Surviving Oesophageal Cancer

Hi Crystal

Have replied on the other group x

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind me joining in your thread, but I am a bit concerned tonight regarding my mum.

We lost my dad 7 months ago today to bowel cancer only eight weeks after diagnosis. Mum has been losing a lot of weight and has almost completely lost her appetite, although she will eat if we are cooking for her. She has been vomiting for a couple of years, but no-one has come up with answer why. She has also had constant diarrhoea for a year now.

A colonoscopy ruled out anything sinister in the bowel and she was also tested for coeliac disease, which was also negative.

Today we returned to the day unit where dad had his scopes done, which wasn't very pleasant! Mum came out and said the doctor had explained that they had discovered the reason for her vomiting (something to do with bile apparently) and this wasn't a worry as they can treat it with medication, but they found an abnormality on her upper oesophagus which they have biopsied and told her she will have to return for a further endoscopy.

I have read about the possibilites and most of them point to cancer, although I have also read that Barrett's disease can be pre-cancerous, but can turn cancerous. I also noted that it can be caused by prolonged vomitting and acid reflux which mum has had.

I wondered if anyone is aware of any abnormalities that have not been diagnosed as cancer?

The last few years have been horrendous for our family. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (almost 7 years ago), but last year my granddaughter died aged 4 days, then 14 months later we lost my dad, then mum broke her hip and had to have an op to replace it, now this! It just seems all too much and I guess I'm looking for a wee bit of reassurance, although I am a realist and know the possibilities.

I would be grateful for any input.

Best wishes, Christine xx

Hi Christine

This group has been a great help to me recently when husband been having treatment.  Sounds like you have had a dreadful time over the past few years.  We are the same, in the last 11 months we have both lost our Mums, new grand-daughter born, was ill but now thankfully thriving, I had minor surgery then my husband was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.  Following the op, he needed another, was home 2 weeks now is back in hosp again, quite poorly.  Luckily I am ever optimistic!

Hope things go well with your Mum.

Best wishes xxxxxxx

Hi Christine

We don’t mind at all your joining this thread, good to have you onboard, apart from the reason you’re here.

You’re certainly no stranger to cancer and I’m so sorry for all that you’ve been through over the last few years. I can’t even begin to imagine the heartache of losing your granddaughter at just four days old.  It’s tragic.

Regarding your mum, my concern there is that it took so long to discover the reason for the vomiting after two years, coupled with the diarrhoea, which she had for a year.  Anyway, you’re right about Barretts oesophagus and that most people who do have acid reflux go on to develop this condition, which once discovered is monitored closely because it is a pre cancerous condition.  Having said, that it’s impossible to know what the abnormality is as it would just be guessing.  It could be a number of non-cancerous things such as ulcers or a lesion caused by severe vomiting, or inflammation caused by acid reflux.  Hopefully, whatever it is will be benign and can be treated with appropriate medication.  What does strike me from what you say is that your mum has to have another endoscopy, which means that if they suspect cancer then the tumour must be small, because it would be unmistakable otherwise.  I hope it turns out well for your mum and I’ll keep fingers crossed that it’s nothing to worry about.

All the best.

Crystal xx

Hi Maisiebird

I hope today is a better one for Shaun and you can get a GI doctor to examine him to find the underlying cause of the continuous vomiting.  Hopefully, he’ll be released as soon as this is under control.  Let us know how you get on today.

Love and Hugs

Crystal xx

Hi Bacardiwoman

I hope your husband’s feeling a little better today and feels he’s making some progress.  There are days where things just seem to tick along slowly and then something upsets it massively, such as stomach problems or nausea.  For me personally, I found the exhaustion absolutely horrendous and there are hardly any words to describe that kind of fatigue.  It was so bad I actually thought I could die from it, but apparently you can’t.  There will be more and more better days, but it is very early yet.  Hoping all is well today and you can both see some improvement no matter how small.

Love and Hugs

Crystal xx

Hi Crystal

have replied again on the other thread - feel like going backwards - certainly do!

x

Thank you for the replies ladies.

Sorry to hear about your husband Maisie. I hope he makes a full recovery.

Crystal, your reply has given me some hope that there can be other possibilities. I did think it a bit strange that they suggested another endoscopy.

We will have to wait and see of course. I will let you know what happens.

Best wishes, Christine xx

Hi

Think hub has experienced his first bout of dumping tonight - went very hot and dizzy and actually went up to lie on the bed for an hour.  Came on about an hour after his tea? Other than that he seems to be a bit brighter but as you say Crystal the exhaustion is just overwhelming.  He cant be bothered with anyone or anything still 5 weeks today post op.

Heard this week that my mum needs her heart valve replacing quite urgently or else she may not be with us this time next year.  Got to build myself up to go through it all again very shortly!!! :-O

Hugs and very best wishes to you all xxx

Hi Bacardiwoman

Yes, it does sound like dumping although usually the worst symptom that most people associate with dumping is the nausea together with the heavy sweating.  Hopefully, it won’t last long, but it can go on for some time.  Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids and experiment with foods that cause the least problems.  Sweet things and fatty foods are more likely to cause dumping, as well as eating too much, but I know how difficult planning a diet can be during this early stage.

I’m very sorry to hear about your mum and I hope all goes well there with successful surgery. These things always seem to come in clusters when we can least deal with them, but we do somehow find that needed strength when called upon.  Just four months after my surgery my lovely stepdad was seriously ill with bowel cancer and I had to travel 100 miles to help him and my mum, and then to arrange his funeral, organise the selling of mum’s house and move her up here.  I was in early recovery at the time but somehow, I’ll never know how, managed to do it.  It did knock back my recovery somewhat though.

Anyway, I hope everything goes smoothly and that you have some help from other members of your family.

Lots of Love

Crystal xx