Paulo

I am new to this forum, I have just 3 months ago retired from a very enjoyable career in High Tech Engineering & was very much looking foward to spending more time with my family, freinds & supporting my life long hobbylong hobby of Coarse Fishing. Apart from a back operation some 30 years i have been fortunate enough to enjoy very good health until now. a few weeks before Christmas i became aware that i had a problem swallowing food, I did not initially pay to much attention to this but it became more & more of a concern to me with every pasing day. Rather than visit the doctor I just made sure i chewed anything i put in my mouth more thouroughly this seemed to mostlhad y quell the problem. Chrismas Day 8 family members for dinner, I could not digest my food my stomach just rejected any solid part of what was on my dinner plate. Realising at tis stage I had a problem i promised my wife & family that as soon as the Christmas break was over I would be straight down the surgery, this I did & my doctor instantly arranged for me to visit the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. I was seen within a matter of 2-3 days many tests & procedures Endescop & CT Scan were carried out & very quickly i was advised that it very much semed that I had Cancer of the Oesophagus & Stomach. I was also advised that there was a chance that if the Cancer was confined to the Oesophagus there was a possibilty I could undergo a major operation with potential for a Cure. I have had to undergo further tests & a Pet Scan which unfortunately have shown that the cancer regretably has been found in other parts of the body. This regretably negates the opertunity of operating with a view to a cure & I am currently now being assesed for treament of I think Radio & Chemotheropy with a view to keeping me alive. I am still coming to terms with this latest information, not withstanding things are bing put in place to ready for the ongoing theropy. Would to pleased to engage with like minded people

  • Hi Paulo,

    I am new to the forum too! I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer in July 2016 which is inoperable / terminal so I am having palliative care via chemotherapy to help keep me alive. (prognosis 2-3 years?)

    When you are first diagnosed it's a bit of a roller coaster of emotions because everything seems to go so fast and you don't really have time to think about what's happening and it can turn your life upside down!

    In a few weeks time your treatment will have started (I had a central line fitted which is very minor surgery and I have had no problems at all so would strongly recommend it. I have a whole day of chemo + a pump at home for 2 days every 2 weeks!) and things will calm down and you will be able to come to terms with what is happening. My advice is to get your positive fighting head on as soon as you can, not an easy task? (it took me 4 weeks!) and get your partner, family & friends to do the same. You need the support of others but you need them to be strong because you will have off days which is totally normal (it's okay to be upset or angry and to cry or scream and shout) and positive people will help you get your fighting head back on.

    You are just about to start your treatment journey on hopefully a very long road and sometimes it is going to be frightening along the way but remember you are not alone, there are many Cancer patients out there on a similar road including myself who will be happy to hold your hand as we battle with cancer together.

    Good luck and keep in touch - big hugs CarolB