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

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.

Makes sense to me!

Mine was set up by the Upper GI nursing team but there are groups all over the country and macmillan gave me some info on some others near me. 

I will contact my local Macmillan tomorrow and also speak to my upper GI nurses to find out as I think a support group would help my anxiety 

Honestly it really helped so very much as it was good to hear from actual human beings about how they had recovered and are leading relatively normal lives now. One of the chaps there gave me his number and said to call him or meet up anytime. It was incredible but he was out jogging 6 weeks after his operation. Friends often just don’t know what to say and often say the phrases like you need to be positive but but it may be true but when it’s all so new and always on your mind that can be a bit difficult. Hang in there !

Hi Mouser. Off to Physio appointment today. Starting Chemo on Monday and wondered how it is going with you. Hope all is ok 

Hi Boxbrain0 

Glad you starting Chemo, it has really worked wonders for me. It actually feels like tumour has gone ! Had my 4th session on Saturday so I’ve had a bit of a bed / settee day today. I’ll start to pick up again from tomorrow. Heard it’s a load more appts next before I get an operation date. Obviously I’m now worried about the next step but we all do that don’t we ? 

Hope your chemo is going well

Hi Mouser. How are you doing after the chemo?

My sons been given his chemo plan now its 4 lots of FLOT for 8 weeks then a 4 to 6 week break then surgery then probably 4 more FLOT. He's nervous obviously as he's read about FLOT and how tough it can be. Is that what you had?

Hi Mouser. How are you doing after the chemo?

My sons been given his chemo plan now its 4 lots of FLOT for 8 weeks then a 4 to 6 week break then surgery then probably 4 more FLOT. He's nervous obviously as he's read about FLOT and how tough it can be. Is that what you had?

Hi Karren .

yep, Flot for me too. I found it to be very good as I may have already said. I was eating proper food not long after 1st lot of chemo. I did have a couple of off days each time in the first week and these do get a bit worse after each time but the results have been very good. 
Christmas Day consisted of throwing up my dinner of just mash after only one or two mouthfuls, this evening I made ( and kept down ) a full chicken roast dinner

Had a CT scan today , I assume it’s to see how much tumour has shrunk so they can plan surgery. I’ll prob get a call with result next week 

Ahh such a shame about Christmas dinner! Typical. Yes you did say that you felt tumour had shrunk after just 1 chemo - I told my son. His team advised him to have a feeding tube in his small intestine (a jejeunal tube) at the same time as his laparoscopy 2 weeks ago so he did. They said that even though he can still eat certain foods and get nutrition drinks down, the chemo may take his appetite or make him sick so the tube ensures good nutrition. I just want the chemo to start for him now and get the nasty thing shrinking. laparoscopy showed nothing in abdomen so that's great. Sounds like your tumour has shrunk loads as you are eating so well now. Good luck with the scan results.