Spouse supporting husband with our journey

Hi. The effects of the radio/chemo therapy should reduce in the next few weeks. After this he should try and increase his fitness as much as possible. He is obviously doing ok so far albeit with a few bumps along the road.. The operation is if course going to be daunting for you both as it is a long day for all involved. However it is the curative route for this horrible disease and he is fortunate that he is in the group of people for which this is possible. It is not easy but it is well worth it. There are many of us on this site who have been through it and are now enjoying our lives again. I wish you both well.

Thank you so much for your message back.  Staying positive.  Main concern before surgery is hope the pain from radiation eases soon as he's lost a couple kg so currently 70 kg which is 2 to 3 under what he usually is.  Mainly as so painful to swallow.  Fingers crossed this eases. He's worried about taking paracetamol before eating but I said worth trying? He's usually very fit so hoping to get back out on our bikes soon as we know how important fitness and nutrition are.

I am sure the pain will ease soon. Has his tumour shrunk at all since treatment commenced ?

Everybody has a different journey though all of this as our conditions vary as well as our individual responses. I was motoring along through the treatment quite smoothly when the radiation pain suddenly hit me circa session 22. It settled down fairly quickly but I did have some initial intervention by the hospital.

Obviously I can't give you medical advice but I would say that maintaining or even perhaps increasing weight before the operation seems to be  fundamentally a good idea as we all seem to lose quite a substantial amount in the period of recovery. 

I would recommend leaning on the hospital support team throughout this process. That is what they are there for and at this stage, from what you have said, he may well need help with managing both the pain and nutrition. I have had the most fantastic support from my Upper GI specialist nurse over the last 3 years (operation July 23).    

We haven't had scan recently but about 8 weeks ago it hadn't grown but he'd only had 2 flots at that point. But even after first treatment he was able to eat alot better.  I'll hold onto hope this hiccup doesn't last too long.  Going to talk to upper gi team tomorrow.   Great to hear from you esp as you seem to have gone through similar experience and come out the other side.