Worried sick..

[bdazzler]

I am currently awaiting an emergency endoscopy for pain in my right shoulder, pain at a certain point when I swallow, spasms when I swallow and heartburn.

I have a young family and am terrified it could be ec. Are there plenty of other problems that could cause these symptoms? Thx

[HONORIUS]

Please don't panic and please, please don't go browsing the Net. All here know the lurching fear that you're experiencing now but you must try to remain calm. You're in safe hands and by identifying the cause you've made the first steps to resolving your condition, whatever that may turn out to be. If it is OC take heart from the many, many correspondents here who've been where you are now but are testimony to the skills of the health care professionals who will work with you to identify and resolve on a curative pathway. And should your worst fears prove correct, I exhort you to stay positive: it's essential for you and for your family. The common metaphor for cancer is one of a battle. I'd say if that's the case, then let the doctors, nurses and consultants do the fighting - your job is to stay focused and as well as possible. This site is populated with sufferers but more importantly it's a community of survivors. And whatever your diagnosis, you have the inimitable advantage of the loving arms of your family to help you.

[mgloughran in reply to HONORIUS]

I love your advice Honorius. I, too, let the doctors do the battling. As a survivor, I am not fighting but dancing with my OC (EC here in the US). Just flowing with the music of the moment and hoping not to feel a tap on my shoulder.

[sms80]

Hi

The waiting is the worse part. I kept on surfing the net whilst waiting for an appointment and made myself ill with worry. Most of the data is out of date but it is only natural to want answers. Stay with us and keep us infomed, as we are with you.

[epo72]

Have you ever experienced the same symptoms before? I have Heartburn, pain when I swallow and pain in my shoulder for many years now! I have severe esophagitis but no cancer... Please wait for the endoscopy don't jump into conclusions

[Spikey]

For most patients, the first symptom of oesophageal cancer is dysphagia (i.e. difficulty swallowing), not pain or heartburn. So, as others have advised, don't jump to conclusions, wait for the results of the endoscopy.

[marycontrary]

My brother was diagnosed with OC in January 2013.

I did a great deal of online research after receiving abysmal treatment in Singleton Hospital and not being satisfied with the sole surgical offer of a Gastric Pull-up, we eventually we found our way to Germany. He underwent interposition surgery in Munich in October 2013 and we return to Germany perodically for check-ups and maintenance treatment as the Specialist nurse at West Wales General Hospital told us that the established post-surgical protocol there is to wait for symproms before doing any investigation.

We have just returned from Germany where, in the course of just one week, he has received a CT scan, an endoscopy and cancer marker blood tests. All clear and in complete remission!

I am not giving advice but offering information and in my opinion we need a paradigm shift in cancer treatment in this country.

[Judearchie in reply to marycontrary]

How did you manage to get treatment in Germany? I ask because my son in law has been diagnosed with in operable oesophageal cancer

[marycontrary in reply to Judearchie]

We did our own research and had to pay ourselves.

My brother was fortunate in that he was stage 2 and qualified for surgery.

An oncoclogist at Singleton Hospital laughed at our concerns and sneered at our attemps to help ourselves. That lit a fire under me.

I discovered, through online research, that there was much we could do to help ourselves and that there are treatments available abroad not known about here.

If you would like any further information about our experience I would be more than happy to provide it.

There are no miracle cures, only treatments, and what works for one person will not necessarily be effective for someonelse. However, there is no law that says you have to accept what a particular specialist tells you and that you should not fight for your life.

I wish you and your family all the very best.

[Hidden]

On the question of whether these symptoms could be something other than cancer, I am sure that the answer is Yes. Pain does sometimes get transferred so that you feel it in other places because of the nerve system. One can get spasms from achalasia, for instance, which is caused by problems with nerve endings, and there are a number of conditions that make swallowing difficult. But the only way of finding out is to await the results of the tests, frustrating and worrying though that is.

I completely agree that we have much to learn from other countries about the way that diagnostic tests are carried out.

[Robotgirl]

Hi,

When I first started having problems swallowing, I was told it was my neck because I'd had some issues with bulging discs and neuropathy... Then I was told it was from acid reflux... I was finally referred for a test for esophageal stasis... A speech therapist takes x-rays while you swallow different foods... I'd had multiple abdominal surgeries already so the stasis wasnt a surprise...

So, yes, it can be many different things... The pain can be from many different things including just inflammation... Or just overdoing it... Just don't panic and listen to your doctor... Taking one day at a time is the best thing to do... That's what I do... Don't research too much, it's good to know what to ask the doctor though... Let God be in control, take a deep breath and relax... No one can control everything... I thank God for every day that is normal, no doctor, no hospital... If I listened to the doctors, I would be driving to the hospital every other day and that's not how I want to live my life. I want to spend it loving my kids...

[Firefly43]

Thank you everyone,appointment made to have the endoscopy.