Hi there my husband was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer and small tumour on his lung in December 2022. His tumour is T3N0M0
He has just finished 5 weeks of chemo (once a week) and daily radiotherapy. He is due to have an operation to remove small tumour in lung together with an oesophagogastrectomy in Liverpool after PET scan. Although we live in North Wales, the operation can’t be done here. I’m finding it hard that we can’t plan anything as we are constantly waiting for a phone call or letter.
Can anyone tell me what time scale is between treatment and operation and how long it takes on average to recover. My husband is 78 although the surgeon wrote in his letter, that he looks more like a 68 year old!
I have found this forum very informative, as although my husband doesn’t want to know anything about what’s going on, I find it helpful to be prepared. Thank you in advance.
Hi, Zulu
My husband is at the same stage and has spoken to the surgeon on the phone yesterday. He's been told that the operation is likely to happen mid May, but of course he will have tests for fitness etc., before that.
He too has to travel far for the tests and the op. and I'm not looking forward to having to travel 4 hours + if I want to visit him in hospital when the time comes. Incidentally, we're in Devon and given all the delays before he started treatment I'm quite surprised that the op. is happening so soon.
My husband is also leaving every thing to me and I'm finding the stress is wearing me down. If your anything like me your husband may look 10 years younger but I've put on about 10 years caring for mine!
The surgeon e-mailed some info on what is coming next, so I'm off to read the book and two 30 page documents now, that's my day spoken for.
Here, we have a cancer charity which is encouraging anyone affected to call in just for a chat as well as help with the more practical issues we face. Is there somewhere like that where you are?
