Two years on !

Hi All , I joined this invaluable group in 2022 whilst supporting my husband who was then going through his own experience with Stage 2 oesophageal cancer .He was fortunate ( for want of a better word ! ) to be offered the curative intent route …chemo /surgery / adjuvant chemo 
I put an update on here last year exactly one year after he’d had his esophagectomy surgery describing our experiences in dealing with the aftermath of this life changing surgery .

So here we are another year on and I feel extremely thankful to be saying this .
Food-wise the scenario is still the same , little and often .He basically adheres to the ‘eat what you can when you can ‘ method  .He still struggles with meat as he finds by the time he’s chewed it enough it’s too dry to swallow .All other foods he’s fine with but obviously much smaller portion sizes than before .

Weight-wise .The first year he got off to a good start after his JEJ feeding line was taken out .His weight gain was slow but steady .However we’ve found in this second year his weight can fluctuate up and down .We tend not to become fixated about it as we understand it’s how he feels in himself which is important and not what he weighs .I would say he’s around a stone under his normal weight .He’s always been slim so he’s not used to carrying any extra weight anyway .

Unfortunately the FLOT chemo treatment did leave him with osteoarthritis in his hips , knees and neck and post surgery acid reflux issues left him with Oesophagitis ( in what’s left of his oesophagus) Gastritis ( in the stomach tissues used for the reconstruction) and some small mucosal breaks around the surgery site .He takes Lansoprazole twice a day and this does help to keep the reflux under a certain level of control.

Hes just had his six monthly monitoring appointment and we are waiting for an appointment in the new year for CT scan .Initially we were told scans would  only be offered if new symptoms occurred .However because of the acid reflux damage he has had two in the two years since surgery and we find them reassuring .Fortunately we don’t feel any  ‘scanxiety ‘ but fully understand why some people do. We haven’t heard the words ‘All clear ‘ yet as I think his medical team prefer to err on the side of caution but we have been told ‘All is looking good ‘ So for now we’re happy with that .

He struggled psychologically in the first year but in the last twelve months he seems to have adapted to the changes his altered anatomy have brought him. We tend to live in the now and try to make the most of everyday .As we’re all very aware none of us know what’s around the corner so our attitude is live in the now ! 

It’s been a difficult year as I lost my Dad in August to multiple cancers .Also two friends to another type of this dreadful disease ..We also downsized from our home of 34 years and moved to the next village .Smaller house , less maintenance, smaller bills ,and the cottage by the river which we’ve always dreamt of ...( The moving process came with its own stresses ! ) Life will never be the same but fortunately for some it goes on and long may it last for us all .

I’ve been reading a lot of difficult posts on here and our hearts go out to you all ️

Thinking of Dean ( an inspiration to us all ) and all of you who are going through this very difficult process at the moment .

Wishing you all Peace ,Love and Hope at Christmas  

J x