T4 N0 M0 Squamous Cell carcinoma of esophagus

Hello Mellabs 

Welcome to the forum, I am sorry to read of your OC diagnosis but pleased to read that your treatment has already started.

My husband did see improvements with his abilty to swallow almost immediately, certainly by the second cycle he was able to eat a sandwich, but he was never placed on a feeding tube, so there are some differences there. 

You are right to not suffer in silence, you need to ensure you have all the information there is, and receive support from your cancer team, this is a hard enough journey you are on, without having missing pieces. 

I hope you have found improvement with your vocal chords, that must be extremely frustrating, keep trying to get information from the medic team as to what next . 

Should you have any questions please ensure that you call the Macmillan team on the number in my signature below, they are here to help and if they don't have the answer to hand, they will certainly get it for you. 

Sending you strength to help you through the treatment cycles and I hope  you start to see improvements soon 

Lowe'

Thank you.  It's interesting to hear others experiences and I appreciate your reply. 

Started my second chemo today and I am so hopeful this will bring on some improvements.  Although they tried to put me on the old medication regime, which didn't alleviate my symptoms last time.  I had to advise the nurse my oncologist had authorised a different plan.  I've got to ring them tomorrow for the medication!!  Communications between departments is so frustrating but as you say, I'm not suffering in silence likes last time.

Hi,

My wife had the same diagnosis, and was given weekly chemotherapy and daily radiotherapy prior to surgery back in 2020. I would l have to look up her exact chemo regime, but Cisplatin was certainly one of the drugs used. She had five cycles of chemo in all.

For a couple of months prior to the chemo/radiotherapy, my wife had only able to feed via a nasogastric tube. However, after the third cycle of chemo, the treatment definitely started to work, and she was able to actually swallow small amounts of drinks like cups of tea. That was a real red letter day when it happened! She remained feeding via the nasogastric tube until her surgery (and thereafter, via a jejunostomy tube), but her eating and drinking finally more-or-less got completely back to normal after about six months after the op.

So - I hope that gives you some encouragement!

Important: please do not suffer in silence! Your medical team want to help, so definitely discuss everything with them, and leave no questions unasked.

Good luck with it all, and best wishes.

Thank you for taking the time to respond PTP.  That certainly gives me some encouragement.  It all seems so futile when you feel so tired and lethargic and seeing little improvement. Hearing your experiences has certainly helped to refocus my mind and keep positive.

Thanks you

Excellent! And no worries - thanks!

Maintaining a positive mental attitude definitely helps. I've personally struggled with that a lot at times over the past few years - but, fortunately for us, my wife is much better at it than I am.

Please keep your spirits up; lean on your friends and family, as well as all the medical staff you're working with; and keep on fighting. That approach has definitely helped my wife and I deal with things .

All the very best with it. You are not alone!

Hello Mellabs
I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Cancer, of the base of tongue & top of tonsils, in September 22. I started weekly chemo on 21st December (Cisplatin) and have radiotherapy daily. (So have now completed 2 rounds)
I am waiting for a date to have my feeding tube put in. Chemo symptoms are interesting indeed.. OMG the constipation!!! Day 4 following chemo I'm pretty much asleep.
I am so sorry to hear that you have pain, I know this journey is one none of us wanted to travel.
Sending you support and strength, my strength comes from sheer bloody stubbornness of being a 50 Year Old peri menopausal woman and the blooming audacity that my body has "gifted" me something else to contend with!
Hope you can find some joy and laughter too.
XXXX

Now that made me giggle. We're both battling the menopause and this flipping disease.  Like one ssue isn't enough. My first cancer at 22 left me infertile following chemo and radiotherapy so cancer has alot to answer for!

Seems we started at a similar time.  You shouldn't have constipation. Speak to your oncologist about liquid sennan or movicol.  You should be able to keep on top of it. 

I've finished my 2nd round so next round starts 17th Jan with the radiotherapy as well.  2 down, 2 to go. I was starting to see a change in my voice but with now having oral thrush that was short lived.  Hopefully I'll see a difference when it settles down.

The tube is easy to manage once it's in.  Better than trying to struggle to eat or keep food down.

Good luck

X