Well, we have always been described as different but this time it wasn't a 'good different'.
David was admitted to hospital for his esophogectomy (whip the esophogus (with stage III tumour) out, cut out a bit of stomach and make new gullet with the rest of the stomach by joining it to the remainder of the esophogus at the top) on 31st June. Op on 1st July. We live in Bavaria and hosp is an hour away. They told me he would go down at 9.30 am, I arrived at 8 to see him off - they had already taken him!!! I had had a foot op 4 weeks prior, I wailed and threw my crutches I am ashamed to say!!...it worked.... they let me speak to him on the phone down in theatre (though he sounded like he had had 8 pints of Guinness and can't remember a word of all the love I professed down the wire).
Anyway, op successful (though not uneventful - 1 week in intensive care but thats another story) - CLIFFORD was cut out completely but was an aggressive bug*er and our professor says it was a good job we decided to operate NOW cos Clifford would have spread his wings very soon. Still waiting for the definitive pathology and 'way forward' though we do know that peripheral lymph nodes (10 from 30) are involved so its a pretty dead cert that chemo/radio will follow as soon as David recovers from the op (approx 3 months time). his voice may be permanently damaged from his operation - he has an exceptional and awkward anatomy apparently. I know its not important in the greater scheme of things, but he is in the Army and his voice has always been such a big part of him, I will miss it - but, I'll get over it I'm sure!
Seems weird that the day before his op, David ran 5 miles. We managed a stroll around the hospital garden of about 1km yesterday - Boy did he paid for it today - too much too soon, he was knackered today and had a bad one - I have to slow him down in his quest to recover, but it is so hard when he says "I'm fine, I can and want to do this". Still, he managed another first today.... a shower, with new on the ward nursie (me) getting soaked in the process - was a bit of a laugh (though it hurt him to laugh of course). HOME on Tuesday (can't wait to sit/lay next to him again)... I have missed his body in my home.
Is this too long for a blog?? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Julie (wife/nurse!).
FormerMember
Dear Julie,
I too am going through much the same as you but your husband is a bit further ahead than my hubby is. I am writing from Canada as this is the best site i could find for support. The treatment course is different - I have mentioned this to a few other members. First of all, my husband was diagnosed with a tumour at the junction where the esophagus meets the stomach. His course of treatment consisted of 25 doses of radiation, so 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Week one he had chemo and then week 5 he had chemo again (concurrent with the radiation). He has just finished week 5 and has 2 more days of radiation. From here, he will have about 6-8 weeks to 'heal' and get stronger and then we are looking at a similar surgery that your husband had. Needless to say I would be so anxious to stay in touch to see how your husband is doing post surgery. We are both nervous about what is to come. I do not have a blog but I do try to check the sites on a regular basis.
I hope you are coping well - it is difficult isn't it? Right now my hubby is having a hard time keeping anything down so I am trying to get fluids in as I can. Very weak, very tired.
Anyways, my best to you and look forward to watching your blog for all updates.
I just want to add my continued support here to you both and say that David has come through a huge ordeal but is now on the road to recovery and I’m so pleased to hear that he’ll be going home on Tuesday. It does seem that he’s pushing himself a little too hard at present, as even the smallest exertion can be very painful and energy draining, and could even set him back if he’s not careful. In the first few weeks he’ll find he wants to sleep a great deal and this is a good thing, as is exercise, albeit in moderation. His body will soon let him know if he’s overdoing things. Let’s hope that his voice isn’t permanently damaged and that with therapy it will return. So Julie, you get to be in charge and give the orders now, so make sure David does what you say and I’m sure his recovery will be good.
Love Kitty xx
Hi Sherry
It sounds as though your husband’s in the same boat as the rest of us on this thread, except he has adenocarcinoma at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach. Mine was squamous cell carcinoma at mid point, but treatment and surgery are similar. Please feel free to message me any time.
good luck to all the patients and the carers, my husbands is squamous carcinoma of the epiglottis which according to our specialist is quite rare but he is a smoker and yes dispite all my nagging pleading and cajoling still is I really cant understand him he is nearly 82 and has smoked since he was 14 ., today is day 11 of a 6 week course of radiotherapy, we have to attend twice a day, luckily the hospital is only 20 minutes drive away, we live on the Island of Malta
