10 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 Adenocarcinoma at junction of stomach and esophagus. 5 weeks Chemo, 25 proton beam radiation trips, 14 hour open, Ivor Lewis "Esophagectomy" surgery with 32" of stiches to remove 9" esophagus, and a portion of my stomach. Followed by a Wall outlet feeding machine & tube,,,breakfast, lunch and dinners for 16 months. 60+ endoscopies over 5 years to open my stricture from 4mm to 15mm in my throat, I was going to eat again, damnit. 28 trips into the hyperbaric chamber. Bowel blockages, aspiration pneumonia, plugged throat while eating, regurgitating when to much intake. Sleeping in elevated position, lost over 100 lbs, muscle. Ptsd, learning to eat with others, life style changes, traveling. Ect. ect.
NOTICE:
I'd fight through every step of the pain, fear, at times despair, and the all inclusive ugliness of what cancer is in order to "KeepSuckin'Air" another day. It's a hard fight, there's no getting around it. At times near impossible without help. So,
surround yourself with support and know you deserve to live another day, fight another battle, show everyone life's worth fighting for. You never know what tomorrow brings in medicine.
I wish all families in the fight, peace, love and well wishes.
10 year Dave