1. < Esophageal Cancer

Chemo for esophagus cancer: Any advice on things I should or not do?

Posted by fracturedd @fracturedd, Sep 5, 2021

I was recently diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with her2 “positive”. I’ve been on one chemo pill and one infusion. The pills gave me ulcers in my colon along with every other side effect and I ended up in the ICU for 2 nights- 7 night hospital stay. Since then they haven’t started me on the chemo pills again (they said I need a break to heal) so I’m only on the infusion. My follow up pet scan is wed and I’m scared that only being on the one infusion just wasn’t enough. I’m trying to stay positive. Anyone have any advice as far as extra supplements or things I should or shouldn’t do. As of now I’m walking, take curcumin, vit d, acupuncture, cbd oil, that’s really it. Any positive info would be appreciated.

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naomicanada | @naomicanada | Sep 26, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Hello everyone I went in to get esophagus expanded last Monday so I could eat food..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Hello everyone

I went in to get esophagus expanded last Monday so I could eat food normally again as it has gotten increasingly difficult in the last few weeks. But the endoscopy found cancerous mass blocking it. Now I'm scheduled to get feeding tube and port on Tuesday to start chemo to shrink the tumor and hopefully avoid major surgery to cut out a section of esophagus. I have pending meetings with both chemo and radiation specialists asap at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida.
It's all new to Charlotte and I, and totally unexpected as I've only had skin cancers in the past and I'm now 77.
Any and all feedback welcome

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My mom is 77 too.
It’s scary - I focus on the fact that everyone who are selected for surgery are the luckiest with this time of tumor.
Chemio and radio got her very tired. At the end (last treatment) she had an pulmonary embolism which was caused by the lack of exercise and chemio meds / we saw it coming: shortness of breath and sudden caught.
So try to keep walking !!
To eat….. ensure / boost are a must because it’s hard to keep the weight on.
You got this.

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Sep 26, 2022

Niomic
Thanks for sharing. I go in tomorrow to get feeding tube and port. I now have several Ensure high protein drinks along with soup and soft jello while I'm waiting for feeding tube and yummy nutrition by injection. Next is consult with chemo and radiation docs to get on program to shrink the tumor and hopefull avoid major esophagus surgery. We walk the neighborhood daily, but I do miss going to the YMCA gym and getting good workout for an hour. I had lost 13 # in about a month but have reduced loss to 7 #. I also get milk shakes which help.

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2 replies
naomicanada | @naomicanada | Sep 27, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Niomic Thanks for sharing. I go in tomorrow to get feeding tube and port. I now..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Niomic
Thanks for sharing. I go in tomorrow to get feeding tube and port. I now have several Ensure high protein drinks along with soup and soft jello while I'm waiting for feeding tube and yummy nutrition by injection. Next is consult with chemo and radiation docs to get on program to shrink the tumor and hopefull avoid major esophagus surgery. We walk the neighborhood daily, but I do miss going to the YMCA gym and getting good workout for an hour. I had lost 13 # in about a month but have reduced loss to 7 #. I also get milk shakes which help.

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I believe it’s difficult to avoid surgery with this type of Timor and it’s better to do everything to get it out of the system so it’s never coming back 💙

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naomicanada | @naomicanada | Sep 28, 2022
In reply to @socalkelly "Don; Sending good thoughts and wishing you a speedy recovery. My husband had the same issue..." + (show)
@socalkelly

Don;
Sending good thoughts and wishing you a speedy recovery. My husband had the same issue back in January 2022. He’s 58 and went through chemo/radiation and did have an esophagectomy at the end of July. He’s still recovering. Good you’re getting a feeding tube now. It will help you tremendously during chemo/radiation.

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Hello Don - what was the stage? Any lymph node affected ?
Thanks

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naomicanada | @naomicanada | Sep 28, 2022

Hello everyone,
I am wondering if any of you had localized tumor with a lymph node + at surgery and if your doctors told you the % of recurrence ?
Who here is 4-5 years passed surgery ?
Thank you so much
Trying to see if immunotherapy is worth doing.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 4, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Niomic Thanks for sharing. I go in tomorrow to get feeding tube and port. I now..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Niomic
Thanks for sharing. I go in tomorrow to get feeding tube and port. I now have several Ensure high protein drinks along with soup and soft jello while I'm waiting for feeding tube and yummy nutrition by injection. Next is consult with chemo and radiation docs to get on program to shrink the tumor and hopefull avoid major esophagus surgery. We walk the neighborhood daily, but I do miss going to the YMCA gym and getting good workout for an hour. I had lost 13 # in about a month but have reduced loss to 7 #. I also get milk shakes which help.

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Don, how are you doing with the feeding tube and port?

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1 reply
Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Oct 4, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Don, how are you doing with the feeding tube and port?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

Don, how are you doing with the feeding tube and port?

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We are doing 2 cartons of nutrition per day via feeding tube and I get the rest of nurshment by swallowing liquids and soft food like cream of chicken soup without the chicken.

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Oct 10, 2022

This Wednesday I see both radiation and chemo specialists at Moffitt Cancer Centery. I hope to get started soon to try and shrink the tumor in my lower esophagus which is blocking swallowing food.

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2 replies
naomicanada | @naomicanada | Oct 11, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "This Wednesday I see both radiation and chemo specialists at Moffitt Cancer Centery. I hope to..." + (show)
@dsh33782

This Wednesday I see both radiation and chemo specialists at Moffitt Cancer Centery. I hope to get started soon to try and shrink the tumor in my lower esophagus which is blocking swallowing food.

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Yes as soon as you start, the quickest the process of healing start.
Good luck

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rikardlykling | @rikardlykling | Oct 12, 2022

Yes me too atWatsom cancer in Lakeland Florida may Gods hands be in control.

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