Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

1237 replies
7 subscribers
1238262 views

Hi , I’m new to this site but wanted to share my experience of living with oesophageal cancer. I realise that I’m one of the lucky ones in that my cancer was caught relatively early and was therefore operable.

I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in February 2007 and after many tests and two sessions of chemotherapy I underwent an Ivor Lewis operation, which is major surgery to remove the cancer, and lasted around seven hours. I responded well throughout and remained only five days in intensive care before being moved to a general ward and released a week later.

Since then, I’ve continued to do well but suffer from dumping syndrome as a result of the surgery. This is an unpleasant side-effect that causes fatigue, sweating and nausea after eating. Also, I now have to have vitamin B12 injections every three months as my body can no longer process this essential vitamin.

All in all, I feel ok and have remained positive all the way through. I realise I’m extremely lucky and count my blessings every day.

I’ve read so many negative reports about this type of cancer so I felt I had to share something positive for those of you who have, or know someone with, Oesophageal cancer.

All the best

Crystal

ekingfife over 9 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Your Hendrix is superb. Do you take on commissioned work? I to like you had the Ivor Lewis procedure Dec 2013 following 2 rounds of 5 x 24 hours of chemo and back working full time, minus a large tumour classified T3 N2M0 and a wife of 23 years who decided to move in with an ex flame. Not really a major problem having fought and beaten the Beast, so far anyway. Post surgery my tumour was downgraded to a T2 N0 M0. I am 55 this year and met a 51 year old disabled lassie fae the borders who has won my heart and the person I share precious life with. I admire how she deals with multiple disabilities and pain, yet is still incredibly giving.

Being a lifetime Bowie and Ian Dury fan, I am looking for an A4 portrait of each musician/performer who lost their own battle with Cancer.

Would you consider doing these paintings for me and how much would you charge for each painting. I earn £19k per year and have my 16 year old son living with me and who I am supporting through university/college as he was given an unconditional acceptance on an NC in Music Performance.

Look forward to your reply. My personal email is ekingfife@gmail.com.

Thanks for taking the time to read this request. Crystalclear.

Regards

ekingfife

Aka Strum61

Aka Eddie King.

crystalclear over 8 years ago in reply to ekingfife

Today, 21 May 2017 marks a very special date and milestone for me. It is ten years ago on this day that I had the Ivor Lewis procedure (transthoracic oesophagectomy) at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

I shall forever be grateful to Mr George Jacob and his team who carried out the procedure and gave me first class care and my life back. On a daily basis I've been genuinely grateful to them ever since.

My health overall is very good, I walk and cycle daily and have many active interests and this general wellbeing sees me through the occasional days of fatigue and loss of stamina, which these days are more than likely age related. Those small issues just serve to remind me of how incredibly lucky I've been in terms of catching the disease early and having a dedicated surgeon and his team to give me the best chance.

There are some people in this life who dedicate their life to helping others and in being the best that they can be. I think Mr Jacob is such a man. If we take time to pause and reflect, we begin to understand the depth of their skill and dedication and to realise what special human beings they are. My gratitude goes deep.

These days, we live in rural Lincolnshire and every single day I count my blessings and feel thankful. I fill my time creatively with my painting, gardening and cooking, whilst realising that what we, the people on this blog, referred to back then as our 'new normal', has finally become just normal.

This blog no longer has its followers and sits dormant, until every so often I come along to update on milestones, but I felt the need to post my thanks here before my celebration today. This Macmillan site was a rock for me back then, with so many wonderful friends sharing our journeys together. Thank you to all.

If anyone does stumble across this blog, take heart, be strong and positive because anything is possible.

Love and Healing thoughts xx

Below are a few of my recent paintings.

Roses in Silver, acrylic 12" x 12"

crystalclear over 8 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Multiverse, acrylic 20" x 18"

FormerMember over 8 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Replied but do t know if worked x

FormerMember over 8 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Congrats on the 10 - Shaun is at 7yrs 7 months. Not done as well as you - fatigue so much - now in wheelchair, Mobility scooter, Motorbility car, house adaptations etc. Mr J retired a while ago. Currently Shaun in DRI - had discectomy 3 weeks ago and surgery caused spinal stroke. Paralysed left side from waist down. Unknown if he'll walk again, bladder affected too! Keeping in good spirits - both of us. Was his61st bday yesterday - took one of Collies in - she is PAT dog - couldn't go on Ward but were in reception area. Well pleased as he didn't know I was doing that! He had lots of visitors a d I went back again after taking Lila home. Glad to see you doing good and your art is amazing - lots of love and bright blessings to you from us both xxx

crystalclear over 8 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi maisiebird

Great to hear from you and many thanks for the congrats and your kind comment about my artwork.

Shaun seems to have had a terrible time lately with the discectomy and subsequent paralysis. I really hope that in time the nerve damage will repair and he will walk again. It's marvellous that you're both in good spirits and that shows your strength in very difficult circumstances.

The fatigue must be part and parcel of that surgery, but for most people it only lasts a short time. Like Shaun, it hit me hard for around seven years then suddenly I began to feel much better. I will always have to have the B12 jab, but just regaining my energy suddenly like that has made a huge difference. I'm really sorry to hear that it's left Shaun practically immobilised.

I took up painting almost five years ago as therapy which became a passion, but I don't exhibit or sell them, just paint for its own sake. I now have other hobbies too, such as making these metal robot men from household objects. It involved a steep learning curve in metalwork lol. The one below is made from a drinks canister, two small vases, door handles and various nuts and bolts. I call him Clash after Guns n Roses Slash.

I hope you are keeping well R, it can be really difficult for carers and you're doing a brilliant job considering everything that has happened.

I wish Shaun a very happy birthday and Many Happy Returns of the Day and hope he recovers quickly and can go home soon.

So glad you dropped by, really appreciated!

Sending you both love, prayers and healing thoughts. xx

crystalclear over 8 years ago in reply to ekingfife

Hi ekingfife

So sorry for missing your post here! They all go into my spam folder for some reason, even though I set it not to. Plus, I never check my spam very often so things get overlooked. Then when I saw your post I meant to reply and then forgot. My memory is not great!

Anyway, I'm glad that you're recovering well from the Ivor Lewis and by the sounds of things life is looking good for you.

If you're still receiving email from this thread you've provably seen by now that I don't do commissions, although your lovely comment on my paintings is very much appreciated. My painting is simply therapeutic and when people ask me to paint for them, I can do but find it stressful. One day, I may paint David Bowie, his chiselled face would be very pleasing to try to capture.

I hope that you and your family are doing well and enjoying all that life has to offer. Again, my apologies for such a slow reply!

Healing light to you x

ekingfife over 8 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Thanks for getting back to me and congrats on your decade post surgery, Dec 17 will be my 4th year. Like yourself I cherish ever day and thank SPB and his team for removing a T3N2M0 12cm tumour to a T2. I do suffer weekly from fatigue issues but I do work full time. Just back from the fake festival in Perth, UK's top tribute bands and Bowie group Alladinsane joined The Arctic Monkeys and Killer tributes plus 5 local band. RnR for the day including far too much cider but hay, I am here on this earth to live and strive. Love the Clash sculpture. All the best for the next decade.

FormerMember over 8 years ago in reply to crystalclear

Love the Clash - lucky enough to have seen Slash live with Velvet Revolver! Love also your rabbit/hare pic - so much like one of our Pagan Ostara pictures x Shaun may be home tomorrow whilst he waits for a bed on Spinal Injury unit in Sheffield. Lots of provisions being put in place for him. I can't help but be cross that he's coming home worse than he went in! Life changing event. He's being his usual stoic self - it's happened, can't change it, gotta deal with it, as he was when had Ivor! He's really happy that you are doing so well L and sends his best wishes, as do. I xxxx

crystalclear over 7 years ago in reply to FormerMember

It hardly seems a whole year has passed since i last posted here. Now, today is 11 years post surgery and in the words of Nina Simone I'm Feeling Good.

https://youtu.be/D5Y11hwjMNs

I'm always amazed to find this blog still here on the Macmillan site in spite of, or because of, the many changes the site has undergone over the years. So whilst it's still here I shall keep posting once a year whilst I am still here.

Sadly it seems I've missed some of your comments above as I never receive notifications of posts here, so apologies for that.

Maisiebird, I was sorry to read your last message above about life-changing circumstances. I sincerely hope that all is as well as it possibly can be, given those awful circumstances. I wish you both well and send you healing thoughts.

For myself, I'm just adding more things to my Bucket List, which is rapidly becoming an Indulgence List. Whilst I'm still doing my artwork I've also taken up some new interests such as learning to play the Native American flute and also Needle Felting animals. I'm not very good at either yet, but it's fun. We still go to rock concerts and hold large parties in our garden in the summer time.

For the last six months I've been looking after three wild hedgehogs in our spare bedroom and released them into the garden very recently. They were Autumn juveniles and far too small to have hibernated last winter, so would have died. So, we put them in rabbit hutches and kept them warm and well fed until this spring. It was an honour to have seen these lovely but endangered creatures thrive as they did.

I'm lucky beyond measure and thankful for every single day.

Peace and Love to you.

Crystal x

More from this forum

Surviving Oesophageal Cancer