Hi. The fear is understandable of course. Have you had any treatment yet? My son was diagnosed oesophageal cancer yesterday so we are all still in shock. Hes 42. None of us can think of anything else. I don't know how to just carry on and do normal things. Are you trying to go on as normal?

Hi Karren, Very sorry to hear about your Son. It’s all a bit much to deal with however even after just a month the fact that it’s real and the why me feeling gets more bearable. I know it’s difficult but please get him to try to NOT keep looking it up on the internet as this really is frightening and you nearly always get the worst case scenario on there. I had an endoscopic ultrasound this morning and it was fine. I had a laparoscopy 3 weeks ago and this was abit more uncomfortable and sore for a few days but another thing to tick off the list. Take each day at a time. I am a teacher with young adults with learning difficulties and autism so it was difficult to keep working as they are in your face a bit. It’s early days and I am doing as much as possible at the moment whilst I can before Chemotherapy. So yes as normal as possible. Take the scans and tests they will do one by one and make sure he talks to you and his loved ones about it. Please contact me anytime or get him to as it would be good to have someone else who understands the challenges. 
All the very best

Hi Karren. It’s been a couple of weeks. Just wondered how things are going with your son. Hope all is as well as it can be. Have a good weekend. 

Hello again thanks for asking. I really hope you are OK. Dean has had a CT scan which has showed no sign of cancer elsewhere than God. They say they will also do a PET scan to make totally sure & a laparoscopy. Hes had a heart fitness test and will do a lung fitness test next week. Then it will be chemo, surgery then more chemo. He is bearing up ok and now we have more information he is telling his 16 yr old daughter today. How are things going with you? Have you started chemotherapy?

Hi I’m having chemo in 1-2 weeks time then the dreaded op then chemo afterwards if it’s necessary. I am sat by the sea in Bournemouth and visiting friends we haven’t seen for 20 years. I’m getting out and about as much as I can while I can. 

Hi guys. 
Don’t worry about the Chemo.  I’m currently sat having my 3rd chemo out of the first batch of 4 

I can honestly say it’s worked wonders. I’ve gone from only shakes to being able to eat anything I want. Had chicken fried rice last week. I do get a. Couple of tired days 2-3 days after the chemo but then pick up again. 
Think my op will be mid March 

Good that you are seeing friends & that you are getting chemo very soon so hopefully you'll be able to eat better!  I am getting a little anxious as days going by where Dean isn't getting any treatment yet as your instinct tells you - just get on with it! I am hoping he gets PET scan appointment through quickly & has that in the next week and then laparoscopy. 

Thats fabulous! Are you also having op then more chemo if needed?

Sorry! I see you say you expect the op about mid March.

Karen. They’ve said 4 sessions of chemo 4-6 week recovery then the op followed by  6 week recovery from that and then another 4 sessions of chemo to make sure they get any microscopic bits of tumour. 

Sounds like what they've said to my son. Light at the end of the tunnel then!

Hi I am awaiting an endoscopy with ultra sound I have had my pre op assessment waiting for the procedure but the waiting in between each procedure are raising.my anxiety levels.I was first diagnosed in novber and still not started any treatment and keep thinking the cancer could be getting worse in this time.

Hi I am awaiting an endoscopy with ultra sound I have had my pre op assessment waiting for the procedure but the waiting in between each procedure are raising.my anxiety levels.I was first diagnosed in novber and still not started any treatment and keep thinking the cancer could be getting worse in this time.

Hi Gorms. I am in exactly the same position. I was diagnosed in November and I have had my endoscopic ultrasound. I have now seen the surgeon and oncologist and was told 1-2 weeks. That was over a week ago and yesterday I received a letter for a preop physical on the 13th Feb and another letter for a clinic visit on the 27th. That means more waiting to get on with Chemo. The anxiety is overwhelming however I think we have to trust in the process. In some ways I want to get on with it but in others it gives me a couple of weeks more of still feeling pretty normal without the potential sickness of treatment. I am attending a support group in my area this morning and hopefully it will help with the stress of all of this. How is your eating going. I have found that taking painkillers an hour before really helps and sticking to warm drinks like Tea or semi hot squash helps. The mornings are better for eating than later in the day. I hope all goes well for you and please keep in touch as it helps when speaking to someone in a similar situation. Apparently eating can become easier once you start chemo so it’s good to see some benefits. 

Hi. Have you called the team and told them your anxiety about waiting for treatment to start? Dean was diagnosed 6th Jan (after weeks of ***-ups by GP and a local hospital - I borrowed money and paid for a private endoscopy he had on 6th Jan) He's had CT scan, heart ultrasound (to assess fitness) he's got a Lung function exercise test Tuesday then PET scan Wednesday & laparoscopy Monday 10th Feb. He had a pre op phone call yesterday for the laparoscopy. I am hoping that once they have all results they get on with chemo within a week or 2. Same as you guys, you just imagine it getting bigger or spreading while you wait. Common sense says trust them, they know what they are doing but all the same I would call the nurse or whoever's contact number you have and tell them you are anxious.

I called the team on Friday and they said they will.chase it up and get back to me .I am waiting on endoscopy with ultra sound so they can stage it and then begin treatment.

Well thats good they are on it. 

 Feel sometimes that i am having to keep contacting them for answers.I

Hi everyone I went to a local oesophageal cancer support group yesterday in the morning and my wife and I were really sceptical about it. However it was really fantastic as I met people who had had the op 10-20 years ago and were doing really well. I was so relieved that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. Most I met had had the op before the keyhole robotic surgery we can have was around and were opened up from front to back. It has made a lot of our fears a lot less daunting. I strongly recommend going to one if available. Also the main thing that they all said was avoid the internet at all costs when it comes to reading about it as it is often way out of date and always the worst case scenario. 

Also met a guy who had the surgery 9 months ago and he showed me the scars. It didn’t look that bad thank goodness

Wow thats so encouraging! - thanks for sharing. I'm going to screenshot it and send it to my son. I've suggested he join the forum but he isn't up for it at the moment. He's cocooned in his bubble with me, his wife & kids.

That is exactly how we were. We say it’s not for me but actually that’s exactly who the groups ARE  for. Information from people actually having had the treatment not just professionals who do the op

Is it the local Macmillan service that runs the support groups.