Just diagnosed with esophageal cancer

Kathy
I'm sorry to hear about your husband. But there is good news about esophageal cancer, it is treatable. I also was diagnosed with it in late 2022 after I had trouble swallowing. My gastro doc did endoscopy and found cancerous tumor in my lower esophagus. I live in the Tampabay Florida area and was referred to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. They treated me with 28 days of chemo and radiation which removed the cancer without requiring surgery. During treatment I was always tired, and they put me on a feeding tube in order to give me enough nurishment. Now my feeding tube is gone, and I'm eating normally again, and the latest scan shows cancer is gone and lymph nodes are back to normal.
It sounds like you are catching your husband's cancer early so I'm optimistic that he will be able to get treated successfully. I'd be happy to answer questions about my experience?
Don

Thank you Don. I am positive I will need a whole lot more information when I am being given information after all the tests are done. I am so thankful for your reply. Right now my brain spins with lack of everything I need because it is all so new and so much unknown to me. Thank you for the positive and I am glad you are doing so well. I really hope I will have the same outcome. This past year we celebrated our 50th anniversary and I hated it coming because so many people don't make it much longer than that and I strangely dreaded it. Then we have this happen...so once again thank you. I really appreciate your kindness and comments.

Kathy
Charlotte and I celebrated our 55 wedding anniversary in January. I also turned 79 in January. Fighting cancer is no fun, but it does make you more appreciative of the good days, and I'm hoping you and your husband will have many more years together with good days. Once your husband starts treatment, he may get a port to make blood testing easier. I still have the port as it makes bood test so much easier. Let me know if you have questions I can help with?

Good morning. I am sorry to bother you on a Sunday morning but I do have a question for you. When you were diagnosed before any treatment began and it was really difficult for you to eat or drink anything. What were you able to eat or drink. I have bought him pasta frozen food doesn't work. I take a potato and make it as smooth as possible. Popsicles. I even bought baby food. I have tried ensure Pedialyte nothing is working. Nothing. He has lost 22 lbs in 2 weeks. What worked for you? Thanks in advance. Kathy

Kathy,
You'll get good advice and support on this site and also on SmartPatients.com. My suggestion is to join both.
Dave

Okay thanks

So sorry to hear this Kathy.. I (we) have just finished our 2+ yrs of this same diagnosis.
Buckle up, I like to stay positive and I find strength in my faith. This won’t be easy but you can do it.I found instant potatoes were a big hit, you can add butters and cheesy sauce for added calories, there are also a few high calorie drink powders that were life saving for us when he just couldn’t eat enough.We used Mass Gainer, affordable and very high in calories. Make smoothies and shakes, add in the boost for nutrition.the shakes help with the taste.. This is a good , helpful site , just know- no two cases are the same.my husband still has issues Neither his surgeon or Oncologist can address.. But it’s treatable and you’ll figure so much out as you start living it.. God Bless you both

Kathy
Good Sunday morning. We are just getting ready to go to church.
Before treatment I could not eat anything and lost about 15 pounds before starting on the feeding tube with ISOSOURCE canisters. The best thing I liked back then was vanilla milkshakes which I could sip down. We tried Boost etc. but I did not like them. I hope you can get started wtih treatment soon.
Don

Hi Kathy -

Your husband’s condition sounds similar to mine last year.

I was diagnosed locally and it took a little longer for me to get accepted at Mayo and for my testing to start.

My weight loss was similar.

My downhill slide for swallowing was also fast and dramatic. I did the best I could before getting to Mayo which wasn’t very good. I don’t know what else you can do now before Mayo.

When I got to Mayo, they put in a feeding tube. That helped save my life. I continued to rely on it for months long after I could swallow again - because food tasted awful.

I really liked and respected my doctors at Mayo. They are so well educated, skilled, and experienced. I’m confident you and your husband will feel the same.

I had two months of Flot chemo - four drug cocktail every two weeks followed by 25 radiation sessions (essentially every work day in June) plus three more chemo infusions.

Esophagectomy on August 3. No cancer found upon surgery.

So I’m a little more than six months out from treatment now. Doing well - eating and digesting is improving. Feeding tube out since October. Taste buds rebounded back to normal, which I’m also very thankful for.

My port is still in too.

I go back to Mayo this week for my second three month follow up surveillance scan,

I’m happy to talk with you and your husband if you want to do that. My cell is in my profile.

I’m about to get on a plane, but can talk this afternoon or after.

Of course I will never forget one year ago when I was in the position you’re in now. It’s far beyond awful.

But - there’s hope. I’m a visual aid for that hope. It gets easier once you have a plan and treatment starts. Really it does - did for me.

Best to you and your husband. Please call if you want. I’m serious about helping as much as I can.

Gary

Thanks. I just put both on my shopping list.