Update on esophageal cancer treatment

@dsh33782, what a timely post. I was just thinking about you earlier today and wondering how you were managing. I'm calling in the squad @lori57216 @puprluvr @survivorsuz @kissingrhino @ajfromchicago who have walked this path just a few steps or more ahead of you. They can offer support and tips that may be helpful along the way.

You might also appreciate this discussion:
- Soft Food Suggestions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/soft-food-suggestions/

Sounds encouraging the tumor has shrunk and that you're able to swallow water normally and are considering soft food. The other stuff just stinks! Plain and simple. Have you had a consult with an oncology nutritionist to help with the weight loss?

Once I could eat soft foods I enjoyed eggs benedict. High calories with the sauce and great protein from the egg.
I also found a high protein with low sugar at Hy-Vee in Rochester called :Ratio. Yes, the name begins with a colon mark.
Great news on your tumor shrinking! Keep up good work to find foods to swallow easily.

Colleen
Thanks, yes I have had several consults with nutritionist. Yesterday I had a slice of pizza for the first time and it went down fine. But on the other hand, we tried to go for a walk yesterday and I got really winded after just two houses. I'm still very tired.

I know its hard , my surgery was Sep 2 2022 Monday Sep 5 2022 Most. All the tubes were removed except the feeding tube and nose guard , I got up out of bed and walked around thee room until I could get out in the halls and walk around , once released when I got home I decided to keep moving , I was weak but I new i needed to keep moving forward with this cancer and i started walking up and down the block after about 3 weeks I was down to 1 can a day of the feeding tube and eating soft foods , i was walking 2/3 times a day everyday , when I was tried Id take a nap for an hour or so , and go out in the yard do some clean up , when i was finally off the feeding tube and on a regular diet id keep busy with walks , cleaning the yard , walking my BEST FRIEND (DOG) and spending time with my wife , learning how to eat has been and still is a challenge but Im learning small portions and chewing better . If you can KEEP MOVING It helped me

I am praying for you.

That’s good news on several fronts. I also get Neulasta injections when necessary, and it seems to do the trick. May I suggest other brands of protein shakes (Ensure or Premier Protein) to supplement your food intake to keep your weight/strength levels up, and the possibility of oral minoxidil for hair loss (it’s also blood pressure medication, so that may be a limitation). Good luck to you and enjoy your eggs Benedict!

sounds like treatment efforts are starting to yield positive results. that is GREAT NEWS! i had my first chemotherapy yesterday. 20 minutes into the first infusion i got signs of extreme nausea and a flushed sweaty upper body...so they stopped and gave me anti-nausea and steroid meds...30 minutes later they started with a lower dose and increased until i finished, then had 2nd infusion med for 30 minutes with no side effects. this was after my radiation treatment so i went into hospital at 9 and got out at 5...A LONG DAY...a lot of information to digest. overwhelming at times. WHY ME?.... I THINK THAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS A TEST OF WILLPOWER. GIVE UP MY WILL AND TURN IT OVER TO MY CANCER TREATMENT TEAM-DO WHAT THEY TELL ME TO DO-THEN LET GO OF THE RESULTS. IF I Can do that then i can be focused more on the things i can control - calories (2200 a day)-protein (100 grams /day-water (100 oz /day)-exercise as much as i can-meditate-schedule my appointments-take my meds-ect...

Glad to hear your tumor has shrunk.. that is great. Trying to learn about all this as my dad has stage 4 esophagus cancer. He has had one round of chemo but it seems he is getting worse Day by day. He can hardly eat, sometimes he drinks s protein shake but the past 3 days he has been extremely nauseated. He is suppose to do his 2nd round Monday dec5th but he is so sick I don’t know how this is going to work. Are you nauseated allot? He has several meds but nothing seems to help, if he moves he gets sick

Cancer treatment update #6.

On Nov. 28, my white blood cell count was over 16,000 up from previous 1000. I received third chemo treatment along with extra anti-nausea medication plus portable pump which just keeps giving for 2 more days. In addition to always feeling tired, my newest side effect is cold sensitivity and tingling of feet and hands. I have to heat water and wear thick wool socks even though it is over 80 outside here in Florida. Since the chemo on Monday, I am still coughing up thick mucus and phlegm so all my nourishment is through the feeding tube. I am looking forward to a few weeks off before starting radiation and chemo. Thank you all for the many prayers and well wishes.

I had the surgery, chemo and radiation over a year ago and I am getting better every day. You will too.
Hang in there. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!