1. < Esophageal Cancer

Diagnosed with esophageal cancer Most scared of the Feeding Tube

Posted by ddunavin @ddunavin, Dec 9, 2022

Going to Duke Medical in a few days to:
1. PET scan results to determine if it's metastasized.
2. Determine Stage and Treatment Plan
3. Feed Tube Install in Abdomen? (this scares me more than the cancer)

Any words of advice?
What are chances this large mass has spread to other places, is it common?
My #1 goal right now is to stay positive for my wife.
Thank you,
David

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dsd1939 | @dsd1939 | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @sjw6358 "And ,of course, the care from my wife, Denise-who is the love of my life...she makes..." + (show)
@sjw6358

And ,of course, the care from my wife, Denise-who is the love of my life...she makes the best smoothies on earth!

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Yeh, Us caregivers get used to the fine points of creating award winning smoothies !!

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rikardlykling | @rikardlykling | Dec 11, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Hi, I was diagnosed with cancerous tumor in lower esophagus several months ago. The tumor was..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Hi, I was diagnosed with cancerous tumor in lower esophagus several months ago. The tumor was preventing me from eating solid foods. I have now had 3 rounds of chemo and the latest PET scan showed a 40% reduction in the size of the tumor. I can now eat solid food again. I have had a feeding tube since the initial diagnosis and get 6 feedings a day of ISOSOURCE which provides over 2,000 calories plus protein. The next step for me is radiation and chemo for 6 weeks starting in late December. My chemo doc says there is about a 50% chance that all the cancer will be gone at the end of radiation and chemo. Right now the cancer is just in the tumor inside the lower esophagus and a couple of local lymph nodes. I was not considered a candidate for surgery to remove the section of the esophagus with the tumor. I'm 77 and in generally good health but I am on daily medications for high blood pressure and tendency to go into atrial fibrulation coming out of surgery. I'm hoping for good results in the new year as I plan to live another 20 years like my mom so Charlotte and I can enjoy watching our grandchildren graduate from college, get married, and have our great grandchildren. Happy holidays!

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Similar story I am praying for the Lord to rid you of this curse Rik

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staceyrebecca | @staceyrebecca | Dec 11, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Hi, I was diagnosed with cancerous tumor in lower esophagus several months ago. The tumor was..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Hi, I was diagnosed with cancerous tumor in lower esophagus several months ago. The tumor was preventing me from eating solid foods. I have now had 3 rounds of chemo and the latest PET scan showed a 40% reduction in the size of the tumor. I can now eat solid food again. I have had a feeding tube since the initial diagnosis and get 6 feedings a day of ISOSOURCE which provides over 2,000 calories plus protein. The next step for me is radiation and chemo for 6 weeks starting in late December. My chemo doc says there is about a 50% chance that all the cancer will be gone at the end of radiation and chemo. Right now the cancer is just in the tumor inside the lower esophagus and a couple of local lymph nodes. I was not considered a candidate for surgery to remove the section of the esophagus with the tumor. I'm 77 and in generally good health but I am on daily medications for high blood pressure and tendency to go into atrial fibrulation coming out of surgery. I'm hoping for good results in the new year as I plan to live another 20 years like my mom so Charlotte and I can enjoy watching our grandchildren graduate from college, get married, and have our great grandchildren. Happy holidays!

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Thank you for sharing your story!! Amazing!! Sounds like you’re a strong man!!
My stepfather is 78 and is in the process of fighting! He has a complete structure Which has made it impossible to swallow anything including his own saliva. He has had a peg for weeks and The formula (glucerna) Doesn’t seem to be agreeing with him so his intake is very little and I am at wits end. We have an appt with a new GI on Tues and he starts radiation tomorrow! 5 days radiation and 1 day chemo. He’s down so much weight I’m hoping we get answers quickly. I will look up the feed you are on and push for something else or I’m gonna have to find a safe alternative!
Thank you!! God bless… and keep fighting!! ❤️🙏🏻

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2 replies
Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @staceyrebecca "Thank you for sharing your story!! Amazing!! Sounds like you’re a strong man!! My stepfather is..." + (show)
@staceyrebecca

Thank you for sharing your story!! Amazing!! Sounds like you’re a strong man!!
My stepfather is 78 and is in the process of fighting! He has a complete structure Which has made it impossible to swallow anything including his own saliva. He has had a peg for weeks and The formula (glucerna) Doesn’t seem to be agreeing with him so his intake is very little and I am at wits end. We have an appt with a new GI on Tues and he starts radiation tomorrow! 5 days radiation and 1 day chemo. He’s down so much weight I’m hoping we get answers quickly. I will look up the feed you are on and push for something else or I’m gonna have to find a safe alternative!
Thank you!! God bless… and keep fighting!! ❤️🙏🏻

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Sorry to hear about your stepfather. It sounds similar to my case. I could only sip water when I was diagnosed with large cancerous tumor in my lower esophagus. I've had a feeding tube since then and do 6 feedings of ISOSOURCE plus water everyday. I've had 3 rounds of chemo and the latest PET scan showed 40% reduction, and now I can eat soft foods.
Tomorrow I go for CT Simulation and hope to get schedule for 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 5 days a week. I've lost about 15 pounds hope to start gaining it back. I hope you can find something that works for your stepfather. Best wishes and prayers.

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1 reply
doglover888 | @doglover888 | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @dsh33782 "Sorry to hear about your stepfather. It sounds similar to my case. I could only sip..." + (show)
@dsh33782

Sorry to hear about your stepfather. It sounds similar to my case. I could only sip water when I was diagnosed with large cancerous tumor in my lower esophagus. I've had a feeding tube since then and do 6 feedings of ISOSOURCE plus water everyday. I've had 3 rounds of chemo and the latest PET scan showed 40% reduction, and now I can eat soft foods.
Tomorrow I go for CT Simulation and hope to get schedule for 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 5 days a week. I've lost about 15 pounds hope to start gaining it back. I hope you can find something that works for your stepfather. Best wishes and prayers.

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Hi. I had my entire esophagus removed and the stomach stretched to replace it. I went from 135lb to 83 now. I eat 4or 5 small things a day and try to eat fattening food like ice cream. I drink Boost at least once a day and have lots of snacks too. Hope this helps. Stay positive!

REPLY
2 replies
Lori57216 | @lori57216 | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @doglover888 "Hi. I had my entire esophagus removed and the stomach stretched to replace it. I went..." + (show)
@doglover888

Hi. I had my entire esophagus removed and the stomach stretched to replace it. I went from 135lb to 83 now. I eat 4or 5 small things a day and try to eat fattening food like ice cream. I drink Boost at least once a day and have lots of snacks too. Hope this helps. Stay positive!

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Same here. I eat very small, frequent meals and avoid heavy items like bakery goods & breads. I concentrate on high protein foods to avoid becoming anemic again. Alot of hard boiled eggs, tuna, cheese. High protein nutritional shakes (I doctor them up to enhance flavor). If you drink choc. Boost: melt a bit of p'nut butter in the micro add to the Boost!!!! 🙂

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kissingrhino | @kissingrhino | Dec 12, 2022

My wife adds whey powder to the water that I can drink which adds 180 caleries. Also if you can drink Vitamin Water, it will come up to at least 360 per bottle.

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @doglover888 "Hi. I had my entire esophagus removed and the stomach stretched to replace it. I went..." + (show)
@doglover888

Hi. I had my entire esophagus removed and the stomach stretched to replace it. I went from 135lb to 83 now. I eat 4or 5 small things a day and try to eat fattening food like ice cream. I drink Boost at least once a day and have lots of snacks too. Hope this helps. Stay positive!

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My doc didn't think I was a good candidate for removing section of esophagus with the cancerous tumor. After 3 rounds of chemo, I look forward tomorrow to getting schedule for radiation and chemo for 6 weeks. I also am on only soft foods. Today its scrambled eggs and chopped ham, milkshake, salmon with masked potatoes, and cheesecake for dessert. I hope you can eat lots of high calory food to gain back some weight. I'm about 15 pounds lighter still. Best wishes and prayers for healing.

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ddunavin | @ddunavin | Dec 12, 2022

I just received my PETSCAN results from yesterday. Meeting at Duke tomorrow to get results.
Can anyone read this and tell if it's metastasized?
Thank you,
David

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 12, 2022
In reply to @ddunavin "I just received my PETSCAN results from yesterday. Meeting at Duke tomorrow to get results. Can..." + (show)
@ddunavin

I just received my PETSCAN results from yesterday. Meeting at Duke tomorrow to get results.
Can anyone read this and tell if it's metastasized?
Thank you,
David

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@ddunavin, it looks like your PET scan results didn't attach with your post. But that is likely not necessary since fellow patients on a forum like this one aren't equipped to interpret imaging results, even if some of us have medical backgrounds. That is because a PET scan is but one piece of the puzzle. Your doctor is the person equipped to interpret these results because they have the full picture including your medical history, the results of the clinical exam, and other tests you've had done.

With the new rule that you get your PET scan results in real time has been mentioned by many people to be an advantage and disadvantage, most notably that it can cause a lot of anxiety. See comments about dealing with getting test results and how to prepare for your appointment in this related discussion:
- The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/the-patient-portal-help-or-hindrance/

I love the picture of your puppy. I assume this your dog. Is he/she sticking closer to you these days?

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