Extremely sorry to know you have been diagnosed with OC.
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) of consultants, surgeons, oncologists and radiologists etc will come to conclusion recommendation, best suited for your specific case. Your consultant will be your focal point for that options being discussed with you. Your cancer nurse specialist (CNS) will be your focal point once you off the consultant.
The MDT considers all variables specific to your diagnosis to derive best prognosis. This is very specific to your specific cancer conditions like staging, metastasis and including age, health, physical fitness, any existing underlying conditions or comorbidities including smoking, alcohol, drug history amongst other variables.
Have you completed CT scan, PET scan?
What was the outcome of the endoscopies if these have been carried out?
Fingers crossed as it is diagnosed so you will be in good care.
Choice of surgery as a treatment is subject to all the variables mentioned above, especially whether the cancer is localised or metastised into other areas, age etc.
Chemotherapy is also one of the choice amongst other options on its or combination, or not at all in some cases.
Anything I would say in regards to treatment for you would be pure speculation and therefore would kindly request you to wait until seeing your surgeon/consultant to know fact based discussion on your options.
Is your diagnosis at the Lower GE junction or in between in the oesophagus to throat?
It will be helpful for others to relate if you can share more information of yours, only if you happy to.
We all been through this emotionally anxious stage from diagnosis to selection of the treatment to recovery. The journey continuesto 5 years survival to onwards.
In answer to your questions, early March I had a CT scan, followed by a PET Scan.
My CNS, who I have not yet been able to meet due to hospital restrictions resulting from COVID 19, has informed that the PET Scan results show that cancer is present at the Lower GE Junction, there was also evidence of cancer in my liver and a pelvic muscle.
The CNS also stated that Chemotherapy would be scheduled, to reduce the tumour in size before an operation would be considered, this would be via IV and possible in tablet form.
I can state at this time that I am a very fit 63 years, health is good, not overweight, no underlying conditions, non smoker and non drinker.
As I have not yet had my first appointment with the surgeon/consultant, this is scheduled for early next week. I will be happy to feedback the outcome soon afterwards.
Thank you again for your reply and I look forward to hearing from you and others members from OPA in the near future.
Hi KRH I am sorry to hear that you have received this diagnosis. At this moment and time things are restricted I know that having experienced restrictions to have investigations done recently and I know that you will have many worries concerning the plan of treatment which will be in front of you. I however have been assured that pathways for people presenting with symptoms and consequently being diagnosed are still open. I note that you have many things in your favour being healthy not overweight non smoker and non drinker. Did you suffer with Barretts previous to your diagnosis? This Chat room is very informative and the support invaluable from the many members and carers. xx
As you will appreciate, I am, and my family are very anxious at this time. As previously mentioned my first appointment with the Surgeon / Consultant is next week, so we are all hoping and praying that he will present us with positive news going forwards.
In answer to your question regards Barretts, no I have never previously suffered with this type of illness. The first time that I noticed having difficulty with swallowing some solid foods was early January, so I went GP and he prescribed a daily course of Omeprazole 20mg for 4-6wks.The tablets helped a little but the condition remained.
A second visit to the GP resulted in a referral for endoscopy, March 3rd. This was when they discovered the tumour.
CT followed a week later, then PET scan 2 wks after.
Next week will be a key week for understanding more, I would be grateful if you or any member on the Chat Room could advise on what questions i should be asking of the Surgeon/Consultant.
I have began to compile a 'questions' list, but if there are any specific questions that you believe i should/must ask, I would be very pleased to hear.
The waiting time for any results or consultations are the worst the anxiety levels for yourself and those around you intensifies. I presented with similar symptoms to yourself and treatment path was the same Omeprazole initially however due to the Corona Virus my Endoscopy was an issue as it is an Aerosol generated procedure so only urgent CA patients were being scoped however I was lucky and a very empathetic Consultant who carried out the procedure within 5 days. During the Endoscopy they found I had a Hiatus hernia and a Schatzki Ring which can cause similar symptoms to OC. I am still however experiencing the symptoms and I have a lump on my neck and have developed a hoarse voice so they are now looking at my lungs. I am waiting on a chest X-ray and neck ultrasound. I found this chat room to be very helpful at a time when my anxiety levels were very high and many of the people who replied to my comments were both knowledgeable and most of all sympathetic to my concerns. Many have been through the journey you are about to embark and will no doubt share their stories with you. Many hours of research for me uncovered that being fit is very important and to try and take as much nutrition as possible prior to the commencement of any treatment. I did find encouraging stories of people who had been diagnosed and some years later were still passing on their advice and tips to help with some of the problems they encountered. Having a list of questions is very sensible as I am sure during the consultation next week you will be supplied with so much information that you may forget to ask questions you feel are important to seek answers for. I also searched the chat room for questions that I had in the Search Health Unlocked bar at the top right hand corner of the page I found this very helpful. I wish next week was here for you already and you had more answers to the many questions you have Xxx
As others here have said once you start on the road, i.e. your scans, it's one step at a time, I think most of us had chemo to reduce the size of it and I had both I V and tablet which did reduce it's size.
I know how worrying it is for not only yourself but for your family and friends, you will be asked to get as fit as possible for your age/health and it will not do any harm to make a gentle start now, when I was diagnosed we lived in a block of retirement flats so I started corridor and stair walking, slowly building up the time.
Good luck with your appointment next week, I found it good to have someone (my wife) with me.
Its good to read that you recommend keeping as fit as possible, as I and my family are focused on this.
My weight is remaining stable, not losing any. I am managing to eat selected foods, like porridge in the mornings, mashed potatoes with soft fillings and pureed foods, Shepherds Pies etc..
My wife and I will attend next weeks appointment.
I will let the Chat Room know the outcome of the appointment.
My dad is a couple of weeks ahead of you in this process. He had is endoscopy on 10 March.
He has had CT, PET and MRI scans.
Two weeks ago he had to have a stent inserted as he could not swallow very watery porridge.
Fortunately following the MRI scan his Liver is clear but they have found something in his left arm. He now needs to have a biopsy on his arm.
His consultant does not think an operation is suitable as Dad is 78 and 20 years ago had 6 valve heart replacement surgery.
Currently he is an energetic 78 year old and not overweight and doesn't smoke.
Yesterday he went for his first Oncology appt. Unfortunately because of Coronavirus he had to go alone. Dad found it difficult to understand as the consultant quite rightly, was eating a mask.
I will ring the Cancer nurse today to see if she can explain the process.
Dad thinks he needs to have a biopsy on his arm before they start treatment ( they dont know when this will be due to Covid19) and the treatment after this procedure will be both by tablet and intravenously.
The consultant told him that one of the meds they could use has a risk of causing heart problems and he needs to decide with the family if he wishes to go ahead with this medication or there is an alternative, but he thinks this may not be as effective.
I think the uncertainty of what is happening and when is very difficult to deal with.
Life seems so cruel to have this diagnosis at the same time as a pandemic. All I want to do is give both mum and dad a hug but due to social distancing and their health conditions this is not possible.
The Cancer nurse and dietician at are wonderful caring people and I'm sure they will be in a position to explain with clarity the next steps.
I really do wish you all the best with tour treatment plan.
It is a very difficult time for all. I really do hope that your father keeps well.
I am finding that the network of help, guidance and support of this specific site is extremely helpful, wonderful people.
As you will have read, I meet with my Consultant for the first time next week. Myself and my family are of course anxious for what he will say, but we hope and pray that he will recommend an operation in the near future. 🙏
I will keep the site updated with my Consultant notes and proposed treatment plan.
Hi, In Feb this year my husband suddenly had difficulty with swallowing and choked when trying to wash down food with water and was losing weight.
The GP ordered a barium swallow, an ultrasound followed with a gastroscopy; and results confirmed he has a tumour in Barrett’s Esophagus. Then CT and PET scan to stage the OC (T2 N1 M0), 1 lymph node located close to the tumour was involved.
This was a total surprise to learn that he had GORD, Barrett's Oesophagus and OC. My husband was fit, doesn’t smoke but drank a lot since his navy days.
End March, my husband started 5 weeks of chemo-radiation (1x chemo and 5x radiation each week). He nearly had to stop chemo treatment because his platelet count was low. Luckily the platelet increased so he could complete the sessions. Currently recuperating and surgery is scheduled for 2/6/2020.
Please build up your health and put on weight.
My husband drinks Sustagen hospital formula twice a day and eats (very slowly and smaller portions) 3 main meals even when he doesn’t have any appetite. Please stay positive and get plenty rest. My husband naps in the afternoon.
Throughout his chemo-radiation he maintained his weight (82 kg). He tries to walk for an hour (he tires easily) when the weather permits. Before this sickness, he enjoys walking 7km and goes to the gym when he has time. I feed him chicken, eggs, fish and towards the last 2 weeks of chemo-radiation and another 2 weeks after treatment, he felt pain in his chest every time he eats and drinks.
Last week his white blood count was too low for surgery but yesterday another blood test showed his white blood count has increased to nearly normal. Next Wed he’ll need to do another blood test to check the white blood count is still good for surgery.
You will know what treatment suit you best once your team has analysed your tests results. All the best and take care.
So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I echo the replies you have received . As you already know eating what you can is always important. If you don't do it already keep a food diary and keep an eye on your weight. Load up the food you can eat with high fat content to try and get some weight on whilst waiting for next step in treatment. Do breathing exercises to get as full a breath as you can. And although it is difficult with lockdown walk as much as you can even just round garden or up and down stairs. I got a cheap exercise bike for when I couldn't go out to give me another option.
I was diagnosed in June 2012 aged 63 with OC lower junction (Adena Carcinoma) but fortunately it hadn't spread. I had 9 weeks chemo pre op then the Ivor Lewis Oesophogastrectomi (then 9 weeks post op chemo, I was back at work after 8 months and I'm still working as a plumber lifting radiators and boilers etc now age 71 , so keep faith you can beat it with our fabulous NHS, good luck
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