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Esophageal cancer....transitioning to food

Posted by trudivo @trudivo, Jun 17, 2017

Hi everyone. My husband recently had surgery and while he still has the feeding tube, he is transitioning to foods. Just looking for any tips. We know to start with soft foods, small amounts, and no fluids during, but just thought I'd see if anyone has any other info.... thanks!

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Mary Helen | @maryhelen | Jul 12, 2017

Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL

Just want to remind all of you that our Esophageal Cancer Support, Inc. meeting is next Friday, July 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 153 of the Vincent Stabile Building North on the Mayo campus. Drs. Herb Wolfsen and Michael Wallace are presenting the program which will start promptly at 12:30, followed by questions & answers. Much of our meetings are our sharing what works & what doesn't work in this fight against esophageal cancer. We all have eating problems following procedures as well as dumping, etc. Please join us - all care givers, medical persons, etc. are welcome.
Mary Helen Duggar

REPLY
3 replies
trudivo | @trudivo | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @maryhelen "Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL Just want to remind all..." + (show)
@maryhelen

Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL

Just want to remind all of you that our Esophageal Cancer Support, Inc. meeting is next Friday, July 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 153 of the Vincent Stabile Building North on the Mayo campus. Drs. Herb Wolfsen and Michael Wallace are presenting the program which will start promptly at 12:30, followed by questions & answers. Much of our meetings are our sharing what works & what doesn't work in this fight against esophageal cancer. We all have eating problems following procedures as well as dumping, etc. Please join us - all care givers, medical persons, etc. are welcome.
Mary Helen Duggar

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We'll definitely see you there Mary Helen... thank you! We also have a nutritionist appointment at 2

REPLY
Mary Helen | @maryhelen | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @maryhelen "Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL Just want to remind all..." + (show)
@maryhelen

Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL

Just want to remind all of you that our Esophageal Cancer Support, Inc. meeting is next Friday, July 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 153 of the Vincent Stabile Building North on the Mayo campus. Drs. Herb Wolfsen and Michael Wallace are presenting the program which will start promptly at 12:30, followed by questions & answers. Much of our meetings are our sharing what works & what doesn't work in this fight against esophageal cancer. We all have eating problems following procedures as well as dumping, etc. Please join us - all care givers, medical persons, etc. are welcome.
Mary Helen Duggar

Jump to this post

Wonderful. Dr. Wolfsen is going to tell us some of the new things going on as well as some of the things the doctors are interested in & Dr. Wallace will also present some interesting things he has been doing. See you there - 12:30!

REPLY
Mary Helen | @maryhelen | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @angelag "My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy..." + (show)
@angelag

My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy in 4 surrounding lyph nodes. He didn't have surgery only chemo -- the tumor is now gone and he was declared in complete remission. He is eating almost everything in sight and gaining weight but it took approx. 9 months after diagnosis to get to this point. Everyone is different. It's a struggle in the beginning but in the end my husband said it was worth it. Soft foods, protein, many small meals over the course of the day -- ice cream?? (my husband's favorite). I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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Where did he go for treatment?

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AngelaG | @angelag | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @angelag "My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy..." + (show)
@angelag

My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy in 4 surrounding lyph nodes. He didn't have surgery only chemo -- the tumor is now gone and he was declared in complete remission. He is eating almost everything in sight and gaining weight but it took approx. 9 months after diagnosis to get to this point. Everyone is different. It's a struggle in the beginning but in the end my husband said it was worth it. Soft foods, protein, many small meals over the course of the day -- ice cream?? (my husband's favorite). I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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His oncologist is at Greenwich Hospital and is affiliated with Smilow cancer center at Yale and Weill Cornell and Columbia Presbyterian in NYC.

REPLY
Mary Helen | @maryhelen | Jul 14, 2017
In reply to @maryhelen "Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL Just want to remind all..." + (show)
@maryhelen

Esophageal Cancer Support Group meeting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL

Just want to remind all of you that our Esophageal Cancer Support, Inc. meeting is next Friday, July 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 153 of the Vincent Stabile Building North on the Mayo campus. Drs. Herb Wolfsen and Michael Wallace are presenting the program which will start promptly at 12:30, followed by questions & answers. Much of our meetings are our sharing what works & what doesn't work in this fight against esophageal cancer. We all have eating problems following procedures as well as dumping, etc. Please join us - all care givers, medical persons, etc. are welcome.
Mary Helen Duggar

Jump to this post

We have a professional who is going to do a program on that after the first of the year...doesn't help you now, but there are a lot of smoothie recipes out; drink Kefir, sold in most markets that comes in peach, blueberry, etc. The main thing is to keep his immune system up!

REPLY
ssimons | @ssimons | Aug 21, 2017
In reply to @angelag "My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy..." + (show)
@angelag

My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy in 4 surrounding lyph nodes. He didn't have surgery only chemo -- the tumor is now gone and he was declared in complete remission. He is eating almost everything in sight and gaining weight but it took approx. 9 months after diagnosis to get to this point. Everyone is different. It's a struggle in the beginning but in the end my husband said it was worth it. Soft foods, protein, many small meals over the course of the day -- ice cream?? (my husband's favorite). I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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Hi, angelaG! Sounds like my husband is where your husband was. Do you know the chemo drug he was on? My husband hasn't started his treatment yet. Thank you!

REPLY
ssimons | @ssimons | Aug 21, 2017
In reply to @angelag "My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy..." + (show)
@angelag

My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy in 4 surrounding lyph nodes. He didn't have surgery only chemo -- the tumor is now gone and he was declared in complete remission. He is eating almost everything in sight and gaining weight but it took approx. 9 months after diagnosis to get to this point. Everyone is different. It's a struggle in the beginning but in the end my husband said it was worth it. Soft foods, protein, many small meals over the course of the day -- ice cream?? (my husband's favorite). I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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So glad to hear your husband is doing well!

REPLY
AngelaG | @angelag | Aug 22, 2017
In reply to @angelag "My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy..." + (show)
@angelag

My husband was stage 4 with a 12cm tumor in his esophagus and signs of malignancy in 4 surrounding lyph nodes. He didn't have surgery only chemo -- the tumor is now gone and he was declared in complete remission. He is eating almost everything in sight and gaining weight but it took approx. 9 months after diagnosis to get to this point. Everyone is different. It's a struggle in the beginning but in the end my husband said it was worth it. Soft foods, protein, many small meals over the course of the day -- ice cream?? (my husband's favorite). I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Jump to this post

Hi ssimons,
He was on oxalyplatin and 5fu along with a targeted therapy called herceptin. He has continued with maintenance chemo since early this year - it's a low dose of chemo and herceptin minus oxalyplatin.

Oxalyplatin is a tough chemo. Some tolerate it well, others don't - my husband was somewhere in the middle and finished only 6 rounds rather than the intended 8.

I wish you and your husband all the luck in the world.

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Adrienne, Alumna Mentor | @adriennef | Sep 1, 2017

I'm so happy to hear that he is able to start with food by mouth! I've had several surgeries to remove cancer from my mouth, and it can be pretty demoralizing to lose such a "normal" behavior. I'm sure you are both excited to transition. Since I was typically undergoing chemo when I moved back to soft foods, I preferred sweet over savory. I ate A LOT of chocolate pudding, cheesecake, and my mom's peanut butter pie without a crust 🙂 I can't endorse this diet (ha!), but I couldn't bear to look at another bowl of soup or entertain the idea of mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs. In my last oral surgery I had half of my jaw removed, and it has taken over two years before I feel like I can go out and eat socially again. It can be really hard. Good luck to you both! I'd love to hear how things are going!

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