Newly diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and the Fear

Hi I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last month and I have had a laparoscopy and having an endoscopic ultrasound tomorrow. I wondered if anyone has any ideas how I can help the absolute overwhelming fear that I am experiencing. I am having really bad dreams and hardly sleeping. The smallest mention of cancer on TV sends me into a panic and I am so worried about upsetting my wife and 20 year old son. It seems to never leave my thoughts. 

Parents
  • 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 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 Karen. Had my first chemo on Monday and other than sitting around it was fine. Tuesday was ok until the evening when I started to feel a little queasy. Wednesday was like being car sick and the night was very nauseous. Yesterday however was difficult as I really felt poisoned and had a bad tummy ache. Today I feel more human and hopefully will be able to eat again as yesterday was a no no. I hope all will get better each day until they blast me again. 

  • I am happy you have started your chemotherapy although the side effects are not very nice.I have to go on Wednesday for my staging and then know my treatment plan.

  • Feeling a lot better now and hoping that it will last until the next cycle. 

  • Glad you are feeling a bit better.Hope your next session may be a little easier on you.

  • Sounds bearable I suppose. Glad you are feeling better today. Onwards & upwards!

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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