Hello

Hello

I am pleased that I have found this forum, not exactly overjoyed at why I have joined it though, like most I suspect. I seem to have had a long journey to diagnosis, and am still on that journey in terms of more tests. I have had Barretts Oesophagus for many years.

I am 61 years old, I have had endoscopy, followed by CT scan, followed by endoscopy, then I was asked to go to see the Gastric Nurse Specialist who also told me I had to or should bring my "significant other" with me and casual clothing as I was to have a fitness test for surgery, so we already had worked out before the appointment that it was cancer. The nurse seemed surprised that we were not shocked or upset about the diagnosis, whereas we really wanted to know the next steps and timescales- is this normal or am I being too impatient? 

That was last Tuesday, now today I am going for a PET-CT scan this afternoon so hopefully I will soon have a treatment plan, I have been told if it is operable it will be chemo then surgery then likely more chemo. If inoperable then Palliative Care. The scan takes 3-7 days for reporting so as the MDT meet on a Friday I am accepting that Friday the 30th May is the earliest I will be discussed so I won't know until Early June any planned treatment.

I have lots to think about and am trying to do lots of the heavy tasks we have to do before I lose the strength physically to do them, regardless of which outcome I get. I am generally someone who looks for a silver lining in things so maybe time for gardening prior to treatment is my blessing!

I've rambled enough so will get on reading some of the posts in the forum and wherever you are on this journey, good luck.