EMR OPERATION

[Gerard]

I have stage t1 I am having an EMR in 10 days but I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago I'm worried the cancer will spread before EMR I have had CT PET and an Ultrasound scan am I worrying too much.

[Shortshanks]

HI its only natural to worry i had to wait what seemed to me a lifetime to have my operation i waited from 23rd june to 14th july for chemo then after my chemo ended (last pill taken) 15th sept till 3rd November before having the ivor lewis operation. i was told by all of the professionals i aired my concerns to that it was highly unlikely there would be any movement in that time scale. but i just wanted the thing taken out of me and only felt reassured after this had happened. so i think its only natural to worry when you know you have something growing inside you.

[Gerard in reply to Shortshanks]

Hi thanks so much for putting my mind at rest, I know what you mean(something growing inside) I feel a bit easier with the situation now THANKS A LOT

[Lynleahy]

Hello Gerard - as Shortshanks says - we too were told that the wait of six weeks after the chemo had finshed and the op would have no detrimental effect on the treatment and my partners tumour at T3/4 was far more advanced than yours but understand your worries - try to put them to the bck of your mind and concentrate on getting your fitness to optimum level for the surgery. All the best.

[Gerard]

Hi thanks a lot I feel so much better now, it's great getting all the support on this site from people who Really know how each other feel. Thankyou once again.

[Westoncromwell]

Hi Gerard

I was t3 but ended up, after histology, after op as stage 1b. My tumour was diagnosed as Having been insitu for about one year ! As it was only 4cms long it obviously didn't grow that fast. I had 9 weeks chemo first but as you're t1 they appear to want to operate straight away. Please remember that all individual cases are different, dependant on a multitude of factors.

You are right to want to press on ASAP, as your condition will not go backwards, however there are logistical constraints and there will always be a period of waiting. I had the same.

I agree that you need to get your fitness to the max as this will help. Even if it means vigorous walking for 20 mins rather than marathon training all is good.

Best wishes

Brian

[Hidden]

I think it is the most worrying stage in a way - you just want to get on with it, have it taken out etc, but all the medics say that it is worth the extra time involved to get a proper picture from different sorts of scans so that they know exactly what is happening. I imagine that in the old days it would have been an operation and decisions made during surgery as to exactly what they would do, but the modern imaging techniques do make medical treatment much more effective. The decisions are also taken in Multi Disciplinary Teams and involve the oncologists, surgeons and so on. This does take longer from the patient's point of view, but it is worth while.

There are some conditions that have a short time-scale involved before an operation can take place, but this is not one of them

Hope this helps - and all best wishes for the treatment!

[Hidden]

I know its seems a long time!! You cannot help thinking it will spread but as said previous time scales arent long enough.You are lucky though as only a T1 which is good and easy to deal with and greater chance of not returning.Many of us here were staged at a higher rate.Mine was T3 N1.So stay positive as its looking good .

Best wishes

Griff

[Gerard in reply to Hidden]

Hi Griff Thanks alot for your reply,you have put my mind at ease alot more now,i'm getting some very positive replys to my question,Thanks to everyone

Regards ,gerard

[Hidden]

No probs it really helps to get positive replys and by god I have needed them in the past!! but now in the position of offering my experience.Griff

[medway]

I had T1 of the stomach & barretts disease of the oesophagus and delayed the op 6 months to investigate alternatives to surgery (none). At the time of the op it was T1B. So it would appear that if it is not an aggresive cancer development is slow. In fact my surgeon said that if I did not have the op it would be 3-5 years before I died.

Dependent upon where the cancer is, you may wish to discuss with your surgeon Merendino interposition. I had this on 1st November last year and after 3 months am nearly back to normal as I only had 1/3 stomach & 5cm of oesophagus removed. No reflux and some discomfort if I overeat. So you are lucky it is T1 because lots of members do not have it diagnosed until it is much worse. Chin up. NHS know a lot about this now.

It is VERY important to be fit before an op as you recover much quicker. I was very fit and was home after 7 days.

[Gerard in reply to medway]

Hi Medway thanks for that, i think i am lucky too i've been told that finding the cancer this early is quite rare,i was 22 stone 4 years ago,i decided to get healthy,i lost 7 stone over that period,i am a postman and walk about 4 miles a day so hopefully i too am fit enough to get through this,The ironic thing is when i was very heavy i smoked and ate rubbish obviously, when i lost all the weight i packed smoking in i never drank alcohol anyway and i ended up getting this.The good thing is though i have lost all the weight and ditched the cigs so this has put me in a good position to get through any op i may have to have.Thanks again for your reply best regards GERARD.