Ec T3n2m1

[timmey25]

My mum is has just been diagnosed with esophagus cancer our journey begins T3n2m1

[slobjohnb]

Main thing is to try to keep fit and active, I bet she's glad she has you with her, she will need a lot of support. I'm a year after now and the time has gone so quickly, I have been very lucky, let your stomach determine what and when you can eat, don't overindulge. Good luck.

[gardner1]

Hi I am also a year after Ivor Lewis op and chemo. I wish you all the best of luck. Your mum is going to need a lot of support but keep a positive mind set and you can beat this. I agree your mum needs to keep active and strong and take the advice given to her from the professionals. Take one day at a time. Lots of love.

[Paulbrighton]

Hi I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a big shock in the beginning isn’t it. After some time that gets easier and your mind goes into treatment mode. Focusing on dealing with treatments and some side effects. Lots of hospital appointments are coming up. The next step is to have more tests then the consultant will decide your treatment plan. I had PET scan and laparoscopic exam for this (camera through small incision). Plus an ultrasound endoscope (camera in oesophagus). It was all done over a couple of weeks. Let me know how you get on and what your treatment plan is. Sending you lots of positive vibes. Paul

[kiddy]

Hi, never a good time playing the waiting game for treatment. Stay strong and positive. Once you have a plan you get into it.

I’m 2 years 12months post op and chemo.

Best Wishes

Debbie

[jeffw663]

Hi, as you can see from the replies so far there are lots of us who have been on the 'journey' and following outstanding treatment by the NHS can offer word of support and advice following successful treatment.

Yes ask her to get as fit as possible, it will, without doubt help, I found that the care I received from the Upper G.I. unit was outstanding, I was more than patient No ######

I was a person with a life threatening condition and now 6 months on from my operation I am enjoying life, Christmas with my family was fantastic.

It's a journey with uphills and downhills, good days and bad days.

Good luck to you and your mother Jeff

[JVR1]

Have been meaning to post this for a while but I suppose I never like to temp fate but hopefully might be helpful to people. My husband was diagnosed with stage 3 oesophageal cancer in May 14 having first gone to his Doctor in December 13. After 3 rounds of chemo, he had his operation in september 14. During the Chemo An infusion once every 4 weeks and tablet daily for 3 weeks he had chest pains. After various oncology visits he found that in order to complete the treatment he would take the tablets until he got pains, give it a day or two rest and then restart them. About 3 weeks after the end of the chemo he was diagnosed with masses of blood clots in his lungs so had to go onto anticoagulants by injection until his operation. He had a filter fitted into one of his arteries via the groin so that he could come off the anticoagulants just before the op. Throughout all this he was marvelous. He carried on playing cricket and competing with his dogs. I do think getting all that oxygen around the system is advantageous. He really could only eat by drinking large quantities of milk with his food. However, if we went through this part again we would use Almond milk instead of the milk because it is a natural alkaline so counteracts the acid and is not carcinogenic. At the op they found the chemo had done an excellent job and he was told they just found 2 dead cancer cells and a shell where the cancer had been. He still had lots of lymph nodes removed as well though although nothing was found in them. His convalescent was a bit difficult (do not have cheese before the op the wind it produced made a pain so great even morphine could not stop it) but the intensive care staff were excellent. Once on the general ward he had to be careful that he was not given the wrong diet too early. He also started to get pneumonia but we were suspicious and it was spotted early and he was put on intravienous antibiotics and made a speedy recovery. Eating during the next year was difficult and a lot of trial and error and old habits die hard and he kept eating the wrong things and suffering with the consequences. You try to build up their weight but some of the things you use to do this seem to aggravate the most. The diet his is now on basically vegan with white meat and oily fish one each week is the most successful for lots of reasons including low carcinogenic and easy to digest and he has maintained a steady weight for two years at 79 kilo for a 6 foot man (who used to be an unhealthy 15 stone). Before the diet change he started getting headaches and was diagnosed with a possible spread to the brain. This was September 2015. He had the tumour removed and although we wanted targeted radiotherapy to this area we were told they had got it all out. We were dubious about this and arranged with our oncologist to have a follow up scan 3 months later. Fortunately, this came through a month early and showed the brain spread was regrowing. CT scans at all times showed his body was still clear. Our oncologist helped us get a second opinion to Bristol where he had targetted stereotactic gamma knife radiotherapy to the tumour. Treatment lasted 55 minutes. There have been no side affects. Over the months the tumour which was 1.5 cm at this point has shrunk to just 3mm and has remained that way for 2 years. Regular CT scans show the body is still clear. I hope his journey helps some of you out there. It is all doable but never be afraid to push and ask. The NHS is marvelous but sometimes you have a bit of a battle through the system. His medical team have been wonderful but you have to work with them. Throughout it all he has kept very very active and with his hobbies probably walks about 20 miles a week minimum.

[Psnee in reply to JVR1]

Thank you for sharing your husbands journey. We are at the very beginning having had an endoscope and CT scan and it all seems to be so daunting. Your post has courage and hope.

[JVR1]

Best wishes and good luck. Keep Brave.