Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hello all

I had the op in February and all went well.  Recently I have noticed swelling along the wound line and am not sure what this could be.  They have found a lung infection on the same side and I am being treated for that, but the swelling is starting to impede my movement.  I am going to see my onc and hopefully the surgical team this week, but just thought someone could shed some light on it for me.

Any ideas?

hi Lyn, I wanted to say my dad had the surgery 18 months ago and he made a full recovery......... I wish you all the best. XOXOXO

Hi All, sorry for my slow replies to your posts, so I’m now trying to catch up on everyone’s messages here and in the group.

Hi Bryan, I hope you’re continuing to progress well from the surgery, but I was sorry to hear that you may have developed a hernia.  I hope that this hasn’t meant further surgery for you, as that would be unimaginable so soon after the major operation.  As for the tinitus, sometimes this can be one of the side effects of some chemotherapy drugs, which hopefully will fade in time.  Anyway, I really hope you’re feeling much better, controlling the dumping syndrome by diet and generally improving day by day. 

Let me know how you’re doing as I see you haven’t updated your blog for a week or so.

All the Very Best

Crystal xx

Hi Maisiebird

Sounds as though hubby is doing really well, and good to hear he’s exercising at the gym and hopefully walking quite a bit as well.  I read recently that exercise is the very best thing for former cancer patients and scientists believe that it could actually stop recurrence:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2023583/Exercise-cancers-superdrug-stop-disease-returning.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

One year on, your hubby’s symptoms are quite normal with dumping, acid reflux etc and even four years on I still have to sleep upright and still get dumping from time to time.  We are never as we were before, but you learn more how to control these side effects by diet, exercise and bloody-mindedness lol. 

You’ve come a long way and are now enjoying a normal family life again with your lovely Summer Rose.  I hope you have a really good holiday – the cruise sounds perfect and what a great idea to renew your vows.  I wish you both a safe and happy journey and do let me know how you’re getting along from time to time, especially after the annual check-up.

Love and Hugs to you Maisiebird.

Crystal xx

Hi Sarah

You’re very welcome regarding the book recommendations and I hope you and your dad can put together some sort of personal battle plan using some of their ideas.  During chemo I drew a large picture of the weak, insignificant cancer cells being attacked by huge, white and strong healthy cells together with the shining chemo drugs, imagining the total destruction and elimination of the cancer cells and complete victory for the healthy cells and chemo drugs.  This picture gave me a focus every day and even on my worst sickness days made me feel loads better, so visualisation, at least for me personally, played a large part in day to day healing. 

I hope all is going to plan and that your dad is coping with the chemo treatment.  What was the outcome of the meeting with the consultant?  I’m keeping fingers crossed that all goes well and that your dad will have the surgery in due course.

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Love

Crystal xx

Hi Lyn

Many thanks for your kind words and I’m happy that you gained some encouragement from reading through this thread.  Being positive-minded is very beneficial to both patient and carer, but I know that some days it’s just impossible to conjure up that sort of strength because of the insidious worry.  That’s ok too, because another day you will feel stronger and positive again and that is what counts.

Right now I imagine you’re feeling pretty nervous about the impending results from the staging, so I’ll be keeping fingers crossed that all goes well with a very good outcome.  Your team will do their level best to ensure appropriate treatment and of course, you can always come here to ask questions and get support from all the lovely folk here that understand exactly what you’re going through.

Lots of Luck and Best wishes this week.

Love

Crystal xx

Hi Chandigunda

I’m glad that your surgery went well although I really understand your natural concern about the recent lung infection and subsequent swelling around the surgical scar.  It’s all too easy to get an infection in the early days of recovery and six months down the line is still early days.  I know that every lump and bump during this time is a major worry to us, but nine times out of ten it’s generally nothing sinister this early after surgery.  It could be that the lung infection has also penetrated the soft and still vulnerable scar tissue causing the swelling and possible redness and soreness.  My own scars used to swell slightly for no apparent reason without any infection, so I just used to monitor it and attribute the swelling to overdoing the exercise and sleeping badly.  Sometimes, even a shower would cause the scars to become sore and swell slightly.  Anyway, you are doing the right thing by seeing the oncologist about this, as any infection is serious enough and will need expert attention to get the infection under control.  I’ll be keeping fingers crossed that all goes well and that you have nothing to worry about.  Do let us know how you get on won’t you.

Good Luck.

Crystal xx

Hi mydad

I think we’ve spoken before and I’m really happy to hear that your dad has made a very good recovery.  It’s always good to hear from others who’ve been through this surgery, especially from those who recover quickly like your dad, as this kind of information is important for others facing the surgery.  As you know, there are different rates of recovery with assorted side effects and problems, so it’s good to hear about all the possible scenarios.  I send my very best wishes to you and your dad and hope that he may continue to do well and lead a healthy life once again.

Love

Crystal xx

Hi Crystal,

Thankyou for the best wishes to dad. Your posts were very helpful to me when dad was diagnosed and we were desperate for infomation, so thank you always.

Regards mydad  

Hello Crystal, I've told Dad about your visualisation technique and he's going to have a go - Mom's joining in too! 

Dad's eating is slightly worse (it's been 4-5 weeks since diagnosis) and food is getting stuck.  He drinks a lot with meals and insists on eating solid food. He's very, very strong-minded but we are aware that he may need a softer diet soon. He's changed to soya milk and has upped his fruit and vegetable intake.  He's also embraced the 'bright' food and the house is full of raspberries, strawberries, beetroot and the like!

The surgeon wants to do more tests (a little frustrating as they are repeating tests already done 2 weeks ago). He has to have more bloods, another CAT scan and the laparoscopy that you mentioned.  He's fine with it all and told them to book him in as fast as possible.  The Hospital said he may need a 'break' between tests.  He said no way!!! Book the tests in and let's get some treatment started.  This is the man who didn't need a panic button in the PET machine.....

Think he may need chemo first (I think).  It's just all waiting.  The nurses have been fantastic and have explained the need for further tests (as we were worried about the further delays). Hopefully we should have a treatment plan the week after next. 

We had a fantastic weekend, we are just treating him as normal and we had a lovely day out yesterday.

Thank you for your continuing support and ideas, it's been so helpful to us.  I'm sending you lots of love. xxxxx