Early Stage Diagnosis and Treatment

[ShineCafe]

Hi Folks,

I’m a 48 year old female and diagnosed a few weeks ago with early stage oesophageal cancer in the lower part.

I’ve struggled for years with my swallowing and was also diagnosed approximately 6 years ago with a hiatal hernia and a very small patch of Barrett’s Oesophagus.

Despite being given my diagnosis on the 5th March, the two surgeons doing my procedure are not being able to align their diaries until mid May (hopefully!) I’ve also been told my surgery is complicated?? I’m due to have an EMR for the tumour followed by HALO ablation for the now larger section of Barrett’s.

Please could I ask if anyone has experience of having an EMR and HALO treatment (with the NHS) and what your experiences were, such as during and recovery after.

I’d also love to know if it’s normal to have two surgeons perform an EMR as I thought this was quite a simple procedure - that’s what the nurse at the hospital told me.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks. X

[SpanielMads]

Hi ShineCafe

I’ve recently had an EMR in February this year, this was following Chemoradiotherapy for stage 2 OC last year. I had the EMR as my followup last November show HGD cells so they used EMR to remove the cells.

I’ve had my follow-up appointment since EMR and they were very happy with the procedure. They got a good margin and all the HGD cells.

I don’t know why I didn’t have HALO, maybe it’s because I’ve had radiotherapy already in that area. I never asked

Recovery from the EMR took a good few weeks, say 3-4 but I do feel fine at the moment.

As for two different surgeons, again I don’t know however would like to think the two procedures are different, therefore requiring different skills.

I know EMR are specialists endoscopist. Not all do them

I hope all goes well.

Xx