Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hi Li

I’m so sorry that the initial diagnosis of recurrence has been confirmed and this must have come as such a shock to Gerald and to all of you.  The fact that curative treatment has been mentioned is optimistic, although I know you are aware of the stats.

What the nurse means by ‘oesophageal cancer in the stomach’ is that these new lesions are metastases from the original site, so therefore they are oesophageal cancer cells in the stomach, and not stomach cells.

As you say, if the tumour is localised then treatment will be combined modality (chemo/radiotherapy) and this will be quite aggressive if they are going for a cure.

It’s impossible to give time-scales, especially as treatment hasn’t even begun yet.  Prognosis is dependent upon many factors, especially on how well the patient responds to the treatment, and nobody can know this until the treatment is underway.  Also, it will depend upon how quickly the tumour grows or whether it can be controlled successfully, so all these are factors in determining the outlook.

I am truly sorry about this news and I just hope that, given how strong Gerald is, he can beat this again, and if not achieve a cure, then at least obtain a controlled response.  It’s good that this has been caught early so that any treatment has at least some chance of achieving this.

Let us know when Gerald starts treatment, but in the meantime he must try to stay strong and be as optimistic as possible. 

Love Crystal xx

Just read a blog by Simon P and he has just had a reply from one of girls looking for someone to get intouch with ,thought we had got rid of them on this site. Simon has just been diagnosed with gullet cancer.

Nora x

Hi Nora

I had two of those on my blog today - I  think everybody got one or more!    There are some creeps out there, aren't there?

Hi Simon - you can just delete 'Michelle's' message.  Just log on and click 'delete' next to the message. 

Wishing all of you out there the very best, Grace xxx

hi nora and grace whats all this about in touch? i hope all is going well or as good as it can be

take care

Li 

Hi Li

There are, unfortunately, people who prey upon the site - presumably with the intention of exploiting the lonely and the vulnerable.  On this occasion it was someone calling themselves "Michelle" who was looking for "contacts" and who generously gave her email address so we all could get 'in touch.' All very dodgy and really creepy - to say the least. 

Li - I have been following your story and am so very sorry about recent developments.  How devastated you must have been. Crystal is quite right however:  you should try to remain optimistic - they clearly are intending to tackle this with all that they can. This, in itself, is a good sign. 

Wishing you the all the very best, Grace x

Hey all - haven't been on line for what seems AGES and it seems that lots has happened in a short space of time for some of you.  Wishing you all lots of love for the New Year and hoping 2010 is kind to us all.  David has now stopped his treatments - he managed 5 chemo bouts but could not face any more, it got to the point when just talking about chemotherapy would start a retching attack, the mental effects of treatment were really tough for him - so a wise and the right decision we all (including his consultant) agreed.  He is already feeling stronger day by day and we just hope and pray that we have a good amount of time with him feeling well so we can plough through our "Fu*kit List".  Planning to go to South Africa in Feb to get some sun and strength then on to Vietnam and HOng Kong - as long as the docs let us.  Have already seen lots of London shows (les Miserable tonight) and have just booked Riverdance in April (he has always wanted to see it) Anyway people - keep smiling, keep caring and keep well!  Julie xxx  p.s. Daughter got into Oxford University - HOOOOORRAAAyyyyy (has been her dream since aged 9) to study Arabic and German (gets it ALL from me of course).

Hi Julie

It’s always good to hear from you and you re often in my thoughts.  I’m loving the sound of your fu*kit list and having seen the film the Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, I know where you’re coming from.  It sounds as though it will be a totally brilliant and unique experience and I wish you both so much happiness and good travelling on your journeys together. 

Also, many congratulations to your clever daughter on achieving her dream of taking her place at Oxford.  She obviously has very bright parents. 

For the coming year I hope that the world is your oyster and you find the pearls therein.

Wishing you Love and Happiness

Crystal xx

Hi to Everyone

I hope all is well as this year draws to a close and I’ll catch up with you soon.

Love Crystal xx

Hi All

Was diagnosed with this type of cancer in July 2008 , surgen did a keyhole op to look at the cancer , before the main op !! Unfortunatly the outcome was that it was inopperable , as there were cells spread  to the outside of the stomach wall !! at the junction with gullet . Said it as only a matter of months !!!! He did however send me to see an oncologist , who did all the scans Pet Ct etc and said he would give me a go at some treat ment !! After 2 sessions of ECX  chemo treatment , i could notice the difference , in as much as i could now swallow again !! so i at least knew the tumber was shrinking !!  i then had more scans , and the doc said he wanted to give me another 6 sessions of chemo and 5 weeks of every day radio , this lasted a further 5 months , prety  rough

After all of that , i had a scan in August 2009 , and to my complete supprise the oncologist said he could no longer see any signs of the tumber , or the thickening of the stomach walls !!

I straight away said , was an opperation now possible to give me a chance of a cure ? His reply was , WHY ? THERE IS NOTHING TO OPPERATE ON !!.

Now i dont know what all of this means , and woud be gratefull if any one out there has an explanation for me , as the chemo nurses , and the liason nurse , all hugged a kissed me after leaving the docs office saying i  was1in a thousand that they had seen a result like this !!!!

I do have another scan the end o Jan 2010 , so i will let all know the outcome of that one , but i must say i have no signs of a problem at the moment , and can eat what i want with no signs at all !! I just dont know how this has happened ??

Hi Ben, Steve, Crystal, and Julie, just  to say Ed is now on his 2nd cycle of chemo after our 2 weeks away which were peaceful, if rather wet!

I would like to wish you all a peaceful New Year and all the best from both of us. We dont know the future, but then who does? But your friendship will make it all the more richer as you all have this year for us, many, many thanks, love to you all.

Wow Mike you have had great news and have fought your battle well. I wish you all the best too for 2010 and beyond.

To anyone else looking in I hope you get good news and comfort in the coming year.

Love leisha, xxxxxxxxxxxxx

To Ben, Steve, Leisha, Li, Janet, Julie, Nora, Maggie, Gill, Grace, Marianne, Mick, Christine, Richard, Netty, Wendy and Everyone that’s posted here and in the Oesophageal Group.  Also to those looking in and to Absent Friends,

I wish you All a New Year filled with Peace, Harmony and Love, with laughter to ease the journey and a light to guide you in dark places.

With Love and Best Wishes

Crystal xxxx