the waiting game

1 minute read time.

My husband - 44 at the time -  was diagnosed in february 2010 with cancer of the oesophagus. It is situated at the junction of the stomach. He is rated as T3 N1 M0. Having under gone  9 weeks chemotherapy at The Royal Marsden Sutton, he was given a date for the operation. There was an 8 weeks wait for his body to regain strength.

Unfortunately within 4 days of chemo finishing he noted that his eating had started to deteriorate. A few more tests and another meeting with the surgeon concluded with the cancellation of his op and a lengthy weeks wait whilst them- that- be decided whether or not his cancer was too aggresive to treat.

Thankfully, the call came 6 days later to say he would be given radical treatment of combined chemoradiotherapy daily for 6 weeks. There would then be a 12 weeks wait to allow radiotherapy to do its thing.

Treatment completely battered my husband  and unfortunately many symptoms have returned. He had a CT scan on Monday 8th Novemeber and we go in on the 15th for the results. We don't expect miracles but we pray for the words that confirm the surgeon now believes him to be in an operable state.

Fingers crossed that our little family -- daughter of 9 and son of 6 - will be able to raise a smile for the first time in such a long time.

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    hi my husband was diagnosed with the same thng in oct, just had first chemo on tues gone. so far he is doing ok, he has it in liver and lynph nodes as well. we have managed to get his pain under control, just waiting to see how the days pan out now have a disttrict nurse comming to see us on monday. the chemo is only to help shrink the tumor and give him a bit more time. hope things go well for you too

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    WOW! Thank you all so much for the beautiful messages. I am deeply touched by them all. Thank you. I feel most humble to be in all your thoughts x

    During the early diagnosis stage there were concerns over his liver but thankfully it came back clear. There are three lymph gland affected also and the first chemo sessions barely touched them let alone the tumour itself.

    We are optimistic that if the lymph glands alone have shrunk then my husband may be offered surgery.

    Jax001 - the Marsden is one of the best hospitals in the world. You are in the best of care x

    everything crossed for everyone xxx