Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hi Tracey
You’re very welcome here and I hope you’ll get some answers to your questions, or at least pointed in the right direction.

A total gastrectomy such as your husband had usually signifies that the tumour is located very near to or inside the stomach, with involvement of the oesophagus. It’s quite common for the tumour to occur at the gastrooesophageal junction where it’s necessary to remove either part or all of the stomach. The Ivor Lewis is one type of procedure used to carry out an oesophagectomy, named after the surgeon who first performed this type of surgery. It is carried out in two stages and involves an incision from the breastbone to naval and then another one from under the right breast right around to the spine (right thoracotomy). You can read about this procedure on the link below:
http://www.roswellpark.org/Patient_Care/Types_of_Cancer/Esophageal/Esophageal_Center_Patient_Handbook/Ivor_Lewis_Esophagectomy

One of the side-effects is the dumping syndrome which you think your husband might be suffering from. I too still get this 2 years on and it’s very unpleasant causing nausea, severe sweating and fatigue. It is manageable by diet and is made a lot worse by sweet things such as chocolate, cakes and biscuits. It’s common to suffer loss of appetite after this surgery but this does improve within a few weeks. Your husband should be able to manage small, unspiced meals by now and perhaps his appetite will improve once he gets back home. This link explains the dumping syndrome:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dumping-syndrome/DS00715/DSECTION=symptoms

Your husband will improve but it does take patience and a long time, anything from 6 months up to 18 months is usual, though of course there are exceptions as each one of us is unique. When is your husband likely to be going home, as from my own personal experience I was better able to cope with the diet once at home?

As you can see on this thread, there are a few of us here at various stages of post-surgery recovery/treatment. Mick (Brumigem) had his surgery over three years ago, so we draw a lot of inspiration from him, as well as a few smiles, so I’m sure he will drop by to say Hi.

I have accepted your friend request so please feel free to send a message when you want to. Hope your husband is feeling better today and let us know how he’s getting on.
Crystal xx

Hi Jane and Nick
You're in my thoughts and I'm so very much hoping that Nick is alright. Please let us know how you're getting on.xx

Hi Ben
How are you too, you’re often in my thoughts and I hope all is going well? xx

Hi Woody
I hope your recovery continues to go well and hope to hear from you soon. xx

Hi Netty
Thinking of you and hoping that today is a much better and sunny one. xx

Hi Mermaid, thanks for the very sensible advice, it’s absolutely correct and I hope all is well with your husband, it definitely seems as though it is. xx

Mick – ((((hugs))) xx

To everyone else looking in I hope your day is sunny in spite of the weather.
Crystal xx

Hi Tracey
It does seem quite unusual that the doctors haven’t yet discharged your husband, as usually they like to see the patient mobile fairly quickly and sent home as soon as is reasonably possible, barring complications and setbacks. Perhaps they don’t consider your husband is fit enough yet or else it’s a case of slow administration. Does your husband himself feel ready to go home? Also, your husband would have been assigned a GI nurse and / or a Mac nurse from the start of his treatment so I should ask that nurse when he can be discharged.

It’s such early days after his surgery that the symptoms of nausea, weakness etc sound about normal, although of course they can also be attributed to dumping syndrome. Your husband certainly shouldn’t be eating those three regular size meals, instead, as Karen has already mentioned, he should be having very light food, very often and I think then he would find that the dumping symptoms lessen and he will begin to feel better. Any weight gain will be a gradual process, right now it’s more important to find the right balance of food he can tollerate and eat in small amounts, but regularly. Anyway, I hope you’re able to find out soon what the delay is and why he can’t be discharged. Let us know how you get on. What is your hubby’s name?
Crystal xx

Hi Cheekyjools
Welcome here, thanks for your kind words and I hope you’ll come and post here again with your story or any queries you may have.
Crystal xx

Hi Karen hope you’re well and your husband continues to do well xx

Have a nice evening all xx

Hi Tracey
I’m really pleased to hear that Tony is now at home where he can continue his recovery properly. Those reclining beds are fantastic, my husband bought me one and I don’t know how I could have managed without it, it was just so comfortable and appropriate for those kinds of surgical wounds. Good news too that you have local support so I’m sure that will be an enormous morale boost to Tony. And of course life can be normal again. We’re still here as well if you need any help.
Crystal xx

Jane and Nick
Your news is heartbreaking as I know what you will have been through all these past months and the constant hope that we all share that it will turn out alright. You mentioned a while ago that there was a likelihood of it returning and I am so very sorry that this came about, my heart goes out to you and Nick. We have to fight so hard to try to beat this cancer and the surgery is hard won and seems such a prize at the time, and for many it is. I’ve said this before though, with this particular cancer, nothing is for certain and nothing is set in stone. Try to fight on, stay strong, there are people here who’ve somehow surmounted all obstacles and are still around a long time after their grim prognoses. Any time you need to talk we are here, you aren't alone.
Love Crystal xx