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Diagnosed with esophageal cancer Most scared of the Feeding Tube

Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Jan 19, 2023 | Replies (57)
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@colleenyoung

Welcome @ddunavin,
I'm sure that this was not the news you were hoping for on Thanksgiving. I can understand your need for reassurance that the tumor hasn't spread. Tumors of any size can metastasize and some large tumors can stay contained in the esophagus. Naturally only the tests will be able to determine if it has spread. It sounds like your doctors are doing everything to assess the stage.

This is an uncertain time. Fellow survivors and caregivers like @dsh33782 @johnstawicki @kissingrhino @sjw6358 @doglover888 @survivorsuz @puprluvr @karly @davevb @margaretdv @atafitness @lori57216 @naomicanada know this first hand. Some have been in your shoes very recently. Others years ago.

Many patients worrying about the feeding tube. I get that. @socalkelly even says it was a game changer helping her husband get the nourishment he needed during treatment. I'm sure others will share their tips for making it work.

How is your wife doing with this news?

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Replies to "Welcome @ddunavin, I'm sure that this was not the news you were hoping for on Thanksgiving...."
puprluvr | @puprluvr | Dec 10, 2022

Hello ddunavin,

I was diagnosed Dec of 2018 with esophageal cancer. Staged @ 2 but surgeon said stage 3 since one lymph node was involved. I had 5 rounds of chemo and 25 rounds of radiation. I had a difficult time swallowing initially but after a few rounds of radiation, it became easier to swallow. I had the Iver Lewis surgery April 2019, and a feeding tube was installed as well. On the 2nd day after surgery, I was taken to respiratory therapy to help rid my lungs of fluid since I was in surgery for 7 hours. I walked several times a day with all of my tubes, gradually walking farther each day. The day before I was released from the hospital, we started the feeding tube. Without it I would have lost too much weight as it was not possible to eat enough to give me the calories I needed. I had the feeding tube for over a month as I slowly started to eat following the dietary guidelines from Mayo.
Don't fear the feeding tube-it'll sustain you as you heal from surgery with your new anatomy.
Take each day at a time, don't worry about tomorrow, and trust your care team. Best wishes for good news. Take care!

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