Answers needed for Esophageal that has metatasized.

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cobolca
cobolca Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Starting in June 09 I had a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer and then 4 months later I was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. As I couldn't swallow at all at that time, I had a feeding tube and port put in. The feeding tube was a leaker and infection set in. Another surgery was performed and I was a week in ICU and 3 weeks in the hospital. After this I had 6 weeks of radiation for 5 days a week, followed by cisplatin, 5Fu chemo (The 5 day 24 hour chemo pack) for 6 sessions. The doctors at the time of diagnosis gave me 18 months, but didn't expect me to make it to surgery. I'm 73. Aug 11th I had Ivor Lewis.

The 8 cm tumor was removed and my surgeon said that it had not broken through the outer layer of the esophagus and the nodes were clean. Because I had no help when I came home, I spent 3 weeks in the hospital. One week being in 'transitional care'. After coming home I went through all the nasty's like vomiting, dumping, learning to eat again and needing dilations. I have had 2 so far.

In Nov. I had my PET an CT scans and the cancer has metatasized to 4 spots. One of the spots is right on the esophagus at the clavical area. Since this lump is on the outside, I can watch it grow. I am having problems swallowing again. I don't know if it is from the new tumor, or just a need for another dilation.

Is there anyone on this list that has had this happen. I start chemo again on the 27, so I'm not giving up yet. This list has been such a help to me.

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • cobolca
    cobolca Member Posts: 12
    #3
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thank you so much for your reply. Regarding the cervical and esophageal cancers, the doctor did say that they were not connected. I have come to the point that I'm not sure how much the doctors just guess. I will check out Mrs. Botch's posts. I have not been in for an evaluation on the stretch since the last stretch which was 1 month ago. At that time I pointed out the lump which at that time was much smaller and hard. The surgeon said only that it was a node. After that I had my appointment with my Oncologist and he was very upset. He just said "Stage 4" and I said I wanted to fight, so he made an appointment for a test to see if my heart would hold up, and I passed. So, now I start chemo again on the 27th. That was the earliest they could get me in. I'm in a semi-rural area. This time chemo will be only 6 hours. After 3 treatments, they will do a scan again. For a little humor, I did not lose any hair after the agressive chemo last time, but my front teeth broke off at the gum line and several fillings fell out. Oh that my teeth might grow back. ;o)

    I still have my J-tube. They never expected me to eat, so never removed it. The good was I was able to push my weight up to 176 before the surgery. I've never been a junk food eater, but I broke all records for junk food and it was such fun. I weigh 121 right now and fighting to hold that. I do eat an 1000 calorie avocado every day which sits fine on my new insides. Between vomiting and diarrhea, it's an in out experience all day. ;o) I hate the feeding tube and avoid it as much as possible. I know it's silly, but my hatred of it has caused me to really fight to eat.

    Thanks again for taking time to reply.
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #4
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    cobolca said:

    Thank you so much for your reply. Regarding the cervical and esophageal cancers, the doctor did say that they were not connected. I have come to the point that I'm not sure how much the doctors just guess. I will check out Mrs. Botch's posts. I have not been in for an evaluation on the stretch since the last stretch which was 1 month ago. At that time I pointed out the lump which at that time was much smaller and hard. The surgeon said only that it was a node. After that I had my appointment with my Oncologist and he was very upset. He just said "Stage 4" and I said I wanted to fight, so he made an appointment for a test to see if my heart would hold up, and I passed. So, now I start chemo again on the 27th. That was the earliest they could get me in. I'm in a semi-rural area. This time chemo will be only 6 hours. After 3 treatments, they will do a scan again. For a little humor, I did not lose any hair after the agressive chemo last time, but my front teeth broke off at the gum line and several fillings fell out. Oh that my teeth might grow back. ;o)

    I still have my J-tube. They never expected me to eat, so never removed it. The good was I was able to push my weight up to 176 before the surgery. I've never been a junk food eater, but I broke all records for junk food and it was such fun. I weigh 121 right now and fighting to hold that. I do eat an 1000 calorie avocado every day which sits fine on my new insides. Between vomiting and diarrhea, it's an in out experience all day. ;o) I hate the feeding tube and avoid it as much as possible. I know it's silly, but my hatred of it has caused me to really fight to eat.

    Thanks again for taking time to reply.

    Hi Cobolca
    My husband has recurrent esophageal cancer. It really has been tough. I have learned alot by reading both Sherri's and William's posts. We also live in a rural area in Georgia. Where do you live?
    My husband was diagnosed in Feb 2009 had the MIE abd was supposedly between Stage 1& 2 . We find out a year and a half later when it recurred that it was really stage 2B. No chemo or radiation was ever offered before or after surgury. DUMB us never questioned anything. Anyhow in Aug this year it has recurred and is now in the chest cavity, & pleura lining. Not a good thing.
    he goes Monday for his 4th treatment of ciplatin, taxotere, and 5FU. He is 63 , always been so active and this chemo has done him in.

    One of the symptoms he had was severe weight loss, and could'nt swallow again,

    If you want to talk privately e-mail me on this site and I will give you my phone #



    Take care and let us know what the dr says.

    Barb
  • cobolca
    cobolca Member Posts: 12
    #5
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    mrsbotch said:

    Hi Cobolca
    My husband has recurrent esophageal cancer. It really has been tough. I have learned alot by reading both Sherri's and William's posts. We also live in a rural area in Georgia. Where do you live?
    My husband was diagnosed in Feb 2009 had the MIE abd was supposedly between Stage 1& 2 . We find out a year and a half later when it recurred that it was really stage 2B. No chemo or radiation was ever offered before or after surgury. DUMB us never questioned anything. Anyhow in Aug this year it has recurred and is now in the chest cavity, & pleura lining. Not a good thing.
    he goes Monday for his 4th treatment of ciplatin, taxotere, and 5FU. He is 63 , always been so active and this chemo has done him in.

    One of the symptoms he had was severe weight loss, and could'nt swallow again,

    If you want to talk privately e-mail me on this site and I will give you my phone #



    Take care and let us know what the dr says.

    Barb

    Thank you Barb for posting. I live in West Central Illinois. Corn and bean country.

    Thanks for the phone offer, I talk as little as possible, because I cough so much when I talk, that I have to stop after a few minutes. The cough came along with the hiccups.

    This is one tough disease.
  • GerryS
    GerryS Member Posts: 227 Member
    #6
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    cobolca said:

    Thank you Barb for posting. I live in West Central Illinois. Corn and bean country.

    Thanks for the phone offer, I talk as little as possible, because I cough so much when I talk, that I have to stop after a few minutes. The cough came along with the hiccups.

    This is one tough disease.

    from another in corn and soybean country...............
    I will be praying for you as you go thru these tough times. I was dx in Feb. 10, surgery in March followed by chemo. Am doing well now but live scan to scan. Just wanted you to know we are all in this together. I am from eastern iowa and grow corn and soybeans. Hope things improve for you.
    Gerry
  • cobolca
    cobolca Member Posts: 12
    #7
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    GerryS said:

    from another in corn and soybean country...............
    I will be praying for you as you go thru these tough times. I was dx in Feb. 10, surgery in March followed by chemo. Am doing well now but live scan to scan. Just wanted you to know we are all in this together. I am from eastern iowa and grow corn and soybeans. Hope things improve for you.
    Gerry

    Thanks Gerry. It's so nice to communicate with others that are walking this same road. This was my first scan after the surgery and I was so surprised to find it had metastasized. But, I'm in for the long haul and just might win. I'm so glad that you are doing okay right now. This esophageal is quite a challenge. Have a bumper crop next year.

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