Post Surgery

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preacherchad
preacherchad Member Posts: 60
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I post this tonight as I read some of the not so inspiring stories this week. My heart pours out to so many of you tonight and please note that we are praying for all of you. God is the only place we find true peace and understanding about life and what we are experiencing right now.
I want to tell my "short story" to give some of you hope. I was diagnosed with stage iv EC Nov. 11 2010. After a week of praying continuously, I was told that I was stage II. Today, my doctors can not beileive it. I did 192 hours of FU5, and 2 teatments of Cistplatin. I had 29 radiation treatments. I did not have the MIE but did have the Ivor Lewis March 24, 2011. I am not here to say one is better than the other, we did not have an experienced MIE surgeon close to us and I was not familiar with the MIE before meeting with my surgeon. I did suffer some complications from my surgery with one of the issues being a leak, excess drainage and severe infection. I spent 4 weeks in the hospital, came home and found myself in the local ER twice in one week. I stayed on a feeding tube for about 6 weeks then went to solid foods. This was difficult, now I am on post chemo treatments for the next 9 months. I am doing better than I deserve at this point and almost ashamed to tell you how well I am doing. I eat great, I do over eat at times, including today at lunch, which puts me in severe pain for about an hour, but, I am doing great. Chemo is not making me sick for now at least. I did start losing my hair in clumps today, but that is the least of my worries, besides, I hate spending money on hair cuts anyway. While at times, you think you wont see tomorrow because of complications, I found my comfort and strenght in Jesus Christ. There is light at the end of the tunnel, regardless of your situation, we just have to go further into the tunnel than we origianlly thought to see the light. (I was 40 when diagnosed, turned 41 two weeks before surgery.) I want all of you to know, that those of us who have great success want the same for you, and we post to give you hope and encouragement. If anyone wants to talk, have someone to pray for them, or see if what you are going through is normal, I along with others on this site are here for you. You are welcome to contact me anytime.

God Bless all of you

chad

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
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    unknown said:

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    When I had Ivor Lewis
    When I had Ivor Lewis surgery in May 2008, I knew nothing of this site, and didn't know there was any different kind of surgery. I did have a couple of complcations in the hospital, but never really thought too much about it, because going in, I and my family knew the seriousness of this surgery. I count my blessings and thank God daily for the grace He showed me.

    I keep hearing complaints that Dr. Luketich didn't do the surgery. My surgeon was chief of thoracic surgery for many years and he didn't actually do my surgery, but he was there to oversee it. That was a lot more knowledge and expertise as far as i am concerned. I don't think he does the mie at all, but I came through the Ivor Lewis okay.

    We all need to keep in mind, that all surgeries have there risk. This one is an extremely serious surgery and the ones that don't have any complications are truly blessed.William as you so elequently stated, Is the "Hell" we go through worth it? Oh YES! The Lord gave me the courage I needed ,and held my hand every step of the way. To be where I am today has been very much worth it.


    Chad, thanks for the update and the testimony of how Great our God is,

    Sandra

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