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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  • She has 3x fresubin a day plus two tins of soup. A pot of custard and blended rice pudding. 
    If we are having a gravy dinner, then I blend hers with extra gravy. 
    haven’t tried cream. She can’t tolerate ice cream which surprised me.

    I did wonder about blending some single cream and cheesecake. 

    im trying to get her to snack more between meals, but that’s a bit alien to her.

    I do wonder if 50% of the weight loss is worry. I’ve lost 2.5kg this month myself. 

  • Extra cream in the rice pud 

    And in the soup would work too

    hubby found things like wotsits and similar snacks that melt in the mouth or now with lots of dips 

    It really is trial and error ...also use full fat everything.....you are doing really well 

  • Worry will do that. When my son was diagnosed I lost about 10lbs over a couple of weeks 

  • The results unfortunately confirmed the tumour is malignant.
    However on a positive note, the CT didn't show any obvious spread of the tumour.

    Next step is a PET scan in the city hospital possibly followed by Lap staging to get much more detail on the tumour and look for any signs of cancer spread.
    Then they look at treatment needed.

    We are taking this news as positive as the CT didn't show anything else.

    I’m feeling happier at this point.

  • That is very good news that theres no spread. I remember the absolute relief at hearing that news myself for my son.

  • Thanks Karren, my imagination had been running wild, so the scan has given me something to grab hold of. 

  • The mind is good at filling in the gaps and making up its own stories.Hopefully, you will have a more peaceful weekend now you have a better idea what you are dealing with. 

  • Yes at least you know SOMETHING, instead of all the 'what if this' 'what if that' scenarios.

  • Hello again, 

    Im back with positive news. My wife had an endoscopy a month ago because she had been having difficulty swallowing. The biopsy came back as cancer.

    We were devastated and in shock for many days.

    The next step was a CAT scan. This was followed up with a PET scan a week ago and a Laparoscopy today.  The news was very slow to come through, but gradually got faster. 

    The swallowing gradually got much harder. Shes currently on prescription liquids only.

    Today we received the full diagnosis immediately after the surgery.
    Stage 1 tumour at the oesophageal/stomach junction.  A 3cm tumour. 

    The plan is curative. Four lots of chemotherapy two weeks apart followed by the operation to remove the tumour.

    We are all very relieved, as from what we had researched, we expected much worse based on her swallowing.

    So today the next part of the journey begins.

    I wanted to share this on here to hopefully give others hope in the early stages of diagnosis.

    My wife is 49 and has never smoked or had much alcohol. Her BMI was spot on. 

    I will post more updates as we progress.. x

  • Hi Rednax that’s good news. 
    I’m  assuming you’ll get another 4x2 week session of chemo post op too. 
    I was 10.5 months from diagnosis to finishing treatment which was mid August. Now currently sat enjoying the sunshine in Crete 

    it is a long process and yes it’s tough but the sunshine awaits you both if you need something to focus on xx