Hernia for 7 months that became stage 4 personages adenocarcinoma

[Bunny69]

Hi all,

If anyone out there is struggling with symptoms of dysphagia and reflux with bouts of coughing in early hours of morning and hiccups that won't go away, please ask your medical professionals the question no one wants to ask. Could it be cancer? The NHS leaflet said it in bold letters "food sticking it could be cancer", feeling of food sticking and regurgitating food wrapped in saliva are red flag symptoms for personages cancer. There are many other things that can cause it but none that need almost immediate treatment. This disease is hard to treat unless caught early but by early some specialists would have you believe it needs to be found at cellular level. If you have an endoscopy within three years of being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that didn't find it the unit concerned has failed you. I was diagnosed with sliding hiatus hernia in October 2017 and suspected barretts which was confirmed by histology in December 2017 with no dysplasia. Symptoms got worse from October to the point where I could not eat solid food and struggled with liquid. I had numerous tests and scans to confirm achalasia until the last consultant decided he wanted to have a look himself and couldn't get scope past lower sarcophagus due to malignant stricture. This was April 2018 and hiatus hernia has disappeared from my reports and been replaced by known malignant mass?

If go or consultant had recognised symptom of the food getting stuck I would have been referred under 2 week rule and hopefully would have been found earlier so I would urge anyone with similar symptoms to shout out and ask the question as it may save your life.

Best wishes to you all

Bunny xx

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Bunny69,

My story sounds almost identical to yours with the exception of me being lucky enough to have a great gastro Doctor who LISTENED. I could not swallow food and also struggled with liquid. After barium, pet scans, etc. an endoscopic procedure was done and samples taken for biopsy. The samples were positive for adenocarcinoma and a regimen of chemo and radiation began immediately. Ivor Lewis surgery occurred 4 months later and I am blessed to be doing well 3 years post op.

We tend to trust our doctor’s opinions and sometimes don’t question or push them to address our symptoms. I hope others will use your story as motivation to be proactive with their health and push their physicians to listen . I feel your frustration, bunny69, and wish you the best.....