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

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

doglover888 | @doglover888 | Dec 20, 2022
In reply to @sjw6358 "Rik, do you know how long it usually is between last radiation or chemo treatment and..." + (show)
@sjw6358

Rik, do you know how long it usually is between last radiation or chemo treatment and surgery?...my last chemo is 1/03/23...MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

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Hi there. I finished radiation and chemo then rested for 6 weeks and had surgery.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!

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sjw6358 | @sjw6358 | Dec 20, 2022

ok, 6 weeks-that puts my surgery about feb 14th 2023...thank you!

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naomicanada | @naomicanada | Dec 20, 2022
In reply to @ddunavin "Hey, Thank you for asking. I had the feeding tube installed at Duke last Tuesday. I..." + (show)
@ddunavin

Hey,
Thank you for asking.
I had the feeding tube installed at Duke last Tuesday. I was in the hospital until Saturday, they were just making sure I was healing up and accepting of the feeding...

I also met with my entire Team. The PETScan revealed areas of concern in my neck and vocal cords (chords). Heading back to Duke this Wednesday for a procedure on my neck??

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What is it in the neck and vocal cords ?

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1 reply
naomicanada | @naomicanada | Dec 20, 2022
In reply to @rikardlykling "I will have esophagus surgery on Feb 2 2023 I breezed thru chemo and 30 rad.I..." + (show)
@rikardlykling

I will have esophagus surgery on Feb 2 2023 I breezed thru chemo and 30 rad.I have to find out more facts about surgery .Does anyone have any facts on their surgery please help?God bless and Merry Christmas.Rik

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Surgery: you have to choose the best surgeon for this type of surgery. Do research for surgeon.
My moms operation was minimalist invasive surgery done in 2h30mi in Montreal - she was ready to go home after 5 days but she had a small complication so she stayed 14 days. The first 4 days are the most difficult.
5 months post she is doing good TOMs at night / 30% inclination for sleep.
My number one advice is: choose your surgeon

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ddunavin | @ddunavin | Dec 22, 2022
In reply to @naomicanada "What is it in the neck and vocal cords ?" + (show)
@naomicanada

What is it in the neck and vocal cords ?

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Hot spots on the Pet Scan. I'm actually in the waiting room at Duke right now for a biopsy on the node in my neck. (I think)

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1 reply
pellaw | @pellaw | Dec 26, 2022

We can’t speak to your particular diagnosis but my husband had his successful esophagectomy 16 months ago. The feeding tube idea was scary for us also but once we got the hang of it, it just became a part of every day for 6 weeks. It has a learning curve but very doable (his was a J tube in small intestine). Wishing you the best.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 29, 2022
In reply to @rikardlykling "I will have esophagus surgery on Feb 2 2023 I breezed thru chemo and 30 rad.I..." + (show)
@rikardlykling

I will have esophagus surgery on Feb 2 2023 I breezed thru chemo and 30 rad.I have to find out more facts about surgery .Does anyone have any facts on their surgery please help?God bless and Merry Christmas.Rik

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Hi @rikardlykling and @sjw6358 as you prepare for surgery, you may appreciate the tips shared in these 3 discussions from pre-op, what to expect and recovery:

- Just got home after having my esophagus removed: Recovery tips? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophagus-cancer-1/
- Going for pre-ops for esophagectomy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/going-for-pre-ops-for-esophagectomy/
- Esophagectomy surgery: Want to know what to expect https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophagectomy-surgery/

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naomicanada | @naomicanada | Dec 30, 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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When is your last chemo ?
Ask for the cancer marker?
Are you eligible for immunotherapy?

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1 reply
naomicanada | @naomicanada | Dec 30, 2022
In reply to @puprluvr "Hello ddunavin, I was diagnosed Dec of 2018 with esophageal cancer. Staged @ 2 but surgeon..." + (show)
@puprluvr

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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Hello how are you ?
When is the next scan !
My mom is doing ok. In immunotherapy for a year but she is 1/3 done to prevent the cancer to cOme back .
All the family now lives in fear for the C to come back - how do you deal ?

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Dec 31, 2022
In reply to @naomicanada "When is your last chemo ? Ask for the cancer marker? Are you eligible for immunotherapy?" + (show)
@naomicanada

When is your last chemo ?
Ask for the cancer marker?
Are you eligible for immunotherapy?

Jump to this post

I've now had first week of radiation and chemo. I have 5 weeks to go and will be done on Feb. 6. Then I'll be scheduled for PET scan to see if cancer is gone.

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