Oesophageal Cancer

Hi, just read your story, and get completely relate to it, am 65 and was diagnosed in April 2019, yes was a shock but not completely as was losing weight and started to struggle with eating and drinking, am on maintenance chemo now every week for three weeks then a week off!!
but it’s does the trick, again have great support from my wife family and friends. Even got to go on a dive trip with a few of my old dive mates at the weekend, they carry my kit practically dress me in it and throw me in! But it’s so good to be able to do this as it’s gets me back to some normality, and yes lots of dark humour you only get from family and mates, but would not have it any other way. Positivity is the way to go although having a bab day is allowed as well, was offered counselling at the beginning but wasn’t ready as had to get my head around it all first, but then went for it and have to say it really helped, anything you want to ask go for it and hope this helps? 
Dave.

Thanks for the reply Dave, i appreciate it, I try to limit the amount of people knowing about it coz i don't really want all the " Oh I'm so sorry " stuff, it feels embarrassing, i would rather they say " Shit happens " coz that's my way of looking at it so maybe that's just me, at the moment I don't feel that ill but the pressure of knowing what is possibly to come is sometimes overbearing but I'm getting used to it, I'm making a bucket list which will include a skydive to raise some funds for MacMillan coz they are awesome in their care and support, without that shoulder it would be a lot harder to deal with so maybe i will look at the counseling side of it coz it's great to unload.

Take care m8, hope everything goes well for you.

Joe

Hi, I had a similar diagnosis, mid oesophagus and in two lymph nodes and hypothyroidism.Started five months of chemo, three weeks on one week off, after three months it was stopped. I was doing well, about a month later I was on a five week course of chemo and radiotherapy,chemo every Monday and radiotherapy every week day. Eighteen months on I am feeling great, last scan showed no active disease, the scan also showed unknown bits in both my lungs but that might be anything, scan next month should tell us .

When at my diagnosis my doctor mentioned palliative care I was crushed, I suppose doctors have to look at percentages but for some of us the treatment will work extraordinary well.

All my best 

Pat