I was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer after an endoscopy on 2nd February this year. I was seen by a surgeon who thought I was an ideal candidate for surgery as I was a fit and healthy 74 year old with no other medical issues and had always kept active. I underwent 23 doses of radiotherapy and 5 doses of chemotherapy starting on 23rd March to shrink the tumour ahead of surgery. However, after a CT scan on 16th May I was told I had an enlarged Lymph close to my aorta and 2 enlarged nodules in my left lung. The surgeon said it was now impossible and too dangerous to operate, he wouldn't be able to access the lymph gland to remove it. I have had a PET scan now and am waiting for an appointment with the oncologist to see if he offers any treatment. To be honest I don't think I could face any more anyway. I am not well at the moment, I am being treated for a lung infection, on second antibiotic, first one made no difference. I have a terrible cough and am very breathless. I can cope with that though, it's the pain in my neck that is getting me down. I have pain on the left side of my neck under the jaw that sometimes just gets me down. The nurse and the GP wondered if it was radiotherapy damage, but I wonder if I have the cancer now in the lymph on my neck. I am controlling the pain with painkillers but I can only have 8 paracetomol a day, the GP is trying me on Iboprufen but it's a bit miserable. It's been a pretty horrible year so far, but so much waiting, my oncology appointment is still 2 weeks away. I feel a bit lost.'
