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Dad just diagnosed with oesophageal cancer

RhiSa
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Hello, 

Im 25 and currently struggling after finding out my dad has oesophageal cancer - with it just being confirmed via a CT scan, he's waiting for PET scan to see the stage and what treatment they can do. 

All I know at the moment is that they found squamous cell cancer in his oesophagus and also nodules on liver and lung. Still not sure whether it's spread or if it's a different cancer. Either way it's not looking all that good. 

Struggling with sleepless nights, anger, tearfulness. I live quite far from him but I'm going to his in the next day or so but how do I cope with this. 

  • Offline

    Hi there, 

    You are NOT alone here- we have an OC thread on this site, where we have all ended up. Started by RayB. If you click on my blue name next to this post and go into my replies you should find it.come over

    Let me 'reassure' you that I was in exactly the same position as you 2 years ago. The diagnosis bit is the absolute WORST part, confusion, anger, all the exploding human emotions- I was not 25 though ): questions coming from every brain cell, thinking the worst, people fussing etc etc.

    Of course you are struggling- but know it is okay to NOT be okay. You will deal with this in your own way and own time.  Sleepless nights, tears , racing thoughts, why me, part of a totally normal reaction to a shock. Nobody knows how to deal with it, but somehow us humans manage it.

    My then 56 yr old husband was diagnosed totally out of the blue, bit of coughing , swallowing problems started, nothing major, then came the endoscopy! Then the rest as they say is history. After a load of chemo and surgery, he is still here and 'visable disease free' - they never say cured- you will get used to all the extensive lingo.

    One tip- do NOT look at google- we all do though- it will be an absolute horror show, with all the worst of the worst worsts. It bear no relation to what we experienced in reality.

    Ask away- I will inform if I can.

    take a very deep breath

    Hilts

  • Offline in reply to Hilts

    I will have a look at that thread, thank you. 

     

    I think it's just because it's so new and confusing, definitely not a good idea looking at Google - although I have fallen down that trap, unfortunately! 

     

    Like your husband it's all very out of the blue, my dad just had swallowing problems, breathlessness and a cough - trip to doctors then referral for an endoscopy and the news from the specialist. I sort of knew something was wrong when they called him in for a talk less than a week after he had the CT scan. 

     

    Thank you so much for your reply and words of reassurance, it's helped a bit 

  • Offline in reply to RhiSa

    Hi, 

    Yes, all sounds VERY familiar (: indeed!
    I thought I was the only one, a rare breed, but nope since being on here, I found we are as common as muck LOL.

    Your brain won't calm down for a bit- I felt mine was full of spaghetti in a washing machine , couldn't pull a straight thought together! Those first 3 weeks following Endoscopy were the absolute worst. Once treatment started it kinda got a tad better.

    if it's any 'consolation' I am still thinking WTF now!  Can't belive what happened. He is sitting across from me now scoffing Pringles and drinking IPA ! . He finish all treatment 15 months ago. It was tough, but here we are.

    come over

    Hilts

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