(Updated March 2023). On 3rd October 2013 I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the oesophageal/gastric junction (T3N3M1). It was inoperable as it had grown around my aorta and it had metastasized. I was told there was a real chance that I wouldn't see Christmas 2013 and that I probably had less than 18 months to live - maybe two years if I was very lucky with the chemo. At the time only 2.8% of those diagnosed with OC at Stage 4 were surviving 5 years. According to CRUK statistics this has improved slightly in recent years and 4% of people with advanced oesophageal cancer now live for 5 years or more. I have so far been very very lucky. Until I received the results of my initial CT scan and endoscopy I was unaware I had cancer, as I had none of the usual symptoms due to the cancer growing outwards and not blocking my gullet. So it was a bit of a shock for me, my wife and our family. EOX chemo started on 17th October 2013 and ended 9th January 2014. Luckily it had a positive effect and my primary and secondary cancers had all significantly reduced in size. I realise that the cancer will probably grow again at some time, but I don't plan to go back onto chemo until things change. Until 2019 I was having a clinical consultation every six months with 6 monthly CT scans. That stopped for a while but restarted in late 2021. I retired early from my job as a senior NHS Manager (IT and Information Management) at the end of August 2014. My former working background may help explain my obsession with waiting times, stats etc. February 2015 - joined the CRUK roadshow team as a volunteer raising awareness around NW England. Please come and say Hi if you see us in your town centre! May 2016 - upper GI endoscopy endured following a flare up of acid reflux, biopsies taken, CT scan completed. June 2016 - results came back as normal. My recent symptoms (identical to the ones which led to my cancer diagnosis) aren't cancer related and are treatable with drugs. My cancer is still inexplicably dormant. July 2016 - became a CRUK Campaigns Ambassador and helped lobby Parliament to try to influence the Obesity Strategy and get TV ads for junk food banned before 9pm. June 2018 - we lobbied Parliament again! November 2016 - relieved to hear that the latest CT scan showed my cancer to still be dormant. My Oncologist said to us (and a medical student who was sitting in) that this is proof that the text books are sometimes wrong. December 2017, June and December 2018 - my 6 monthly CT scans showed no changes :-) June 2019 - told I have Type 2 diabetes - the nurse seemed surprised when I said that being told that I have a long term condition made a refreshing change! July 2019 - my current Oncologist advised me that my latest CT showed only a thickening of my oesophagus which might now be scar tissue, some irregularities on my lungs which might be scar tissue, nothing on my liver and that my lymph nodes were now strangely shaped but of normal size. He arranged for me to have an endoscopy and biopsy of the primary next month to check whether the thickening of my oesophagus is cancer or scar tissue. August 2019 - awaiting the histology results but the endoscopy showed a normal-looking oesophagus, stomach and duodenum! The nurse said that if it wasn’t for my medical notes they wouldn’t have realised I was a cancer patient. Something very strange has happened to me. September 2019 - the conclusion of the MDT following my recent CT scan, endoscopy and biopsies was that I’m now “probably cancer free”. I’m not sure this has really sunk in yet! December 2020 and July 2021 - bloods normal and no symptoms so told in a phone consultation to carry on with watchful waiting. December 2021 - lots of acid reflex, my consultant has booked me a scan for early in the New Year. Fingers crossed! January 2022, July 2022 and January 2023 - bloods and CT results all good!
