Hello everyone

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Good evening 

Today my husband of 39 received a diagnosis of  oesophageal Cancer .  The tumour is 8cm !!! in size and he's in a lot pain . He has a CT scan on Monday or Tuesday and the following week a meeting to discuss next steps . I'm beside myself with worry whilst trying to keep calm and collected for our 3 children . I'm reaching out on here as I'm so scared. I feel like its a death sentence but also trying find the fighting spirit inside me to support my family .

  • Please don't despair. A lot will depend on the type of cancer, where in the oesophagus the tumour is and if the cancer has spread. 

    I'm very sorry for your husband's diagnosis. It's shocking, particularly at that age and with 3 children. You will find much love and support on this forum and we'll be with you every step of the way.

    Main advice from everyone on here is to stay away from Google.

    Take care,

    Lorraine 

  • Thankyou so much for your reply . I'm trying my very best to stay away from google , which is difficult at times . 

  • Hello

    I am fairly new to this site myself only diagnosed in early October and due to start chemo on Thursday. 

    I don’t know what to say to you and you will find that family and friends will be the same I think it can be harder for the partner, I know my husband took longer to get his head around it than I did but as you travel through this journey you will receive so much love and support from everyone you will start to focus on the positives..

    one of the things I found difficult is that I had never heard of anyone who had had this type of cancer and felt very alone until I came on this site and realised I was not alone that there was people who had come out the other side as it were..

    Please stay strong and positive until you know all the facts and never be frightened to accept help.

    sending you love 

    Tricia 

    • Hi Thankyou for responding to me . I hope your treatment goes well.  I didn't even consider the symptoms were due to cancer in the beginning. Finding it hard to put the decorations up with kids as promised . But needs must x
  • No I didn’t either especially as I had been given the all clear in May !  But it all made sense when they told be I had all the classic symptoms but did not realise!,
    it’s tough being a parent at the best of times and this is the worst time to get this news but if you can get through Christmas thinking positive you will know the full facts in the new year and you will have a plan  

    hope all goes well on Monday and you get the results quickly.

    thinking of you say strong 

    Tricia 

  • Hi Tjasai,

    The first days and weeks after diagnosis are very difficult because you have so many questions and worries but nobody is able yet to give you the answers. I presume your husband was diagnosed following an endoscopy? Apart from the pain, was he also having swallowing difficulties? His medical team will know more following the CT scan and hopefully you will get the results of that back quickly. He may also have a PET scan and laparoscopy as part of the investigation. Whatever happens, it is likely that 2025 is going to be a difficult year for you so my advice would be to enjoy Christmas as much as you can. I was diagnosed in October 2023 and began treatment just before Christmas. I have to say that 2024 will go down as the hardest year of my life so far. I turned 60 in May. But I’m about to enjoy another Christmas which, a year ago, I wasn’t sure that I would see. Once your husband has his CT scan and the hospital team have formulated a treatment plan, then you will find this site invaluable for information, advice and even just a place to vent your feelings with people who truly understand what you’re both going through. Please do not Google as there is little comfort to be found there. Best wishes to you both, CB

  • Hi. Very sorry to hear this news, particularly as you are all such a young family. Please come back on the site when you have more news of his diagnosis. There are several routes his treatment can follow and you will get the best advice and support from those on a similar route. I know you are at the stage of maximum worry when you have just got the initial news and are awaiting further diagnosis and for a young family heading into Xmas it cannot be easy. We are all here to support you and we wish you the very best. 

  • Everyone says exactly that, there is so little public information about this type of cancer and its symptoms. There should be more awareness through the media in my opinion. I really think a large percentage of those eventually diagnosed would have gone to their doctor a lot earlier if they'd known the symptoms beforehand 

  • Yes diagnosed after endoscopy.  Yes , difficulty swallowing. Started with burps, he's always been a big burper. He actually can't eat food now. He's now following a liquid diet. . That's such positive news for you , I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.