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 The statistics are outdated and don't reflect the new treatments that we recieve now.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
I was certainly given the “all clear” for now and they were very pleased at the results. I think it’s just the shock of the diagnosis that’s hard to shake off and I’m an anxious person anyway. They said with me that they wouldn’t recommend the post op chemo given the good results. I was so ill with it the first time round that they said it would do more harm than good -and with perhaps little benefit. Apparently less than half are able to complete post op chemo. Maybe chemo was easier for you? I must try to be more positive!! 
I would push for the post op chemo if you can. Rich didn’t have that, mostly cos of Covid and other risks and sadly some specs that would have been removed were able to grow and now it is back.
Glad the op went well, that’s great news 
