Trying to stay strong!!

Welcome EdithGrace.  Sorry you have found yourself here, but it is a good place to come for support.  The treatment plan you have outlined is somewhat different to what we would normally expect for the cancers discussed on this forum.  If you can tell us some more that would help us give useful advice regarding the treatment and recovery.

As to coping with the diagnosis...  We all do it differently.  I certainly agree with the suggested diet.  It will help with swallow and a whole range of issues to have plenty of "lubrication".  Also, as you go into treatment calories will be one of your best friends.  You need them in large quantities to help the body heal.

I cope by talking to anybody who will listen to me.  We are all different in how we can discuss and reconcile the diagnosis.  Does your husband attend the appointments with you?  It may help him to understand what is happening.  Finally there is a Macmillan counselling service and a great service (I have never used but am told) at the Swallows H&N cancer charity.  Try them, but don't discount chatting on here with fellow travellers on this journey.

BTW your consultant is right.  The vast majority of us go on to have a long and good quality life after treatment.

Thankyou  Perhaps I have joined the wrong forum - typical of my state of mind at the moment. I have oesophageal cancer

Hi Edith 

It is funny how differently people react. 

My husband had a complete melt down and demanded continuous cuddles I ended up telling he was making me feel like i was about to drop dead. 

I got through with dark humour and the attitude of just allowing myself to be ill and letting the professionals do their thing and i was just along for the ride. 

But i had a complete meltdown when i had my mask fitted as i had not realised i was claustrophobic and my husband being at every radiotherapy session got me through. 

Whilst going through treatment it seemed that the end was so far away and yet now 6 months after treatment finished it is like a hazy dream. 

Please keep posting here we all go through the dark thought stage of wondering will we come out the other end but there are some amazing people on this forum that help put everything into perspective. 

Hi Edith. Sorry you’ve had this diagnosis. 
you should be here 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/gullet-oesophagus-cancer-forum

Nevertheless, can you take your husband into your consultations? I feel he might well understand how your team are trying to help you and the reason for the drastic but temporary dietary changes and it might put his denial in front of him. Just a thought. Best wishes 

PS. Do involve your children. I’m sure they would wish to be. My daughter has a health anxiety so I have tried to shield her from the worst but whenever she has discovered I have hidden things from her she has been wounded and angry with me.