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

I too would advise, push push push.  My brother had been visiting his GP since March with fears of this dreadful cancer and was pooh poohed and told it was acid reflux.  Eventually at the end of August he had an endoscopy and a biopsy.  By this time he had lost 1 and half stones in 6 weeks.  He was rushed into hospital on 20th September, and passed away on 25th October without having had any treatment.  I could go into far more detail but would not wish to distress anyone on this forum.  It was obviously too late for him and I find it extremely upsetting that in spite of him doing the right thing and going to his doctor, (and advising the doctor that his paternal grandfather had died of the same disease) he was sent away and not seen to in sufficient time to give him a few months quality of life.  

Make a nuisance of yourself, push and push for scans and tests and treasure every moment you have xx

Sad and sorry too, to hear this mate.

Keep being the amazing rock that you have been for him on this journey, I've no doubt he is immensely proud of you Lee.

Aw, Lee, 

What on earth can I say to you- fellow traveller and friend xx

Your 'job' now I guess is to tuck him up and LOVE him up, you have ALL given it a fair crack and thrown everything at it, so no regrets and 'enjoy' the time you have xxx

My mother in law has just 'checked out'. But it was a 'lovely' check out, in her nice warm bed, sun shining on her and just literally 'fell asleep'- sad of course, but 'nice' -send off this Friday. My relatives recently- honesty xx

We are with you Lee xx

Hilts

hi Millie & all the crew, 

I've just posted to Lee, but thought I'd put a separate on to you for 'happier' stuff. It's strange, I feel genuinely upset about Lee's news. I feel such a strong attachment to you guys on this board, even though we have all never met!- when your husband was having all his 'extra's ' , I would be in the house, and it would 'pop into my head'- oh I wonder how he is??. What is it all about eh?
 

I am glad you Kev is on the beer (: . We are all okay- all recently had covid( Jan), but now we all have minging colds- probably covid again, but hey ho- minor in comparison to the last 2 years. Sooo, he is coughing again, but the sound is 'different' - I told him - AGAIN- clear those sinus' out - as suggested by Doug- low and behold much improved again, so I think the stretch helped, but I think the problem is 2 fold, & psychosomatic,but try telling him that !!!!!, but I really do think (hope) the message is FINALLY getting through! One lives  in hope ( shrug emoji) 

oh blimey- kids are 'demanding' my attention- arrrrg- no peace

keep that faith folk, 

Hilts

xxx

Hi Hilts,

Thanks Hilts,

yes we feel like friends even though we've never met. Maybe we should get together one day at Sutty! Fingers crossed the cough eases with the suggestions. An OC patient who has been Kev's mentor has developed a cough two years after the operation and is going to have an endoscopy. 
 Yes beer seems to be lol.

I think I said Kev's  part of the prehab committee as a patient representative - not sure he's recommended beer!

Condolences on the loss of your mum in law - sounds peaceful and I hope her 'sending off'' goes well.

keeping the fairh

Milly
 

Hi quiet people !
All very quiet- must be because we are all moving on, whatever the path. Or 'coming to terms' with our lot- I hate that term, used tongue in cheek as what does it mean- you see the most horrendous things on TV and the reporters say ' they are coming to terms with.......'  how, if your whole house has been blasted to smithereens, how to you 'come to terms' with it. Another meaningless platitude.....

just checking in really. Sun is shining and all okay here. Mother in laws funeral was lovely, sun shining, whole family out- why is it at funerals that you see people you haven't seen for years! The 2 I've been to recently have actually been very enjoyable! We all wen t for an extended family meal and met up the next day for a sunny walk (: the old dame would have been proud .

Anyway- all okay here. Usual coughing bob- scan results still not back 3 weeks now, I am hoping that is a good omen.

Any ways - off to weed the garden.

Keep keeping the faith

Hilts

Hi Hilts

Lovely to hear from you   -  and that all is well with you - the sunshine definitely helps. I'm still plodding on - feel a bit cheated as the dreaded 'C' seems to be gone but where I needed a tracheotomy for 8 weeks - it's left me very breathless and limits everything I want to do. Must look on the bright side - I have no pain and not being quite as sick now 

I'm keeping the faith Hilts - but finding it very hard

I often think of you all - such a tremendous help xxxx

Andi xxx

Hi all,

the sun is out and that definately helps, we have had roof down and air in our faces xx We have our first Oncology appt tmrw to hear what joys are to come, Shauns stent has settled down and he isn't in quite so much discomfort, but the joy of watching him eat is pure bliss, last night was a tripe cheeseburger, no bun, soft chips, gravy and coke, I could have cried watching him eat xx We had a Counselling session yesterday at MacMillan which was great and today we need to try and get our heads round the benefits side, Shaun was self employed overseas and obviously now can't go back, we have never claimed anything so getting your head round it is a little strange but that's our mission for today, then wedding ready for Gretna Green next wknd, our running away seems to have attracted 12 friends so far lol xx

love and smiles to all xxxx Sam and Shaun xx

Hi Y'all.

Yay- Manfy- you came over ( big clapping emoji's). Welcome to the oesophageal cancer club! The club nobody wants to be in, but here we all are.

Glad the stent has gone in okay. Then you go and get TRIPE, wow that's a blast from the past !! I remember the smell as a kid with my grandad cooking the stuff in milk ( feeling sick emoji) smoking his woodbine ina string vest (:. Mind you it is slippery! )Beer is also slippery- most of the chaps on here seem to find it VERY effective! 5 pints in a sitting is the norm! To work toward post treatment.Although, mine went out NYE and dropped 8 ! He was happy I was NOT!

I so get you feeling so over the moon when food is swallowed for the first time in eons without hawking it back- such a good vibe (:

AND- roof down- the men buy a sports car AFTER they have completed, but nice one getting one before.

As for seeing oncologist tomorrow- as I've said, those cells will get a right slapping over the next few weeks- not sure he'll be fancing  tripe though! Just told my husband about that and he turned slightly pale and said he might (just about) eat that than sip those rancid supplements! (:

As for claiming anything- have the lot, you have worked hard and now need a little help, we didn't claim as he was on full sick pay, but there is a few things about to help. Mine has now decided to retire. He went back to work last May (Wally) will finish, Probably in July. After the last 2 years it kinda gives you a different perspective on life (:

Andi - good to hear from you- the shortness of breath goes with the turf. Probably nothing to do with the trachy, as that has sealed over and well healed by now, more like the slapping your lungs took post op. Will take a while for them to get used to being reinflated , I would ask your team if you can see a physio for chest expansion exercises or if you can use that 'lung expander' thingy that was given out post op. Mine felt short of breath etc for about 3-4 months post op then the more stuff he did to fully expand his chest the better it got . He is no longer short of breath, probably reasonably back to normal after about 6/7 months.

Good day for us today- scan results back- no little f*****ers seen yay! Although hernia visable again- we'll take that I think. I think they don't like to over tighten it as that causes it's own set of problems, so maybe more surgery who knows and right at this moment who cares! Disease free! Also a year exactly since last chemo ! 
Hope everyone else is keeping the faith

Hilts.

Hi Hilts

i'm waiting for appointment for lung exercises - can't use the expander contraption as have damaged trachea!!  Definitely getting better though and staying very positive, the lovely sunshine helps. 
 

Glad your results are good - always a bonus. I had to sell my soft top car as needed an automatic - arm (broke it last year) wasn't strong enough to get reverse!!  Still have roof that opens - but really miss my soft top 

keep getting stronger 

Andi xx

We are both crying with laughter, i as per usual type and send without checking, I was thinking Tripe?? Re read my post and see that I didn't finish the word!! Triple cheeseburger as in McDonald's lol, that has really made my day, I'm such a twxt sometimes xx

We are both crying with laughter, i as per usual type and send without checking, I was thinking Tripe?? Re read my post and see that I didn't finish the word!! Triple cheeseburger as in McDonald's lol, that has really made my day, I'm such a twxt sometimes xx

LOL, now you've got me laughing my face off (: (: 

That is a huge improvement!! Tripe v triple cheeseburger , no contest. I am a Burger King gal, but when you've not been able to swallow anything and taste nothing but metal a cheeseburger does the trick.

Get chucking any weight on now, eat anything and everything. Chemo is the dogs nads for doing what it does, but boy does it make you feel sick- so go and have a 'daily Mac.

Keep smiling and the faith 

hilts