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Just diagnosed with esophageal cancer
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Mar 19 8:19pm | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
You know so much more than I do. We begin the actual journey at Mayo next Thursday. First appointment is a consultation. I don't even know what that entails. His primary doctor has been taking care of him here and he is the one who scheduled the daily fluids now till we get to Rochester. I am ignorant of all of this. We own 2 real estate offices and Larry is an auctioneer. We have a live auction scheduled and I know he won't be able to do it. So today I contacted a person who always works with us he is also Larry's friend. He helped me to attain 3 auctioneers for this sale. They said they will help me with whatever I need. Amazing what they are willing to do. They own their own auction houses so it really means a lot they are so willing to help. As far as real estate my son is going to get his classes in for his brokers license. Our renters may be surprised by the fact I may to take rentals over. Larry is a very kind lenient landlord. I am not. He feels so bad for renters when they give him their story...lol...yeah sorry and the rent is umm I think due. Anyway right now I am really trying to take care of business so that worry is off my shoulders. He is a Vietnam vet and I am also working with the VA. I guess this has to do with being sprayed with agent orange.. sorry for going on but I really am so ignorant on what he needs for life. I am just thankful for the fluids he is getting now and I will have to learn as much as you know. How do I tell certain things. Like how will I know when a transfusion is needed. I know business but I am so far from medical knowledge. I will learn. I am learning from everyone here. So thank you for everything you have said.
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So consultation is really just to go over his stage, and his treatment plan options. Ex: My husbands tumor is the size of my fist, and the plan is to shrink it, then operate to remove it, then have a resection of the esophagus and possibly lift the colon, then radiation months down the road to kill any remaining cancer cells, and have his feeding tube removed at some point when he can swallow. As to what to look for, well if he ever has extreme pain associated with nausea or vomiting always seek medical help it's usually a bad sign. If he has a feeding tube placed he must never lay flat or he can aspirate in his lungs from the fluid. Bolus feeding is really done manually by a 60 Ml syringe, and continuous feeding is with a programmed pump that runs nonstop. I hate the feeding tube, but I'm thankful for it. Novilumb is Immunotherapy AKA Keytruda and it was approved by the FDA in 2022 which makes me nervous, but I'm confident in his Oncologist. He'll have labwork done regular, and it's important to keep protien levels up to help with cramping. Iron needs to stay above 7.9 because if his iron levels drop below that he is severly anemic. My husbands cancer has spread to his stomach so he gets Ascities which is greenish fluid around his stomach and has had to have a paracentisis ( draining ) done every Friday so far for the last month. Each time they drain his fluid they have gotten 4.6 liters. I log into my husbands MyChart and read the Dr's clinical notes but at times I wish I hadn't seen some of their notes. I'd say watch him for any changes. Any pain he may have take note of it, if his eyes become far away looking take note because my husband became incoherant due to malnutrition. His body was shutting down. It's gonna be a learning experience for sure. When my husband had brain cancer in 2009 it was NOTHING like this experience. This one has me worried. Good for your son! It is truly amazing the amount of good people in the world that are willing to help in these situations. You will see who your true friends really are too. I've had to learn some things from youtube too. If you have any questions and I can answer them please don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best