Hi guys. Sending love to you all. We have just lost my mum to this cancer after only 6 months post surgery. My advice push for the chemo after and push for all the scans you can get after too. If this had been possible for mum then she might still be here. Xx

hi,

it,s sad to hear about your loss especially after your mum going through the operation i know its difficult to accept your loss especially when you read posts like mine telling others it will all be fine , god bless you and take care of yourslef and your family.

Hi Distraught,

I totally understand your frustration however you are in a better position than at the start of all the tests. We had to wait until the 30th December before we knew which path my husband was on and his chemo didn't start until the end of January due to a mix up with the  mandatory DPD test. In our experience Chemo didn't start straight away. We had a meeting to explain what is involved etc then blood tests.  They are thorough and we found the NHS staff and the cancer nurses were very skilled and dedicated. We also had district nurses come to the house to take bloods etc before each cycle. My advice would be try to take it a step at a time and keep a record. If you have any concerns contact the appointed person in the upper GI Team. We chased a few things up but they will help you. This is a very stressful time and when treatment starts it feels better because something positive is being done. However all the tests etc are a necessary part of this journey no one wants to be on.

Please take heart from the people on here who have been threw a similar experience and have come out the other side.

keeping the faith

Milly

through not threw lol predictive text! Although it's acceptable to feel like throwing something at times! 
keeping the faith

Milly

Hey Distraught.

Yep, you want it to start TOMORROW!! Trust me ,when I say tomorrow will come soon enough. In my experience all the people involved in upper GI cancer treatment are utterly superb. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking at what they are dealing with. You've had the final diagnostic test with the laparoscopy- they will look at ALL the investigations as a team and come up with the best plan.

This is the worst bit emotionally, and we all know you just want to crack on. 
AS for the old Covid ( me currently in possession of it- 1 more day locked up) , it shouldn't make any difference. Around here we have 'hot' and 'cold' wards/hospitals. The entire services are separate. I think they have realised that there are other things more/just as  important (to us). The only issue may be staff sickness, but again that is a year round problem for any number of reasons. Chemo is so good at what it does (cell murder ) so it will get to work straightaway, even if delayed for a week or so, for those dodgy cells their time is UP!
As for eating/intake- it really is whatever, wherever, whenever. Strangely enough, my husbands 'swallow' and symptoms did SEEM to get worse after diagnosis, once we knew what was there. Not sure it actually was worse, but sure felt like it.

This time last year, we were 4 days post op. Incredible really. Here we still are. He's really looking forward to an 'unminced turkey dinner', with unliquidised veg !!!, no doubt a pint or five! - not yet Millie!, but I put nothing beyond his 'personal goals' !!
Distraught- YOU WILL GET THERE TOO.

Anyhows- keep keeping that faith folks and have a cosy xmas

Hilts x

Hi Everyone

What a rollercoaster ride we have been on here, my Mum has now been told it has spread (after saying it hadn't) and we are now dealing with lymph nodes and bones. My poor Mum has had such a shock, she had been keeping very positive.

Like you, Distraught, we are frustrated too. My mum had her original diagnosis three weeks ago and we still haven't had her meeting to decide next steps. 

Christmas is a funny one, we are now preparing for this being our last and no idea if really we should be - keeping our faith but it really is getting the knockaround of the century. Oh and let's not even get started on the latest Covid news...! 

Wishing everyone a strong and positive festive time XXX 

hi Distraught

Trust me i was first diagnosed in January 2020 i started my chemo in March 2020 right at the start of the first full lockdown and if anything it made it easier as there were less people in the cancer wards and in the hospital in general , from first  chemo to home took about 5 months but it flies in , once the oncologist sets the program it will all fall in to place i am sure , take care now and keep posting 

Regards

Douglas

Hi all, hope everyone is OK.

Just wanted to throw out a quick note to wish you all well for Xmas and that I hope you have a good time with your families and can focus on spending time with them and enjoying yourselves and not thinking too much on our journeys and situations, having joy in the moment and happiness with our nearest and dearest.

God bless you all for your support, encouragement and camaraderie through 2021 !

Merry Christmas Redski.

Lee

Feliz Navidad Lee !

Raise a San Miguel for me fella.

Good morning everyone... update on my Dad.

Ok...from my last msg (don't remember exactly what I put) we have just been told that my Dad can come home tomorrow .

Dad has been in hospital following surgery for around 6 weeks now due to complications, - he's had a Lung infection, 2 leaks in his 'new esophagus' (this was the biggest delay), trapped air behind both lungs, racing heartbeat (that the cardiologist now says is due to the surgery and the close distance to the heart) so now dad will have to take a pill everyday to regulate the heartbeat, bed sores...

The last few days (after the x-ray showed the hole had finally healed) they have been taking the pipes and tubes out one by one and replaced the feeding tubes with liquidised drink and soup. This has all been fine and today eggs and cheese are one the menu! 

So now comes the time of the next stage - any advice would be appreciated e.g. correct food plan and times etc. 

'Keeping the faith' has been difficult lately but after getting the news Dad is coming home...bring it on

Lee.

The path to success is never a straight line Lee, but this is an awesome update, awesome progress for your Dad and awesome news for you and your family @ Xmas - thank you for sharing !

The path to success is never a straight line Lee, but this is an awesome update, awesome progress for your Dad and awesome news for you and your family @ Xmas - thank you for sharing !