Squamous Cell cancer lower oesophagus - anyone else?

Hi Gabby 

I had 4 X cisplatin and also capecitabine chemo tablets twice a day for 12 weeks. On the day if the third cisplatin I started 25 radiotherapy sessions. 

My swallowing eased a tiny bit after the first cisplatin but I was only able to swallow tiny bit of cheesy biscuits (they crumble easily). Towards the end of the radiotherapy sessions the oesophagus gets inflamed and swallowing becomes more difficult again. I was very poorly before I started my treatment plan as I'd not been able to eat or drink anything at all for a few weeks. I had a stomach tube fitted and syringed Fortisip into that along with water and medication. I got even more weak as time went on, and I did suffer a lot of side effects - peeling skin on feet, neuropathy in hands and feet, tinnitus, exhaustion, but after the treatment ended I built myself back up again. Othe people who had the same treatment plan managed much better than me. We are all different.

Is your mum having cisplatin?

Take care

Amanda 

Hello Amanda

mom is having the cisplatin as iv and then on capecitabine tablets for two weeks and then one week off before repeating again 

she hasn’t had any difficulty swallowing but her weight dropped drastically and is having gas bloating and severe tummy pain. 

so sorry you had to go through all that but glad to hear ur building yourself back up. 

just have to take it all one day at a time right. Always here if you need to talk too x 

Gabby 

Hi Gabby. Not a long message at all. You will have so many questions going around in your head.

It would seem that a lot of us who post on this forum have led decent, healthy lifestyles which makes it all the more hard. My only symptom was occasional difficulty with swallowing certain food, such as bread. It felt like something was in the way. It didn’t happen all the time, but as it didn’t go away I contacted my GP. I also started to notice a pain in my back.

Like your Mom, I also slept a lot more once my Chemotherapy started. I felt really tired and would often nap through the day and be asleep by 9.30pm at night. I did notice that after about 3-4 weeks my swallowing was a lot easier, and I just kept my fingers crossed that the treatment was working. 

I was told by the various Medical professionals that as long as the Chemotherapy and the Radiotherapy went well, then I could expect to (hopefully) have the operation.

I’m sure you are doing everything you can to look after your Mom. You sound like a lovely daughter and it sounds like you two are very close. I am also close to my daughter, and I know she was really worried for me. I can’t thank her and the rest of my family enough for the love and care they gave to me during a very worrying and emotional time. I am now nine months on from my operation and doing well. Keep posting Gabby, and don’t be afraid to ask anything at all. There are so many people on this forum that will want to help you if they can. Take care. Julie 

That’s such great news Julie! Your family sound amazing. Love and support from family and friends has literally kept me going during this time. 

my mom is super hungry all the time because of the steroid tablets so I’ve had to learn how to cook very quickly! She loves Indian food so that’s been my main focus. Learning how to cook lol 

chemo is taking it out of her some days but she has good days too. Her one leg gets cold as well which always scares me. Is this normal ?

we also got her out the house for a bit yesterday. For the first time in three weeks! 

Lovely to hear from you Gabby. I hope that things continue to improve. Never had a cold leg myself, but always worth asking the Chemo Nurses at your hospital. Take care x

Hi there 

I realise this is a year old but I too am just starting diagnosis following my treatment for Hodgkins in 1988. Currently very ill in hospital 

I hope you are doing ok 

Hi LadyMHD

Sorry to hear that you are very ill in hospital. I'm glad that you have reached out on here. 

I'm assuming you have squamous cell carcinoma? Mine was mid oesophagus, T2N0M0, it blocked my oesophagus completely so I ended up in hospital on a drip, then nasal feeding tube, then had a stomach feeding tube fitted. I was very ill before treatment started. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time, but no operation. That was March 2021 (I was 53) and I'm still all clear. 

Have you got a treatment plan?

Keep in touch, let me know how you're getting on. 

Amanda 

Oh bless you you’ve really been through it I’ve got pneumonia so my team want to get that sorted before they begin the diagnosis process. 
literally just taken a lot of blood to see if antibiotics are working.

fluid on lung needs to go

I am a bit incoherent because I on lots of pain meds since I posted. 
I have a prosthetic aortal valve and mended mitral and my heart isn’t coping so well with all this so currently waiting for cardiologist to do an echo x

I am so pleased you have done so well! I have hope now x

Hi Crochet therapy,Hubby has this and started chemo today which will be followed by radiotherapy and chemo together as an op isn't a choice for him.Quite comforting to read that you are still clear am hoping the same for hubby.take care and i hope your health further improves.

Hi LadyMHD

Assume you have squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. Sorry to hear you have this nasty disease and also sorry to hear you are in hospital at the moment. I am 68 years old, was diagnosed T3/4 N1 M0 in 2023, 18 months ago. Had chemo and radiotherapy, no operation. Scan in September showed no recurrence. Swallowing back to normal except I can’t tolerate alcohol or chili/spices. Hope you are as lucky as me with the treatment.