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My husband diagnosed 4 weeks ago -Esophageal Cancer- HELP
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Feb 15 8:30am | Replies (87)Comment receiving replies
I’m 56 and I’m the same place. My husband is 64 and we just found out last Friday that he had cancer of the lower esophagus. He had a CT scan on Tuesday and the results are back but we have to visit with the oncologist to find out what they are. This was a complete shock. He’d had acid reflux and some trouble swallowing but he has a hiatal hernia which can also cause those issues. No weight loss or fatigue or anything else that would be alerted us. We’re trying to take things as they come but it’s terrifying. Our whole life was built on our plumbing company and I don’t even know what we’re going to do as far as finances.
Replies to "I’m 56 and I’m the same place. My husband is 64 and we just found out..."
I'm very sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. My diagnosis was a shock also. EC is commonly asymptomatic so it can definitely surprise you. Similarly, I only had mild symptoms, but ultimately was diagnosed with stage 3, locally advanced EC. My tumor was 6 cm. I was in a clinical trial at Mayo and had 2 treatments of Folfox 5 chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. If you have radiation treatments and need help with housing costs, ask the scheduling desk about Hope Lodge, which provides free housing nearby Mayo while you're in treatment. My chemo and radiation killed all, but some cancer microcells in the tumor. I then had successful surgery to remove all of the cancer, including clear margins. I'm now undergoing immunotherapy to help ensure that the cancer doesn't recur. Each and every journey is different, but please know you're in the best place for treatment and care Try to stay positive and look forward to better days ahead. It can be tough at times, but in time, it will get better. Lastly, speak with the Mayo social worker and ask about financial assistance options. There might be ways to offset your costs. Best of luck.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the newly diagnosed. You will learn a lot more than you ever wanted to in the upcoming months. This is so scarry and I hope you are blessed with a compassionate team. There is hope and you found a great blog and support group right here. The people in this group have had all diagnoses, have had all treatment options, have had every complication and most of us have had good results. Keep posting and get your questions answred by people who have been there and done that. You'll find that your journey is quite unique but will have similarities to many of us as well. I hope you will find a strong support network with family, friends and neighbors. Their intent is to help also and they feel good about helping you. Let them. Even with the easy stuff. Put on your fighting gloves and kick this cancer's A$$.
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Emerson
It is scary. I was having trouble swallowing and during endoscopy they found a large tumor in lower esophagus.
I ended up having chemo and radiation and it got rid of the tumor and cancer. The tumor shrunk 40% after 3 treatments. My doc did not want to do surgery. Do you know yet what your doc recommends?
Don