Husband is 75 and for a few months had suffered from excessive burping when eating/drinking. July 2009 Went to GP after suddenly almost choking one day. GP (bless him) immediately arranged for camera-down-throat job at Southend hospital. We had thought they'd say hiatus hernia or similar...... However, they couldn't get the camera down all the way cos of a 'growth' blocking its passage and the operative told us, regretfully, it was almost definitely cancer. Biopsies were taken and a CT scan done. We went back a week later & told T3N1 oesophageal cancer. PET scan done and then seen by surgeon from London Hospital, Whitechapel (they don't do this surgery in Southend) who said that cancer was at junction to stomach, it is operable and the intention was to CURE. Arranged for 9 week's ECX chemo (3 sessions every 3 weeks plus daily chemo pills 1300mg twice a day). Plan is 9 week's chemo, then scan, then 4-6weeks for body to recover, then surgery, then repeat of 9 weeks chemo. 1st infusion done 2 week's ago. First 9 days poor hubby felt awful but got considerably better from then & his ability to eat has vastly improved tho sometimes he gets bad pain in front and in back. Appt.with oncologist Monday 21st Sept, 2nd infusion Friday 25th. Having read other folks' problems after surgery, while trying to be optimistic we are dreading the surgery/recovery bit. Sounds horrendous. February 2010: my how things can change....... After end of pre-op ECX chemo was sent for lung/heart tests to make sure all was good for surgery on Dec.16. Cut long story short, on Dec 11 it was discovered that there was previously unknown heart disease which would ultimately need triple bipass. This ruled out surgery to remove cancer. We were dumbstruck having psyched ourselves up for surgery. Told that had to prioritorise and cancer needed treating first. Hubby put on 5½ weeks radical combined radiochemotherapy. He is now on week 3. Will be scanned approx 2 months after treatment ended. We wait and pray ......
Feb 14 2010 start week 5. Hubby inpatient for approx 6 days for radiochemo. Feels ok. Eating fine. Coping with treatment well. Saw Oncologist who is 'optimistic'.
Feb 18 Almost end of inpatient treatment and just 3 radios next week. Then this regime finished. Philip doing REALLY well with little or no side effects so far apart from feeling a little nausea (pills stop this) and tiredness. Watch this space.....
Tuesday Feb 23. Just tomorrow's radio and the 'treatment' ends.... I'm scared (but brave on outside) and Philip is reassuring me! I think the combined therapy has caught him up as the last couple days he has moments where it would seem that every ounce of energy/stamina has left his poor body. He has also become very emotional e.g he cried last night when the Cancer Research ad came on the tellie and showed small kids who are affected. "It's bad enough for me but why those poor kids?"
March 8. When Philip finished his radiochemo just over a week ago, they warned that after 10-14 days it would really kick in and he should expect to feel yuk. They gave us a clinic appt. for last Thursday to could check on how he was doing. He hadn't been too bad til Wednesday (usual tiredness etc) but he seemed to go downhill after that. For example, from having no eating problems, he found that even drinking water caused him to belch loudly; sometimes the burp popped up sometimes it didn't want to (despite meds). He suddenly got 'breathy.' Sometimes nauseous. Generally yuk - I'm sure a lot of you will understand.
When we arrived at clinic (for what we thought would be a chat) they did a blood test and chest x-ray. While we waited for results, they explained that often the radio for OC can damage the lungs and certainly make the food pipe raw.
The x-ray came back no problems. The blood test showed his white cell count was 'on the floor' and they immediately admitted him. He's still in hospital and on IV antibiotics. They are being very caring and looking after him well but the veins in his arms have collapsed and they're having difficulty drawing blood. He never, ever complains but each time they try he's in agony. This morning the 'vampire lady' who's job is to take blood actually gave up after the umpteenth try, saying she wouldn't put him thru any more and she'd have get advice. Not sure what happens now. I know they've got to keep checking his count. I feel so sad for him. His positive attitude is still there, but it's getting the s**t kicked out.
We have a CT scan appt for April 6 and it can't come soon enough. As surgery is out of the question, wedesperately need to know if The Buggar has been aggressively attacked. The oncologist said the radical radiochemo was given as a 'curative' treatment. I pray he's right. The ECX given last year didn't make much of an impact (less than 30%)- altho to be fair, Philip was able to eat steak and chips no problem!
Oh yes, final bit of sympathy please: the hospital has the sickness bug and has closed 5 wards and are not allowing ANY visitors. Knowing his immune system is so low, I am soooo worried. So I can't even be with my lovely hubby. Thank goodness he's got the mobile so we can talk. But it's not the same as tender touches or just sitting there while he sleeps .......
Mar 9. Still in hospital;no visiting :( ; still IV antibios. White cell count up goodee. Vampires still finding difficult to get bloods from veins.
