Hi all, my husband has been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and lung Mets T3,N1,M1 so surgery is not an option. He is due to start chemo next week. Does anyone have advice please on how to remain positive? The chemo sounds gruelling and dangerous, but I know it’s to try and hold cancer back. I can’t understand why they can’t do surgery on gullet then when he has recovered move to treat lung Mets? He’s 54 years old and was still playing football until this bombshell. He has slight dysphagia with bread buns but nothing much else. I’m just frightened he will go through this awful chemo and still lose his life in the next year. Does anyone have any positive stories to give me hope? Right now, I just can’t digest this. Sorry to offload but hubby not a talker and processing too.
Hello Jo
Welcome to the forum and please do not apologise for sharing here, this is exactly why we are all here, and we all have to offload at times.
It is without doubt a frightening time, and as you have mentioned, the chemo sounds gruelling and dangerous, but from what I have been seen and read, that is not always the case, like with anything, if you are prepared for the worst, things are often easier than what your imagination can throw at you.
My Husband Dal, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Oesophageal Cancer with secondaries in his lung, liver and lymph nodes, at the beginning of May 2020, T3N3M1 GOJ - he has been on treatment almost every fortnight for the last 22 months, he is back at work (From home) eating well, goes and plays Darts once a week and is generally well.. He was given a terminal diagnosis with a poor prognosis which he has smashed, but I can tell you that the treatment these days is far better than in years gone by.
My husband, to this day, still has some difficulties with bread, and he also used to struggle with chicken, but we investigated foods high in anti-oxidants and slightly changed our diet and he is doing great.
Positivity is the best way forwards, once the initial shock and fear is allowed its course, the fight kicks in and hopefully your husband will not have too many side effects from the treatment
Keep in touch, offload, rant, scream, chat, whenever you can, we are here for you both
Lowe'
