Merry Christmas

It is XMas Eve and I feel as if I have been brought a miracle! My husband, diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer is now able to eat real food! It has been awhile! Of course he continues to be fed through j tube to keep nutrients in him. He's unable to eat as much as he previously did but it's a start! This past Friday was the first time he was unable to receive his chemo due to low platelet count but hopefully next Friday! He is getting closer to the end of his treatments and I am anxious for him to be scanned to see the progress! We do know the tumor must be shrinking as he could barely get water down previously! We have been cautioned over and over that his throat may become extremely sore but as of yet that hasn't happened! Our Primary ordered Tumeric & Aloe Vera with his formula via j tube and I credit this to his lack of pain in his throat. The doc also said it would help protect and keep inflammation down for his organs! Tonight I feel so fortunate and grateful to God and the wonderful people on this site who have hepled me along the way as well as many others I am sure! I will continue to pray for those in need as well as my husband of 32 yrs. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy, healthy New Year! 

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    Merry Christmas

    I am so glad to hear that your husband is reponding well to treatment. It is great that he can enjoy some Christmas treats today. 

    Wishing you both a wonderful Christmas day today, and a New Year full of good news and progress toward NED!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul

  • kbdarnall
    kbdarnall Member Posts: 30
    I hope my husband responds to

    I hope my husband responds to chemo/radiation as well as your husband. My husband is not staged yet. Three weeks ago, he was diagnosed with partial obstruction of GE junction. The 5 cm mass makes it  difficult, but not impossible, for him to eat. PET scan is scheduled for day after tomorrow. Esophageal ultrasound is Friday. Fortunately the CT scan was clear. The plan is chemo and radiation then (possibly) surgery. It's a nerve-wracking process. The news about your husband is encouraging. Thanks for writing.   

  • Mtngirl7533
    Mtngirl7533 Member Posts: 85
    paul61 said:

    Merry Christmas

    I am so glad to hear that your husband is reponding well to treatment. It is great that he can enjoy some Christmas treats today. 

    Wishing you both a wonderful Christmas day today, and a New Year full of good news and progress toward NED!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul

    Thank you

    Thank you so much for your well wishes! It was wonderful to cook for him again! 

  • Mtngirl7533
    Mtngirl7533 Member Posts: 85
    Kbdarnall

    I am sorry to hear your husband has been diagnosed with this disease! It is very scary and difficult to watch them, especially when they can’t eat well or at all! My husband could barely get water down and the doc couldn’t get the scope past the tumor it was so large! There is hope and he is doing well again and praying your husband does as well! This is a wonderful site with some pretty fantastic people here who have lived the same thing! Next week will be the last of my husbands chemo/ radiation and then in a few weeks we will meet with the  surgeon to discuss surgery! Know I am praying for you and your husband! 

     

  • kbdarnall
    kbdarnall Member Posts: 30

    Kbdarnall

    I am sorry to hear your husband has been diagnosed with this disease! It is very scary and difficult to watch them, especially when they can’t eat well or at all! My husband could barely get water down and the doc couldn’t get the scope past the tumor it was so large! There is hope and he is doing well again and praying your husband does as well! This is a wonderful site with some pretty fantastic people here who have lived the same thing! Next week will be the last of my husbands chemo/ radiation and then in a few weeks we will meet with the  surgeon to discuss surgery! Know I am praying for you and your husband! 

     

    Mtngirl7533It sounds

    Thank you. My prayers are for your husband also. It sounds like his treatment really helped. My husband‘s chemo finally starts on Monday, then radiation on Tuesday. Each day my husband seems a little worse. Waiting is so hard. Day after tomorrow he has the EUS. We will find out how large and how deep the tumor is growing into the esophagus. Doctor will look for enlarged lymph nodes around the tumor. The procedure was postponed a week because the GI doctor was called to JURY duty. Husband is now mostly drinking smoothies and eating ice cream. Two weeks ago he was eating solids carefully. Today he had a strong urge to eat toast and it got stuck. Eventually it went down but then was he was nauseous for hours afterward. He finally fell asleep, exhausted from stress. Today we finally decided to get an adjustable bed. It will be delivered tomorrow. Reflux is what caused the disease (Barrett’s) to begin with. Too bad we didn’t realize the problem years ago. My husband never felt heartburn until 2 months ago. Tomorrow we can sleep together in the same bed with back elevated. I quit work, so I can be full time caregiver and cheerleader. Our husbands have a tough road. Thanks again for your prayers.

  • Mtngirl7533
    Mtngirl7533 Member Posts: 85
    Kbdarnell

    I feel terrible that I haven’t been back to post for awhile! It has been extremely hectic the last several weeks to say the least! I am sorry to hear about your husband and hope he is doing better now? My husband could barely get down water to begin with before treatment started! A j tube was placed and I am so glad as that has made all the difference! He was supposed to have the last chemo XMas week but platelets were too low so they tacked on another the week after when numbers were back up! He also finished all the radiation treatments! He is now able to eat solid foods again! He can’t take in as much as he did before but it is a blessing for sure! It truly is scary and a long road but please take comfort that there is hope! Many people on this site have been through the same or similar experiences! They are wonderful folks and know much more then I do having lived it! Next will be surgery for my husband and I am also anxious for the Pet Scan next Friday! I am going to try to visit this site more frequently as it has been a blessing to me and my husband of course! I hope things are going a little better now? Does, or will he have a j tube placed? It probably saved my husbands life and am thankful we had it done before he started treatment! It will be one less thing he will have to endure when it comes time for surgery as well! Know I am praying for your husband and yourself! God bless!