Hello Debi381

Hi firstly im sorry that you have being diagnosed with Oesophageal Cancer.  I understand how worried you are about the disease and treatments.

The side effects of chemo are daunting and scary but please try and remember that everyone reacts differently and there are medications that can combat these syptoms also which can really help.

Having a picc line I believe is so much better than the chemo going straight into a vein in your arm as this can damage veins so picc line is a better option.

Im not sure at what stage you have been diagnosed but I also know a lady who went through treatment and the operation and has survived for 8 yrs now.

Take one morning one afternoon one day at a time.  I wish you the best on your journey.

Take care of you.

Sending you hugs and positivity x

Hi leigh60

 Thank you for Yr positive response, I haven't asked or been told of my cancer stage, but do know I'm having chemo surgery chemo, knowing Yr friend is OK after 8yrs is giving me hope and positivity, I've had ct and pet scan which showed a 30mm cancer where my stomach joins my oesophagus, I wish you and your friend well and send back love hugs and many thanks for making me feel a little better

Yours debi 381 x

Hi Deb, 

welcome to this Oesophageal club! One you no doubt would rather not be a member of.

we joined 8:weeks ago.  Husband, aged 56, was diagnosed with OC. Stage 2 , no mets, no lymph’s. His plan is 4x FLOT chemo, review, surgery, review ? Mop up chemo.

He had his 3rd FLOT yesterday. He describes it as feeling like a really bad hangover. He is quite queasy, but if he eats despite not feeling like it, the nausea improves. He is blotto, sleeping it off for about 3 days, then he starts getting back with it. Of course with this regime it is chemo once a fortnight, so nomsoon as he feels back to ‘normalish’ time to go again. BUT after the first chemo, his symptoms massively improved, after 2nd= gone. So likely to be working.

All I can say is stay ‘positive’ - whatever that means, keep everything as normal as possible, keep doing the stuff you normally do if possible and  above all , just go with it. Like i’ve Said to husband- what choice do we have (:.

keep posting

hilts

Hi hilts

my regime is the same, I'm so pleased Yr husband is feeling a little better, I haven't eaten a meal now for 4months, been living on fortisip (yuk) can't wait to have something crunchie, thank you for replying and making me feel a little easier. It is all very daunting, but I'm trying to take it in my stride, my husband and family are all supportive, which helps but doesn't stop the worrying, I'm 59 and still have a huge bucket list to complete.

I'm sending you both lots of good wishes, please let me know how you both get on,

Lots of hugs 

Debi. X

Hi Deb,

59- a spring chicken then.  Our family is very supportive too. We have asked everyone to just carry on, no fuss, sympathy etc. I know it is a bit of a cliche, but ‘it is what it is’  Nothing we can do about it.

i posted this somewhere else, but I noticed a strange thing yesterday, husband went for his chemo and was sat with two other blokes, he was the oldes at 56 ,the other 47, 44 all OC varying from stage 2-3. Also all generally fit n well blokes, with this coming out of the blue. All clean living too. I wonder if this cancer is on the rise, or maybe it is because ours is a regional unit, and they do all the oesophagus’ on a Friday!!

The emotional side of it has been the worst of it, particularly around the diagnosis time, totally out of the blue.

Fortsip . God that stuff is vile. Before the chemo husband was struggling with meat, toast, spice, bread, but anything could randomly set it off. Today, before crashing out he ate his first sausage and egg bap, no trouble at all- he and I were very very happy.

keep the faith

Deb, 

Forgot to say husband has had his PICC line in now for 6 weeks. Very slick getting it in and he is Mr squeamish at the best of time- at first he found it annoying rather than painful, now he says “ I took a bullet” !! District nurse comes to see to it every week. Thankfully no probs at all. He doesn’t like the fact he has to bath instead of shower, I have told him I would put a bin liner over it for him, but no .

He also drives himself back and forth chemo and once he has recovered from the ‘hangover’ he goes to town and stuff. He is off work though- doesn’t mind that one bit .

the unit are utterly amazing. So go for it xx