Hey
My name is Julie and we are in shock!!
My husband David is a fit, healthy, 49 year old soldier, who was posted to beautiful Bavaria last year with the British Army. In March, he was ski touring (tabbing up a mountain then skiing down) and realised that he should not be quite that knackered!!! He has always exercised and realised that being sooo tired could not just down to his age. Anway, he went to our wonderful German doctor who did tests to find out he was anaemic. 2 iron iffusions later, he was still losing iron regularly, an edoscopy followed 2-weeks ago, just on the off-chance they might find an ulcer or something.
They found a tumour. Biopsy and all the other tests showed us it is T3 stage Barretts Adenocarcinoma. David is having an esophogectomy next Wed 1st July (they suggested operating on Monday 29th but that is his 50th birthday!!... I think not). In Germany, the operation comes first, then chemo/radiotherapy if required afterwards (I know the UK tends to do chemo/radio first followed by the op).
We have every faith in our surgeon and are really trying to think positively about the future (although we are thinking about cancer 24/7 we are trying so hard not to!). We know it is vital to approach his op with a CAN DO approach and we will.
David is not scared of his op, he is scared for his quality of life after his op. He loves the outdoors, motorcyling, hiking, climbing mountains - anything that involves activity with his family and friends(he also loves food!). He has the strength to get through his op and his cancer and face up to what the future brings - but he does not know of the physical possibilities and limits that this procedure will bring.
Please, can anyone who has experienced an esophogectomy or who has a loved one who has had this operation, share your experiences with us? We need to be prepared for the future and have realistic expectations for post-op physical fitness.
Thank you, any advice/experiences would be sooooo very helpful - Julie xxx
I’m so sorry that you find your self here but you will find a lot of help and support. There are several people here who have first hand experience of oesophageal cancer, both as patients and carers and who are undergoing various treatments.
I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in Feb 2007 and had an oesophagectomy. (Ivor Lewis), in May 2007. Whilst this is major surgery lasting from 6 to 8 hours, with a recovery time of at least 6 months up to 18 months, many people do eventually recover well from it, albeit with many and varied side-effects which improve over time. If you would like further info surrounding the surgery and recovery, you’re welcome to send me a message where I’d be happy to answer any questions you have and provide you with useful and reliable web links.
I wish you and your husband good luck and best wishes.
Hi Julie, I feel we are in very similar circumstances although my husband (52) has just been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. He too is very fit (had booked holiday to climb Kilimanjaro in July) and you look at him and you would never know there is a thing wrong. We were shattered when they found (accidentally) the tumour. He has to have his bladder removed but with this kind of tumour(s) you have to have chemo pre the op. We are both terrified, scared, hopeful. Life at the moment is like living on a roller coaster. I am a very positive person and this is the only thing that is carrying me through. Andrew is very frightened that when he wakes up from the operation he will have a bag and not the neo-bladder that sits inside his body. He too is scared that he won't have the life that he has now. Who knows? I can only say that it is one day at a time and that anything is possible with the support of people around you.
Julie, I am so sorry to see that your husband has been given a cancer diagnosis. I have no particular words of encouragement for you as I have no experience of oesophageal cancers. All I will say is take one day at a time and make sure to look after yourself as well as your husband. It is so important. Also, talk, talk, talk to anyone who will listen. It is helpful to offload if you can. It doesn't change anything but it is preferable to 'bottling' it all up. I wish David all the very best with his surgery and any further treatments he may need. Take care x x
Hi Julie, my dad was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer 2 years ago. He had chemo first before his op and sailed through it, the part he didn't like was having to spend 1 night every 3 weeks at the Beatson. My dad does not make a good patient. Anyway after the chemo he had his op where they made another oesophagous from his stomach. You may find that David may have a scar on his neck and also on his chest, don't worry about this the scars my dads are amazing, you can hardly see them. Due to the length of the surgery David will spend time in ICU, again don't worry about this, you will find the nursing staff are great. Morphine will be given as pain relief and David may hallucinate but that will pass.
My dad recovered well from this operation as I am sure David will.
You will both be in my thoughts and I am sure he will come through this with flying colours.
I hope the above is useful to you both and helps to alleviate some of your anxieties. Take care both of you and keep us posted with his progress. xx
Thanks so much for your blog reply - yes it does help to know that there is life after surgery!! Only 2 days till D-Day now, both nervous but positive and relieved that we are moving forward to kill the 'Clifford' as it has been named (ridiculous - don't ask!).
