Secondary

Last year I had oesophageal cancer. I was given the all clear in April this year. Now if been told I have secondary cancer in the lymph nodes each side of my neck. I can only swallow liquids now and hardly have a voice as they are pressing onto the voice box. I start radiotherapy next week to try and Shrink them. Is there any possibility it can spread to other lymph nodes. ? I'm loosing weight and don't want to end up with a feeding tube again. They are horrible. I'm making fruit smoothies is this enough to live on. Any ideas to increase calories . I dont like porridge or mashed potatoes 

 

  •  

    Hi Lily,

    Welcome to the forum.

    What rotten luck to develop secondaries so soon after being given the all clear. Have you asked your care team for advice on nutrition? I don't know anything about oesophageal cancer, but I expect that you need more than fruit smoothies to live on. It's no wonder that you are losing weight if this is all that you are eating.

    I know that you can get build up drinks prescribed for you. Some of these don't taste too good, but others are ok, so don't be put off if you don't find a suitable one straight away. Can you manage some home made soup that is liquidised?

    I am sure that if you look up 'diet for oesophageal cancer' in the search engine on the left hand side of the blue bar at the top of this page, you will find previous posts from people who have had this problem.

    You will probably also find suggestions on-line. Does your GP's practice have a dietician, or can they refer you to one? They should also be able to help you.

    Unfortunately, when cancer gets into the lymph nodes it can spread to other nodes, but this is why you are being given radiotherapy to try and shrink any growth.

    I sincerely hope that it works for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. There is always someone here whenever you feel like talking.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx