Hi Manfyh, 

Your post caught my eye- ANYTHING mentioning Oesophageal gets me 'interested'- WHY? My then 56 yr old husband diagnosed with it July 2020. I say THEN 56, not because he's popped off, but because he is now 57 and 1year since completion of treatment and disease free ( big clapping emioji's) for now ( I always add that, not to tempt fate!)

The reason I post is that I know EXACTLY, how you are feeling right now, all human emotions experienced in the same hour, let alone day. Utter frustration and wanting answers - like NOW!!
 

Jenn moderator gives you absolute solid advice, your husband must be registered with a GP , and if your husband is already diagnosed then he will have gone through that process with a consultant and team doing the work- our oesophageal team nurses were an abosolute godsend through it all. Usually referred to as a 'multidisciplinary team'

I have to say though, 4 weeks isn't that long - although I know all to well that you want it to start like RIGHT NOW. we started chemo after 5 /6 weeks, but they were very 'quiet' due to covid (every cloud n'all). Most of the people I have 'chatted' with on here were 8-12 weeks.

THE THING about  oesophageal cancer is that it is very complicated and they take a while to get to the staging decision, do every investigation almost known to man! From that then comes the treatment plan- and there is a Heinz variety of them depending on staging.

I could go on and on and on.............but I won't.

Start with his GP & good luck- ask anything you want.

hilts

Hi, just been updated with his diagnosis today, PET scan showed it has spread to lymph nodes and the hip but the liver and organs are clear, so no operation, palliative only, they have said 5/6 months of chemo to slow the spread down hopefully, now I am numb and no idea what to think or feel xx

Ah Manfyh, 

So moving on at least now you have the news you didn't want. We , on the other board,refer to ourselves as the 'oesophageal cancer club'- once I knew, the head chaos calmed down a tad, not much, but at least something to focus on. It will be the strangest emotional ride you've maybe have ever been on, but do remember it is okay NOT to be okay.

Over time, you will hear the most 'helpful' things , like 'how are you coping' or 'stay strong' arrrg, maybe just my linear take on life but what do they actually feel and look like . If you want to cry, rant and rave- do it.

BUT- please know that palliative DOES NOT mean terminal. It means 'treatment of a chronic condition. While we are on the palliative path, there are more than a few on the other board that are 'palliative' one that is 10 years into his palliative and another who is no longer palliative ........ but disease free following a load of immunotherapy after a load of chemo!!yes , of course there are some with not so good outcomes, but we refer to it as the rollercoaster, emotionally, physically and everything in between.

HOspital will hopefully sort out his 'nutrition' while he's in.Maybe a feeding tube, just to get 'stuff' in him. Trust me when I say the guys love it!! NOT. The space in the oesophagus won't 'free up' until he has had a few blasts of chemo- mine took 3 blasts (cycles) before his swallow returned to something nearing normal- that stopped  the vomiting/gagging and enabled him to eat proper food.

Whatever you feel right now it's okay- ask away - nothing off limits. None of us are medics, just experts in the 'lived experience' (urg) living the dream!

Take care

Hilts

Seriously thankyou, I have had a million, "hope you are ok's" currently sitting next to him on a ward as they are putting a stent in tmrw to allow him to at least have some food. Question tho, he is coughing up frothy liquid, what is that as no water is staying down x

Hi Hilts,

it's Shaun, Manfyh (Sam's Hubby) here. Sam has shown me all that you have chatted about. I must admit it's given a lift to read your words. If we hadn't had your advise I would still be thinking the worst.

Once I am out of hospital (tomorrow) I'll join the other board.

Thanks again for pulling me off the ceiling and helping Sam understand more. 
 

Shaun

Aha!
 Nice one- you will both be feeling like the proverbial at the mo, that's okay. Physically and emotionally.

DID they fit you out with any 'fetching' kit?
If they gave you 'supplement' drinks- trust me they are RANK LOL - honestly, with the advances in medicines, you think they would have come up with mojito OR IPA flavour! When my husband was in 'your way' , no way was he 'drinking that ****'  is what he said LOL- so we just used normal food 'adapted' , so like soup with gallons of cheese grated / melted in it. One of my best inventions was Rhoda's cream lollipops, the stuff that's like butter.  My husband was discharged once on Xmas eve, he had a full Xmas dinner - blended- okay, not happy with that, but I did 'threaten' him with 'suppliments'

Please DO join the other board and read through our rollercoaster ride. You are absolutely NOT on your own here. I thought when 'we' were diagnosed that we were the only ones, but nope common as muck we are.

I have only used this board during the last 2 years, it has been soooooo helpful, also 'good' to feel your are not alone.

Once the shock has processed- keeping some sort of a sense of humour is essential, it got us through some dark moments, watching completely inappropriate, non PC old comedy. After all if you can't laugh, what can you do.......

Glad your off the ceiling- You are probably looking at each other right now thinking wtf just happened- don't have a crystal ball, but I guess at this point that's what you both are thinking. For what it worth, I am still thinking that LOL.

Take care and keep the faith, as we say on the other board.

Hilts.

Sorry,Manfyh I didn't answer you question 

What is the frothy , gungy stuff that is being coughed up.

Likely to be saliva, but also added into the mix will be general body gunge.

His oesophagus is well 'miffed', probably a tad inflamed as well after all the fiddling. So a combination of all of the above.

and as for people asking 'are you okay' I picture you sat there saying "oh, yes thank you" , but screaming inside "of course I'm ******* not", arrrg. (:

Hilts

Thanks for answering, the GI nurse finally told us the same saliva gunk, well after more complaint Shaun had the stent put in, wide awake, saw and felt it all, hod he's hard core, so thankgod he can now eat and some calories in to fight this *** some more, Oncology on the 24th and chemo starting on 5-6 April which seems forever away but allows us still to run away to Gretna and get married xx 

Thanks for answering, the GI nurse finally told us the same saliva gunk, well after more complaint Shaun had the stent put in, wide awake, saw and felt it all, hod he's hard core, so thankgod he can now eat and some calories in to fight this *** some more, Oncology on the 24th and chemo starting on 5-6 April which seems forever away but allows us still to run away to Gretna and get married xx 

Poor Shaun, 

Sounds lovely- they can choose to have sedation or not, mine didn't for the first endoscopy, but has had sedation for every other one since- I wonder why that might be??
 

The oesophagus will stay well miffed (my medical term ) for a while, so might be gunging for a while- hopefully not on your wedding night eh, LOL. Congrats Mrs.

So stuff now moving. 3 weeks until first chemo- that is pretty quick and much on the money regarding time, but tbh, for those dodgy cells, including lymph's, their time is up! They are going to get a right slapping over the next few weeks, and will die like flies- death to dodgy cells (:

So you are on the rollercoaster, car just pulling off. Our car is back at base and we have got off- for now (always say that not to tempt fate) Here for you both while on said ride.

Hilts