Esophageal Cancer: Anyone else?

Posted by puprluvr @puprluvr, Jan 29, 2019

I’ve completed 15 chemo treatments and 1/25 proton radiation treatments for my stage 2 esophageal cancer. I’m jst looking for helpful advice from anyone going thru this past or present. I’m a bit frightened wondering how this treatment will affect me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Esophageal Cancer Support Group.

naomicanada | @naomicanada | Nov 8, 2022

It goes very fast chemo. It’s hard and if you have any symptoms that are too intense they will lower the dose.
One day at the time - one step at the time. It’s a challenge but bring your mind into warrior and positive mode. We are all in this together. You will be ok !
Naomi

kissingrhino | @kissingrhino | Nov 8, 2022

Thank you for the kind words.

naomicanada | @naomicanada | Dec 8, 2022

In reply to @kissingrhino "Getting anxious to start chemo & you how are you doing?" + (show)

The whole journey is scary.
Immuno is less agressive than chemo for now, but it’s only the 2nd round (it’s once a month for one year).
Hair is growing very slowly and tired after 4pm everyday.
Stable. Trying to keep joyful with grand child (6months).

kissingrhino | @kissingrhino | Dec 8, 2022

In reply to @naomicanada "The whole journey is scary. Immuno is less agressive than chemo for now, but it’s only..." + (show)

Hoping the best for you.

michaelfnz | @michaelfnz | Dec 20, 2022

In reply to @puprluvr "Hi Colleen, Thx for asking! I am one month and 4 days post surgery and have..." + (show)

Hi, my esophagectomy was on the 16th of November, so just over a month ago. The surgery was 100% successful and I was under for 10 hours, though I died on the operating table for nearly a minute after they sewed me up, as my blood pressure dropped off the chart and my heart stopped. Surgeon gave me heart massage and i came back to life.
I've been home since 30th November and have been dealing with fatigue and pain post surgery, mainly in my ribs on left. They had to spread my ribs and collapse my left lung to remove my esophagus. Had tumor at stomach/esophagus junction plus two cancer traces in lymph nodes close to vocal cords.
Luckily, I didn't need a feeding tube and have been eating soft creamy foods. Have been working through dumping syndrome and trying to eat even when I don't feel like it. Discovered that eating rice by itself causes problems, so no sushi. What I have discovered is the importance of drinking water after a few mouth fulls of food when eating bread, otherwise it feels like it's stuck in my throat.
I've also had very little reflux as well during the night while sleeping.

michaelfnz | @michaelfnz | Dec 20, 2022

I had 3 rounds of Chemotherapy, (supposed to have 4) to shrink my tumor so they could remove it.

I had a bit of fatigue, pins and needles in hands that lasted for about 4-5 days after each treatment.

However, I had no end of problems with infections at my PICC line insertion points due to an allergic skin reaction to the dressing adhesive would you believe! So bad on the day of my 4th Chemotherapy treatnent that my temperature was 39.9 degrees C and my blood pressure down, so I got admitted into hospital for 8 days...this time, my right arm badly infected from the dressing, with pus infecting my PICC line and getting into my blood, so essentially a Sepis infection. It took 3 days in hospital to stabilize my temperature and blood pressure, plus a number of blood tests. It was discovered that the sepsis had put vegetation growth on one of the left hand valves of my heart plus I also had a blood clot in my right arm, so I'm on 6 months of self injections to get rid of the clot. Investigation of my heart showed that one of my valves has only two leafs, where it should be three so I'm on heart medication and a check up in a years time. Yes, it's been a really rough ride for me!

michaelfnz | @michaelfnz | Dec 20, 2022

In reply to @puprluvr "I’ve had one chemo out of 5 and will have my 3 of 25 proton radiation..." + (show)

Good luck with your treatments! I'm starting my last 4 Chemotherapy treatments on the 30th December, had my esophagectomy operation just over a month ago.
More than happy to answer any questions

foxyyanky24 | @foxyyanky24 | Dec 21, 2022

In reply to @michaelfnz "Good luck with your treatments! I'm starting my last 4 Chemotherapy treatments on the 30th December,..." + (show)

Hello. Wishing you the very best on this journey. My mom has two chemotherapy treatments left before surgery, then four chemotherapy treatments after surgery. What are some of the challenges you experienced after surgery?

michaelfnz | @michaelfnz | Dec 23, 2022

In reply to @foxyyanky24 "Hello. Wishing you the very best on this journey. My mom has two chemotherapy treatments left..." + (show)

I'm also about to start my second round of 4 chemotherapy treatments on the 30th of December. My Oncology Doctor explained that the first 4 rounds is 95% successful, the second round is really just ensuring that any traces of cancer are destroyed.

Challenges I faced (still facing) are pain,
My operation was on the 16th November and it's really only over the last 5 days that I've noticed my energy levels coming back to normal. Still dealing with pain, hurts when I sneeze or cough through my left side of my chest. I experience dumping syndrome - can't eat alot of sweet food. Some food like rice by itself (eg Sushi) is a no no, because it blocked my throat completely and I had to cough it up to get rid of it, not the nicest of things to do. My advice is stick to creamy foods for a start. I've now progressed to eating bread but when doing so I drink water after a few mouthfuls. But the biggest piece of advice is to..
chew chew chew!