Suspected oesophageal cancer

Hi Annelie, sad to hear about your dad's symptoms. I had similar issues and after being referred for an endoscopy by my GP, I was told the difficulty was being caused by a tumor that was about 3cm long and restricting the width of my Oesophagus.

Please click on my profile and you will be able to read my journey so far. Maybe it will help you.

Best wishes to you and dad.

Hi,

Thank you for your support:). Sorry to hear of your diagnose but very inspiring to read about your current status. I wish you the best of Luck!

Best,

Annelie

Hi Annelie

Sorry to see.you here but it's a good place for getting answers.

I have oesophagal cancer.  My symptoms were difficulty swallowing, like a graze in my throat.  Then some foods would get stuck in my throat, usually dry foods or meat and I had to cough to dislodge them (sometimes it took hours to clear it)  Eventually my oesophagus totally closed up and I was admitted to hospital as I couldn't even swallow my saliva.  This all happened in a couple of months.  I had no other symptoms.

I saw my GP in July and a barium swallow could see a narrowing of the throat.  This was in September. I had many, many tests but due to the location of my tumour it was difficult to locate and diagnose. I have squamous cell cancer which is on the outside of the oesophagus therefore the endoscopy didn't pick it up! 

I was eventually diagnosed in November following CT scan and biopsy. Chemo and radiotherapy December through to February and just had my results that the tumour has significantly reduced. 

Hopefully this addresses some of your questions. I'm sure others will be along shortly to tell you their story.  Fingers crossed for a good result for your Dad

Take care

Mel

Hi Mel,

Thank you for your support and for sharing jour journey,

If it is cancer my dad has, I think it must be squamous cell cancer since it is located in the middle of the oesophagus. I am glad to hear that your tumor has significantly reduced. I hope it will continue to reduce and soon dissappear. Have your swallowing problems been milder as the tumor has shrinked?

Best,

Annelie

Unfortunately not. Either the remaining tumour or the scar tissue is keeping it closed.  It could be that it has been strangled for so long it doesn't remember how to open.  My oncologist is looking at potential dilation to open it up. Otherwise it will remain closed.  Sorry I can't say anything more positive. But it's still early days in recovery I suppose.

Hi sorry to hear about your Dad. 

I ignored my symptoms for a while, I had trouble swallowing for 4-5 months before I went to the GP.  My main symptom was difficulty swallowing which was slowly getting worse.  I started avoiding certain foods as swallowing became painful and I had to use a lot of water to get my food down.  On reflection I was also tired all the time, I used to say even my bones ache and I just didn’t feel right I couldn’t say why just a feeling. 

My husband nagged me to see my GP and a week later I had an endoscopy where I was sat down and told they had found a tumour and although we needed to wait for the biopsy results in their experience it was cancer.  

My swallowing continued to be difficult progressing to being sick when food got stuck this did get better when I had chemo.  

My tumour was about the same size and also had grown into the boarders, it was stage 3 so I was offered the operation which I have had.

Take care

Hi,

Thank you for telling about your journey so far. It is so strengthening and comforting to hear about you that have got the diagnose and seem to cope rather well. It helps much in this worrysome situation when my dad and we are waiting for what the endoscopy will show and  what will happen next.

When one googles esophageal cancer there is a lt of depressing information that otherwise takes over.

Take care,

Annelie