Scared and unsure

It sounds like you've had more than your fare share. I'm so sad for you and your family.

I have OC and am just about to start chemo after which I have opted for surgery then more chemo. It's a very individual thing but I think recovery can be measured in days or a couple of weeks in hospital. Then weeks at home taking it easy. That's my interpretation anyway.

If I was you I would go for it. 

Good luck going forward.

Geo

The only procedure that the Doctors ever referred to as 'curative' was the surgery so I was desperate to have the option for that. There are some stories on the cancer research website of people who have gone through this (Les and Margaret were the ones I read) https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/oesophageal-cancer/living-with/your-stories

It sounds like you have already had a hard time so it may be tougher for you. But good luck with it all.

Thank you I will follow the link 

Hi ..My husband had an esophaghectomy in Dec 22 ..From his experience the surgery wasn’t the ordeal he anticipated ..He had the top of his stomach  ..two thirds of his oesophagus and numerous lymph nodes and surrounding tissue removed …He fortunately didn’t have any complications and was in hospital for eight days ..three on the CCU ..He still has a JEJ feeding tube in his duodenum as his weight loss has been an issue but up to date he’s regained most of the weight he lost so it may be removed in the near future …Obviously your surgery will be different to his  and your experience might not be the same but your medical team will be highly experienced in the type of surgery they’re offering you so without any doubt you will be in skilled and safe hands ….Now in June I would say he’s 90% recovered ..Some people may recover quicker and some may take a while longer ..The chemotherapy however took its toll and it’s left him with issues he’s still having to deal with ..Just to add I asked him if he’d any regrets in opting for the surgery and he said he’s now satisfied it was the right choice for him ..Good luck in whatever you decide ..Regards J 

Thank you for sharing your experience I am beginning to accept that the only way forward is surgery. I hope your husband continues to improve day by day from the side effects regards 

Hi and so sorry you find your self here. I just wanted to say my husband had stomach cancer, he had his stomach out in Jan, was in hospital for 7 days, he’s doing well now eating ok but smaller meals. He never used the feeding tube. He was 79 when he had the operation. He never had chemo though. Hope this helps a bit xx

Hi Jpm sounds like you hubby has had similar journey to mine I’m pleased he’s doing well ! 
I allso have had weight problems from the start of my diagnosis back in November . Did the flot and op was in march now on the last post op flot , but need to regain weight to get j tube removed from abdomen. How did hubby get his weight back on any help would be appreciated thanks 

Markb

Can i ask if J tube is standard after operation,  and how was the chemo after operation  was it the samd as pre op Flot 

Hi Mark B …It’s been a slow gradual process since last July ..and he’s not quite the weight he was but now he can eat little and often I try and make the food he eats high in calories ..Plenty of butter and milk in his mashed potato …A dash of cream in his soup  ..cereals etc ..So even though his portions are smaller they’re high in calories ..He can usually manage a 500/600 ml feed via the JEJ during the night too …He was on 1500 ml for 17 hours a day at his worst stage  ….Of course we have to watch the sugar content and fats etc to avoid the dumping episodes but we seem to be finding the right balance as time goes on and the dumping episodes have reduced from what they were in the early weeks after his surgery ..He's always been slim so he’s never going to be weighty as it’s not in his genes ..He was a big eater before he became ill but maintained a steady weight of around 11stone for his entire life so when he lost over three stone it was alarming to see …Coincidentally he’s at the hospital tomorrow meeting the dietician and to discuss the removal of the JEJ ..Very timely as it has perforated today and is unusable …We have been  told if they decide to remove the JEJ he will be given drink supplements instead just to give him the extra calories…I would ask your dietician if they can recommend anything to help you gain some weight …Just to add my husband didn’t gain any weight when he relied on the JEJ only ..it just helped him to maintain the weight he was and gave him all his nutrients and fluids whist he couldn’t  eat or drink orally ..It’s a real battle to gain weight for some and frustrating at times  ..I’m finding his new eating regime a full time job with planning daily menus in an attempt to give him a good balanced diet ..and also the frequency of his small meals.takes up a big part of the day ..His potions now are about the size of the palm of his hand ..He can manage these comfortably without causing any regurgitation issues ..He can’t drink whilst he’s eating as it makes him feel overfull and causes regurgitation so he has to wait around thirty mins after eating before he has a drink  …If he doesn’t eat every two to three hours he starts to feel lightheaded ..He says it’s taken the joy out of eating as he hasn’t actually felt hungry since he’s had his surgery and doesn’t enjoy food the same but he knows he has to eat to stay feeling well and hopefully maintain his weight …Of course everyone is different and what he is experiencing isn’t necessarily the same scenario for everyone else …Hope you find your solution soon ..regards J 

Hi Nic nac the j tube  was standard at my hospital  as I was fed using it after op . The post op chemo has been more demanding on the body due to the weakness from  the surgery it has tested me ! And I have wanted to stop at times   , but one more to do next week with all going well .