4 months ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 osophagus cancer. I was deemed as stage 4 and incurable because I had tumours in my osophagus, but also one near my kidney in my lymthnodes which meant they could not operate. My oncologist was pretty brutal I was told I was incurable and that the treatment decisions were a difference of months to my life expectancy.
After recieving the news I went into a dark hole for a few times. I was blessed to have a legend called pat reach out to me on here who was stage 4 with a worst prognosis than me who was lucky and reacted brilliantly to treatment and was now cancer free. This and speaking to another friend who was stage 4 for 5 years who has fought every step of the way with positivity and humour really helped me develop a positive attitude and to fight this with everything I have.
When I started treatment I could barely eat soup or drink water. After starting chemo I reacted really well and stopped being sick. In fact I haven't been sick in 4 months. It has been a slow progress but I slowly build up what I could eat taking baby steps.
After 4 months of treatment and a much more positive oncolgist in my hometown I had new pet scans. The results from the scans have been remarkable the lower down tumor they can no longer see and the primary tumors are barely visible. The plan now is one more round of chemotherapy, as endoscopy for the surgeon to view my osophagus and then 3 months of herceptin whilst under surveillance. If all goes well they will operate which is the path to cure.
I am under no illusion I have a difficult battle still ahead if me, but it's heaven to be given hope. So many of you are joining the forum and have recently given bad news. Please don't give up and be positive whilst believing in the treatment. The statistics are outdated and don't reflect the new treatments that we recieve now. I appreciate I am younger and stronger to deal with the treatment, but I was also in a position at one point where I lost 3 stone and could barely swallow water, but came back from a really bad place.
Everything I have learnt regarding eating and chemo symptoms can be found in my profile. Please don't hesitate to add me as a friend and contact me if you want to talk or want any advice as I'd love to try and help. I am so buzzing right now and bouncing off the walls. Love you all keep postive
Hi Vinny, I'm a fairly inactive member, not great at sharing or admitting to weakness but I'm working on it 
. I follow the pages and often see you welcoming folk to the group, making them feel positive, imparting some great advice while being open about a less than ideal prognosis for you. Not gonna lie, I have had a bit of a happy cry reading your update today, you bloody deserve this and I'm so happy for you. I have ivor Lewis surgery on 23rd Feb (really glad to see Haybag post today after going through it last week) and your posts really help me and my wife who keeps me up to date on your journey. If I was as a drinker is be having a dram and toasting your news. You my friend are a pretty special person.
Cheers Vinny, I keep forgetting my username doesn't include my actual name 
I'm John. You're very welcome and I stand by what I said, my wife saw your post and urgently shouted me to share it with me. The hope and positivity really makes a difference.
Cheers Haybag... And you 
Morning Martha, I've read your story it is really tough, but you sound like an absolute superstar for your husband doing all the things my wife has done for me. Getting the eating right is about patience and will hopefully improve with the treatment. The fact you are seeing improvements already is a great sign. I had a similar reaction to your husband and saw an improvement straight away, but yoneed to be patient and build your way up. Have a read of my profile where I've documented everything I done to improve my eating. At the start getting a juicer which is still use every day was a gamec hanger for me. The protien drinks which you can get from the drs for frer can be the core of your calories for now fresubin are the best brand I have tried. Focus on eliminating acidy foods/drinks 
to settle his stomach. No alcohols or caffeine get yourself some decaf if he needs his tea. These are all things that really helped me. The most important thing though is the right attitude believe in the drs, focus on the right nutrition (take your time eat what he can) and be positive. He needs to enter Olympic athlete fighters mode. I'm incredibly proud of you too and the support you are giving him. Don't be scared to shed a tear it's a tough time, you need to be there for eachother
