Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hi Sandi

What an inspirational story.  I lost my Mum to cancer, but she put up a very brave fight.  Your mum and sister must have had so much courage, and I truly hope that your other sister will be encouraged by their success in beating this illness. 

Thank youfor sharing this with us.

Love Sheena xxx

Hi everyone

Just received Kenny's appointment for CT scan for next Friday afternoon.  Just wanted to share it with you all.  I am really hopeful that it will show that the treatment and Kenny's struggle will be worth it.

Love to you all

Sheena xxxx

thanks crystal for your wonderful news, and such positivity

I am still having chemo , which hasn't gone to plan if it evr does mind you. but due to have a ct scan in 3 weeks  then the decision time for op date, I have tried to the treat the chemo as a friend an hopefully all will be well at the scan. I will try to keep you posted  and hope I do as well as you have done post surgery as my oesophageal cance has been detected early to.

Best wishes

Maisie

Hi Sheena

I’m so glad to hear that you’ve got that long awaited appointment booked for Kenny now, although I know you’ll be very anxious wondering how things are, having up days where everything is ok and down days where it’s dark and not so good.  Just take deep breaths, small steps and hopefully everything will be alright and fall into place with a good result.  I also hope that you’ll be able to get a satisfactory explanation regarding the distant lymph node, at least they will explain it to you better than I did.  Hopefully, all will go well and I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for you and you can be sure you’ll be in my thoughts, so do let us know how you get on.

Love

Crystal xx

Hi Maisie

If I recall correctly, you had to stop chemo for awhile because of a bad reaction to the picc line, is that right?  I’m sorry it’s not going to plan again, and having just reread your profile it looks as though you are allergic to one of the drugs.  This does happen occasionally and the oncologist can sometimes either adjust the dose or change one of the drugs.

It’s a good tactic to treat the chemo as your friend.  I used to consider my chemo as my friend and ally, and imagined it as a very aggressive adversary with ferocious teeth biting into the weak little tumour and destroying it completely.  Mind games like this can be very beneficial and help you maintain a really positive attitude and help get you through difficult ordeals.  I really hope that you can resume chemo again without too many more ill effects.

Just hold onto the fact that it has been detected early because that is good news.  Let me know how you get on with the scan.

Love

Crystal xx

Hi Crystal

I think I have accepted that operating may be out of the question.  However, having read a lot on this site, I realise that the future is not as dark as I thought.  There is treatment, and as long as the cancer hasn't spread any further, then there is hope of a full life for Kenny.

Your explanation of the distant lymph node was perfect and I have done some more research and am not so confused.

I admire the way you answer so many questions and provide reassurance and hope to all of us.  You are a very special person. 

I will let you know how things go on Friday with Kenny's scan.

Sheena

Steve, Fantastic! 3 years, I am so delighted for you.   :-)

Very best wishes to Steve and all reading this. I hope you all had a happy peaceful healthy Easter!

xxxx

Well, today marks another milestone so where better than to just post it here for the record and to encourage others who might be reading. 

It’s exactly four years today that I underwent the Ivor Lewis surgery and thanks to the skills of my consultant and his brilliant team, I’ve recovered really well and continue to do so.  I’m not looking back anymore, but looking forward to each and every day, one day at a time.

Thanks to all my Mac friends for your encouragement, kind words, your own unique and individual courage and for making me smile from time to time. 

This song is how I feel right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI

And this music always uplifts me:

Sacred Medicine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Y4kpZ7xQk

And Steve, (bad year is now a good year), I hope you don’t mind me quoting your beautiful words here from your thread The Demon, as they so inspired me:

To follow a dream – by Steve (bad year is now a good year)

Shall I dare to speak of my secret dream and chance to break the spell I clutch so close to my beating heart, a heart which grows faster with excitement at the chance to see my dream come near? But to understand that our dreams are just as powerful if not infectious when shared aloud can only spur me on to cast them high upon the prevailing wind so that they shall bind with the dreams of others and I shall know I am not alone, for dreams are abundant if we are prepared to grasp and see them through, for my dreams will not forsake me, only I them.

Powerful and breathtaking words!

Lots of Love

Crystal xx

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Maya Angelou

Well, today marks another milestone so where better than to just post it here for the record and to encourage others who might be reading. 

It’s exactly four years today that I underwent the Ivor Lewis surgery and thanks to the skills of my consultant and his brilliant team, I’ve recovered really well and continue to do so.  I’m not looking back anymore, but looking forward to each and every day, one day at a time.

Thanks to all my Mac friends for your encouragement, kind words, your own unique and individual courage and for making me smile from time to time. 

This song is how I feel right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI

And this music always uplifts me:

Sacred Medicine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Y4kpZ7xQk

And Steve, (bad year is now a good year), I hope you don’t mind me quoting your beautiful words here from your thread The Demon, as they so inspired me:

To follow a dream – by Steve (bad year is now a good year)

Shall I dare to speak of my secret dream and chance to break the spell I clutch so close to my beating heart, a heart which grows faster with excitement at the chance to see my dream come near? But to understand that our dreams are just as powerful if not infectious when shared aloud can only spur me on to cast them high upon the prevailing wind so that they shall bind with the dreams of others and I shall know I am not alone, for dreams are abundant if we are prepared to grasp and see them through, for my dreams will not forsake me, only I them.

Powerful and breathtaking words!

Lots of Love

Crystal xx

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Maya Angelou

Well, today marks another milestone so where better than to just post it here for the record and to encourage others who might be reading. 

It’s exactly four years today that I underwent the Ivor Lewis surgery and thanks to the skills of my consultant and his brilliant team, I’ve recovered really well and continue to do so.  I’m not looking back anymore, but looking forward to each and every day, one day at a time.

Thanks to all my Mac friends for your encouragement, kind words, your own unique and individual courage and for making me smile from time to time. 

Lots of Love

Crystal xx

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Maya Angelou