Hello everyone, my Mum has recently joined the club that nobody wants to be in. She started having problems swallowing food back in December (never thought to tell anyone!) by the end of February it had got worse so she went to the Doctors and they put her on the 2 week pathway for a gastroscopy. We were all hoping it was perhaps just reflux, a hernia or oesophagitis but sadly they found 3cm tumour in her oesophagus. Things moved quite quickly, she had a CT scan, and biopsies (squamous cell) and they believe the cancer is contained in the oesophagus and treatment would be curative. She's since had the PET scan and they are still talking surgery so one assumes that didn't show anything else up either. She went in to have the Endoscopic Ultrasound yesterday but unfortunately they couldn't get past the tumour to do what they needed to do so think she's got to have another PET or CT scan instead, did anyone else have this problem? I'm not entirely sure what this test was for?
Mum is 67, they have said surgery will depend on her overall health, unfortunately she is unable to do the CPEX test because she fractured her hip in 2021 and cant sit on a bike so they have done a echocardiogram and I'm taking her for a lung function test this afternoon. She's quite well in herself but I do worry that her lack of mobility will have had a detrimental effect on her overall health. She's due to have the pre surgery keyhole surgery on the 23rd and have a feeding tube fitted at the same time. We're still waiting for an appointment with the Oncologist to get a full treatment plan, everything is kind of if's and buts at the moment whilst they finish off these tests.
Mum lives alone so I asked her to come and live with me when she starts treatment so I can be around to help her with whatever she needs, fortunately I work from home so this is possible, it will be fun I have 2 dogs (who are not the easiest) and she has one of her own so its going to be fairly full on but I am determined to make it work. I've turned my spare room into a bedroom for her, put a TV in there, will sort a little mini fridge, tea coffee maker so she has her own space and doesn't have to get up or do anything if she's not feeling up to it.
I think the fear is the not knowing what to expect, they've said its a big surgery which in itself is quite frightening, we don't know much about the chemo, how it might make her feel, I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you that there is a fair amount of anticipatory anxiety of what lies ahead. At the moment I'm just saying to Mum this is the trade off, its probably going to be 9-12 months of sh*t but many more years of life to enjoy on the other side of it. We normally have a girly holiday just her and I every summer in the Isle of Wight (we'd booked for this year but I fear we may be cancelling as she'll likely still be in the midst of treatment) so I'm encouraging her to think of the fun we have and that next year we'll be up to our usual antics.
I've read through a number of posts in this forum and I have to say they really gave me a boost, its good to hear the positive stories and outcomes and people still living their lives throughout treatment, so thank you all for that. I'd be keen to hear if there is anything I can do to really help Mum through this period, other than ensuring her spirits are kept high and being on call night and day, any practical advice, things that might make her life easier, things that might bring her joy or enjoyment through this rough time ahead? Also has anybody had much experience of the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, as that is where Mum will be having her treatment?
Thank you for reading this far, I didn't mean to write war and peace.
