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. 

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  • Hi I am having the same procedure on Wednesday I have found it doesn't matter what anybody says the fear is constantly with you ,I am the same ,I don't switch off at night neither.I think my fear is to find out what stage i am at.Hope you find something to help you .

  • Its all constant fear. I know its not happening to me, but my son, but its constant fear as to what theyre going to say. My son will be told the stage soon as well but hasn't got appointment through yet. Keep googling what I know so far about his tumour size and no spread etc to try and predict - it's driving me mad!

  • The tubes will soon start coming out you feel quite mobile when you get down to just the one drop stand. I still have shortness of breath now. I’m working on it as it’s holding me back from upping my exercise. 
    went to a group meeting of upper GI people today 2 or 3 guys there who had operation like )6 and 9  years ago and doing well 

    Didnt really want to go but was well worth it to chat with a couple of them. 
    recommend it if they have something like that near you once you are up and out. 
    Hickman line fitted and this time I remembered to take my steroid tablets as  Chemo starts again tomorrow 

  • Fantastic! Good to know you are doing well Mark. Look after yourself. Get as much rest as you can. 

  • Thank you. Really feel shattered now and the bed is uncomfortable when you can’t move about in it ń. Still I ate jelly an hour ago and it was great. 

  • Ahhh bless you! I bet you can't wait to get back to your own bed.

  • Suki good luck with the stent. Sorry I know nothing about them. 
    Marc, that is one of the worst things straight after. You manage to get into bed , one stand on one side one on the other you’re not comfortable and you can’t move. They should stress this more in that pre hab. You need arm strength and leg strength to attempt to adjust yourself. Try and shove up on those things that stop you falling out of bed 

  • Hi Karen. It will be 4 weeks since my op tomorrow and I’m ok. I have been sleeping a lot better in the last few days as the pain is wearing off. Once the initial numbness wears off it becomes quite uncomfortable and i needed lots of pain killers. I am down to just two lots a day. Eating is a bit better since I’m on a soft diet. It’s just a case of getting used to the frequency of eating. I have a very croaky voice since the op as my vocal cords may have been bruised by one of the tubes I had in. I started driving yesterday and it was great to have the freedom again. I hope your son is doing okay. Take care Marc

  • Hi Marc. Great, sounds like you're making good progress. Good you can sleep well now.

    Did you have a feeding tube in for a week or so after the op? What painkillers do they give you?

    Dean has can this Wednesday & sees surgeon on 8th. His op may be1st August but may be put back as he's currently got another infection. He's had 7 infections in the feeding tube they talked him into having in early Feb just incase he was unable to get anything down - luckily thats not happened but the tube has been a right nuisance. 7 lots of antibiotics. He asked them to take it out and was told no because you need it for after the op they said.

    I know it'll all be sorted and he'll be ok but it's just a lot of stress & worry isn't it.

    Anyway you keep on feeling better & better!

  • Hi. I didn’t have a feeding tube. It seems to vary from Hospital to hospital. Hopefully they will take it out asap. Good luck. 

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