless you all, Linda
  • jenene said:

    thank you all
    It all started a few months ago when he was having trouble swallowing food. He told me it felt like things were getting stuck. I told him to see a doctor, of cousre being a guy he said he was going to wait for the yearly physical. He went a couple weeks ago and they drew his yearly blood work. It came back with abnormal liver counts and elevated white cell counts.

    They then decided that they wanted to do a ultrasound of the liver. On the ultrasound they found spots and wanted to do a liver biopsy. The liver biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. We met with an oncologist who was 85-90% positive from his symptoms that it was the esophagus. We had a barium cat scan done which showed what he suspected.

    Tomorrow he is having an endoscopy with a colonoscopy. Hopefully they can biopsy the tumor as well. Friday he goes in for a barium swallowing test. This is where we are.

    We live in Washington state, near seattle. We have beendoing research all over the US for docotors to see. I want things to get moving. They aren't moving quick enough. I just want to know what steps we need to take and how quickly. Thanks all for your support.

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  • jenene
    jenene Member Posts: 40
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Why
    Why do we need the Therasphere so soon? that sounds like something to do after nothing else works? I just want to get him started on Chemo. He is going to see someone this afternoon from the Univeristy of Washington. Hopefully they will get him going on something. It seems like no one wants to touch him until all the tests have been run. I feel like we are losing time but no one will listen to me. I WILL not lose him.
  • jenene said:

    Why
    Why do we need the Therasphere so soon? that sounds like something to do after nothing else works? I just want to get him started on Chemo. He is going to see someone this afternoon from the Univeristy of Washington. Hopefully they will get him going on something. It seems like no one wants to touch him until all the tests have been run. I feel like we are losing time but no one will listen to me. I WILL not lose him.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Betty in Vegas
    Betty in Vegas Member Posts: 290 Member
    Spheres are not a last
    Spheres are not a last choice. In fact, I have a friend who that is the FIRST thing they did on him, before even attacking the primary site! Theraspheres are useful up to a certain stage and Sir Spheres are useful on any size tumor. So there is hope out there.
  • Betty in Vegas
    Betty in Vegas Member Posts: 290 Member

    Spheres are not a last
    Spheres are not a last choice. In fact, I have a friend who that is the FIRST thing they did on him, before even attacking the primary site! Theraspheres are useful up to a certain stage and Sir Spheres are useful on any size tumor. So there is hope out there.

    besides, why do you want to
    besides, why do you want to start with chemo? Chemo doesn't work well on liver.... this is why the spheres are so useful. You want what WORKS not just words you've heard before. Don't dismiss any new options, for those are often the best options.
  • mrkokomo
    mrkokomo Member Posts: 12
    Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center
    Virginia Mason has a wonderful staff. I was diagnosed in April this year and referred to VM for evaluation. I met with Thoracic Surgery, Gastrointerology, Radiology and a Cardiologist (due to many existing cardiology problems). They sent me to a local Oncologist in my area (I live in a small community on the Washington Coast) and did 2 rounds of chemo. This shrunk the tumor a bit and I lost 40 pounds, which the surgeon requested before considering surgery.

    I had an Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy on 8/10/2010 and am recovering quite well.

    I agree with the other posters to educate, keep ahead of the doctors and be prepared to ask all of the right questions. There will be a lot of tests in his future and I wish you both well.

    Dr. Donald Low and Dr. David Campbell are the Thoracic surgeons.

    I strongly recomnend you get your medical provider to refer you to Virginia Mason for further evaluation.

    Larry
  • Bobs1wife
    Bobs1wife Member Posts: 150
    Spheres
    Betty in Vegas, I think I read that you husband had his spheres in Colorado. Do you mind if I ask where? I'm thinking it was probably Denver or Ft Collins. Do you go back to Colorado in the future? We have ties to Estes Park and it is close to both places. Linda
  • dwhite0002
    dwhite0002 Member Posts: 126 Member
    surviving!
    Hi,

    I am a 4 year survivor. I was diagnosed at age 32 and am now 36. Please feel free to contact me, if you'd like. My e-mail address is:

    dwhite0002@aol.com

    I will pray for you and your husband!

    -David
    Hillsboro, OH