Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hi Mermaid
I hope things have settled down a bit for you, it is hard to have to deal with all these new things. Just getting into some kind of routine takes time and sometimes things happen to upset that routine which causes stress. You have a lot on your mind and need to rest as well, so anything not essential can wait and the main thing is to spend good time with your husband. xx

Hi Jane & Nick
If there are really good moments in the day for each of you I imagine they are the ones you spend together. It’s good that you can take a day at a time because some days are going to be so good you’ll smile a lot. Of course, there will be not so good days, awful days, but you seem to me to have humour and spirit and I hope these qualities can help you both through some of the bad days. xx

Hi Pansy
Many thanks for your lovely words. How is sleeping beauty doing today? If you can wake him up for long enough he might like to sit outside and get some of this glorious sunshine and Vitamin D into him. It will really help to ease those aches and pains as long as he doesn’t overdo the sunbathing. I think by the sound of it he’s in really good hands, as you sound a very capable lady and his recovery will go well at home with you to look after him. xx

To Everyone else, you’re all in my thoughts and I hope all is going as well as it can for each of you. Take care. xx
Sunny day to all.
Crystal xx

Since my Ivor Lewis in Apr 2008 I have had trouble with coughing and choking while trying to eat and an uncomfortable and sometimes painful feeling in my right lung. I know there can be complications with the lungs after the operation and I signed the consent form to this effect. I have only been to see the consultant a handful of times since the operation and each time I have complained about the coughing, chocking and persistent lung problem.

On the last visit I was referred to the ENT department as it was thought that the chocking may be down to vocal cord damage, I was skeptical about this but went along to the ENT dept so they could put a camera up through my noise and down my throat to check the cord which checked out ok. I asked the ENT consultant if the chocking could be down to the Vegas nerve, he replied that bruising of the nerve during the operation can cause some of my symptoms but was more concerned that I may aspirating into my lung which he said could be potentially fatal. From my research into this problem it is my understanding that if it is acid from my stomach getting into the lung I can develop an abscess or pneumonia if tiny bits of food is lodging in the lung and turning bad.

I had the bedside swallow test carried out which has turned out to be inconclusive and have been referred for a video fluoroscopy test where they can record the swallow in more detail. I was wondering if anyone else had a similar problem, and if so what was the outcome, or is it just something I am going to have to live with?

Hi Chrystal

Firstly congratulations on your 2 year mile stone, I am so glad you are doing well, bar the irritating problems you have mentioned in other posts, thanks for being here to help out like you do.

I will keep you posted about the outcome of these tests, I agree it would be very weird if it were anastomotic leakage after all this time. I have managed to cut out most of the sweet things out of my diet and am just about managing to hold my weight steady so if it were not for this irritating problem I am still having, which I must say has been improving over the last few weeks, things would be getting back to normal. I am feeling that life is most defiantly worth living again, one thing is for sure I won’t be sitting around this summer wrapped in a blanket!

Thanks again

Hello all

Its a while since my last post - I haven't been too well - a trip back into hospital with intractable vomiting, then 2 weeks at home with no appetite at all. It was pretty grim, and I got very depressed. Feeling better now though, and my GP has persuaded me to try antidepressants, which I started 10 days ago.

I went to see the oncologist last Friday. He discussed the biopsy report with us. There were no nodes involved and the margins each side of the tumour were clear. However, there was one small part where the knife came very close to the tumour and he said that there is a small risk of microscopic cancer cells being left behind. He then went on to offer a course of radiotherapy (5 days a week for 5 weeks) combined with low dose chemo.

I don't want to have radiotherapy - the side effects are not nice at all and I have had enough of feeling ill. Besides that, the last time I saw my surgeon he confirmed that he had got everything out but he said that the oncologists would probably want to do radiotherapy. He actually advised me against it, saying ' I know what I saw at operation and I know we cleared everything with good margins'. He did advise chemo tho, and the oncologists said that I could have chemo alone, but that it wouldn't be low dose, which means another 9 week course. I can cope with chemo, I didn't do too badly with the pre-op course.

I have discussed it no end with John and my daughters and they support my decision. I have a few days to let them know what I want to do. In the meantime, I'd be interested to know your thoughts on it?



Nick and Jane

I'm so sorry to hear your news. I'd love to be as brave as you two. You are both in my thoughts x

Crystal

Hope you're ok. Thanks for your e-mail. I'll reply soon as. x

Woody
Hope you're still doing well x

Rumbler
Hope you are too. x

Hugs and kind thoughts to all

Netty

Hi Netty
It’s good to see you up and about so to speak and to know that you’re getting on top of the various side-effects of the surgery. I know how hard you’ve struggled with some of these post-surgery issues and how brave and undaunted you’ve shown yourself to be in dealing with them. I take my hat off to you Netty.
I don’t blame you for not wanting radiotherapy, neither would I, and if your surgeon has advised against it then personally I’d go along with that. I’m sure your surgeon is absolutely confident in his handiwork and only he can know for sure how close the knife came to contamination. However, he is advising chemo, as is the oncologist, so this leaves you with an important decision to make, and which, if I’ve read your message correctly, you’ve reached your decision and decided to have the chemo treatment. If that is correct then I think you’ve made the right choice. If there were a slender chance that the cancer could return then I personally would definitely opt for the chemo. Whatever you’ve decided Netty, the main thing is that your family totally supports your decision, and that in my book is all that matters, because they want what is best for you.
Let us know what you’re going to do and I wish you good luck and all the best.
Love Crystal xx