Hi Michaela,

Sorry to read about your Mum's diagnosis. I know from personal experience how devastating this can be and how hopeless it can feel when you read online about survival rates etc. Much of the information online is out of date, based on historic research and there have been some improvements over recent years. In my case, I am the 58 year old with OC, I was diagnosed at Stage 4 back in late 2013 with a lousy prognosis as my primary cancer was inoperable. I was lucky enough to react well to chemo. 

Has your Mum been told what stage she has reached, whether surgery is an option and what her prognosis is likely to be? 

If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best wishes

Dave

Dear michaela

i am very sorry to hear the news about your mum, but welcome to the forum, you are in the right place to talk about it.

as Davek rightfully states, a lot of the internet information is out of date, it a good source to gain some awareness and information, but don't take it as gospel

i am now just over two years post treatment for throat cancer, I was fortunate enough to not have any surgery, but had 30 sessions of Tomotherapy and 6 sessions of all day chemo

although our cancers are different my point is that for me and my family being diagnosed with cancer is the start of this journey, there is then a huge amount of education to be gained in that you have one of the 200 differing types of cancer and there are good survival rates in most now days.

not only will you learn about the cancer your mum has, but the degree of advancement, if any, but you will also learn about the treatment pescibed and impact of such treatment.

i remember when I got diagnosed on Monday April 28th at 12:35, I then went on for further exploritories, a pet ct scans and imaging before I started my treatment on 8:30 of the morning of 8th July

when I was diagnosed in April I thought I was going to die, with a lot more testing and better factual information about the cancer I had, I slowly begun to understand my cancer and I became less scared, more optimistic about a future and more determined and positive

these early days are the worst, it's important for you to be able to talk to someone about your own feeling on this as cancer infects not only the holder but also family and loved ones, but it might be best not to tell everyone at this stage until you know the extent of what you are dealing with.....in my experience this worked best, buts its horses for courses

i hope I have given some useful help and have not offended in any way

shout if you have any questions or just want to sound of

vatch

Hi Michaela, I am so sorry to hear about your mums diagnosis. First of all looking on the internet is the worst thing you can do because it just makes you feel worse than you already do. Survival rates and symptoms are different for everyone and some people get symptoms early others don't. The internet doesn't know your mum and her body is different from anyone else's so her cancer could be slow growing and easy to treat for all you know. My late hubby had a friend who had throat cancer and he was diagnosed at an advanced stage though he was told it was treatable because the cancer was slow growing and he had the disease for 8 years and then passed away from another thing but all those years he was never in pain he got on with life and got his treatment. 

I know it's hard trust me I've had my fair share of friends and family who have battled the disease but don't lose sleep over it because it's not helping and worrying won't get you anywhere. Supporting you mum is the best you can do which I'm sure you are already doing. Listen the internet websites make is sound much much worse and scarier than it should be and it's okay to breakdown sometimes we need that little relief so we can move forward.  You never know she might still be here in 15 years fit as a fiddle and trust me it's very much possible. Don't lose faith. When I had cancer my sister told me when you have lost your courage to go on you've lost the battle in my opinion true words. Take care Diane 

Hi Michaela.

I too have Oesophageal Cancer, and can only reiterate what Davek has mentioned above. I was diagnosed back in November 2015 with a tumour Stage 3 and earlier this year had an operation to remove. I have been through chemo pre and post operation and coped well. It does sound as if your mum is remarkably strong and you will need to get the advice from the team involved, and as mentioned quite often details on the internet are not up to date. In my case it has gone into my liver but fortunately I am on a drug called Herceptin going forward which prolongs lifespan well. 

It is extremely difficult to keep strong....my wife only knows too well....but wait for more information and keep in touch. Take care. Simon.