Well done! Glad to hear you are doing well and you've got the worst bit out of the way!

Hi just thought I would check in and see how you’re doing. I got a date for the operation which will be on the 2nd June. Not looking forward to it but it’s another step forward I suppose. 

Hi. Good you got a date. It must be a daunting prospect but at the same time knowing any remnants of it will be gone.

Dean just had his 2nd chemo yesterday after a 5 week gap between that and his 1st one due to low platelets. Did you get a kind of burning throat as a side effect from chemo? How do you feel after your 4 chemo sessions now - eating better? have you been advised to do anything specific re fitness ready for the op?

Thanks for quick reply Boxbrain -(just checked through messages and you haven't said your real name) Don't apologise for being a bit down & apprehensive re that op, of course you will feel like that. Dean is already like this, he's even mentioned not having the op - I know he will if his life depends on it though. He's scared of the op itself & the recovery & what life will be like after. He knows he's lucky that the op is possible but still scared. Its a lot. I'm scared for him, so is his wife. His wife says she doesn't want him to be 'butchered'.

Remember when you went to that support group & you met those guys who had had the op a decade or 2 ago - they said it was daunting but they're still here & have adapted. Thats what the body does, it will adapt.

My brother in law has Ulcerative colitis similar to Chrohns disease and had ALL his stomach removed when he was 26 plus majority of his large intestine so all he has is small intestine really. I would never have known (hes 60 now) when I first met him about 25 years ago I had no idea, as he eats literally anything and drinks beer & cider - often way too much. He eats hot curries etc.

Anyway, I know he still has the oesophagus but I am saying he had huge changes to adapt to and has. He has 'dumping syndrome' which I know can be an issue after the Ivor-Lewis but my sister says he manages it. Hes always worked full time and he plays sport and has a full normal life.

It's not fair this has happened to any of you guys in this chat, I don't know whats going on but so many people under 55, 60ish getting cancer, its crazy.

When I was younger we never knew anyone with cancer, now is so common.

Any time you want to air your fears, or share anything just pop on here & talk to us. No one would judge you for being fed up with things & worried.

In a few short months you'll be looking back at what you've been through and feeling good about it once you get to a new normal.

Thanks Karren. My name is Marc by the way

Hi Marc. 
I know what you mean about all the DIY before the op. 
I was the same as there’s no way I could have sat looking at stuff once home. 
I was forever at the tip  

we also had to sort bank accounts out and get a Will sorted as there’s always that bit of your brain that says I may not wake up  

I have a koi pond and was seriously considering getting it shut down as my partner wouldn’t have a clue how to manage it. 

im now 4 weeks post op the scar on my abdomen has all but gone. There is a smaller one on my back which got an infection but that’s almost sorted now too. 
saw the dietitian yesterday and was told I could eat more things. 
nice one off to the chippy we went. Chips and a load of gravy. I only ate the soggy ones but must have eaten too quickly and got dumping syndrome. It wasn’t nice and took a few hours to subside but at least I knew what was happening. 
lesson learned 

gone back to yogurt and ice cream today, will reset and try again tomorrow 

Hi I have a note book that has all the little things in it that I can remember to tell my wife just in case such as passwords and where the radiator key is etc. Hope the eating gets better. Still you are at least attempting food that’s a bit more solid now.