1. < Esophageal Cancer

Helpful shopping list prior to esoph. cancer tmnts/ surgery

Posted by soshea22 @soshea22, Mar 6, 2023

Hello everyone! My husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma), stage 3, Oct. 7, 2023. We are fortunate to have 7 doctors, 3 nurses & a registered dietician in our immediate family, so I was able to use their knowledge at great length through this whole process. I just wanted to share a list of the items I obtained (purchase, borrow, gifted, etc) prior to the beginning of treatments. The items were truly lifesavers and I was never left wanting:

(ps- we are not wealthy people. But for the first time in my life, I let people help me when they offered. So the items below were not all purchased by us)
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PRIOR TO CHEMO/RADIATION THERAPIES & ESOPHAGEAL SURGERY:

- CAGIE 5 Subject Notebook with Dividers - Amazon- used to record & keep track of EVERYTHING (meds, doc questions, medical personnel, calendar of appointments, etc)
-New mattress with adjustable bed frame- patient will forevermore need to sleep at a minimum 30 degree incline. Adjustable bed frame is a great investment
-Air purifiers (2)- for when patient’s immune system is low
-Heated throw- couch
-Heated blanket- bed
-Heated foot warmer (plug on the sides)- extremities get very cold
-Ice machine- smoothies, ice waters, gatorades
-Blender- smoothies
-Bed wedges- used on bed or couch to keep patient at 30 degree incline
-Baby monitor- to keep an eye on patient when in another room
-Bed pillows (4)
-Exercise bike

Medical items:
-Spirometer- keep lung strength up
-Pill crusher- to use when administering meds through feeding tube
-3x/day, 7-day pill organizer
-Touchless thermometer- take temp while patient sleeps
-Blood pressure cuff
-Medical tape - Hy Tape- Zinc oxide base, latex free tape- doesn’t irritate the skin
-4x4 bandages, gauze
-Adhesive remover wipes
-Shower patches to cover wounds (5”x4”)- cover wounds/feeding tube
-Boost Very High Calorie Drink (530 cal/8oz)-use regularly throughout treatments and post-surgery
-Plenty of Gatorade or Propel, sugar-free (5 cases)- dehydration
-Alkaline water bottles- neutralizes acids in the stomach/esophagus
-Frozen fruit/smoothie mix
-Miralax- constipation
-Calendula cream- radiation burns
-Hand sanitizer - 1 cs Dove

Personal Care items:
-Biotene products (all)- keeps mouth moist, especially after surgery
-Lindt skin care products - dry skin care
-Chapstick (4)
-Alcohol-free mouthwash
-Replacement toothbrushes/toothbrush heads- change every 1-2 wks
-Fuzzy socks
-Cannabis gummies - obviously not for everyone, but it greatly improves appetite.

Health & happiness-
Sue

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

Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Apr 12, 2023

That is quite a list. But I didn't see Depends for unexpected urgent diharria?

REPLY
go60652 | @go60652 | Apr 20, 2023

Thank u for this! We will definitely purchase a bed. What type of toothpaste? Biotene type?
My father has gone thru radiation & chemo before surgery.

Hes recovering better then expected but the first 2 weeks was very hard.
Now he tries soft food but feels his throat is dry. Not all the time. Plus ofcourse he fills up.

But im figuring out how to trick him into not feeling overwhelmed with food. For 82 yrs hes been eating a certain way and we under stand it will take time for him to eat 6xs a day.

Any sugestions for pre lubricating the throat a bit?

REPLY
soshea22 | @soshea22 | Apr 20, 2023

Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added flouride toothpaste due to the negative effects the treatments have on the enamel.

And wow, you're totally describing my husband's eating habits! My husband(65) is (was) built like a football linebacker, and ate like one too. haha Our continuing problems STILL stems from him eating incorrectly. I haven't found anything to lubricate the throat, just good old reminders on taking smaller bites, chewing food better, eating less, etc. And my husband found overcooked pasta easy to swallow, along with other softer foods. When Jim does it wrong, he'll usually throw it up. That is still happening several times per week, but is improving. It's not that he is feeling nauseous, it just gets stuck and he will gag. So it's 'user error', not the illness.

Oh, and i clearly remember the first 2 weeks post surgery. It was very difficult, but honestly it gets better quickly. Jim had his surgery on Jan 17. Only 4 months ago. We are now going to Las Vegas in a couple weeks to golf and have fun.

Prayers to you and your dad!

REPLY
2 replies
go60652 | @go60652 | May 1, 2023
In reply to @soshea22 "Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added..." + (show)
@soshea22

Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added flouride toothpaste due to the negative effects the treatments have on the enamel.

And wow, you're totally describing my husband's eating habits! My husband(65) is (was) built like a football linebacker, and ate like one too. haha Our continuing problems STILL stems from him eating incorrectly. I haven't found anything to lubricate the throat, just good old reminders on taking smaller bites, chewing food better, eating less, etc. And my husband found overcooked pasta easy to swallow, along with other softer foods. When Jim does it wrong, he'll usually throw it up. That is still happening several times per week, but is improving. It's not that he is feeling nauseous, it just gets stuck and he will gag. So it's 'user error', not the illness.

Oh, and i clearly remember the first 2 weeks post surgery. It was very difficult, but honestly it gets better quickly. Jim had his surgery on Jan 17. Only 4 months ago. We are now going to Las Vegas in a couple weeks to golf and have fun.

Prayers to you and your dad!

Jump to this post

Thank you! Yes since my reply he is learning from trial n error. Only he can change things. I appreciate you sharing!

REPLY
go60652 | @go60652 | May 1, 2023
In reply to @soshea22 "Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added..." + (show)
@soshea22

Good question about the toothpaste! My husband's dentist actually gave him a prescription for an added flouride toothpaste due to the negative effects the treatments have on the enamel.

And wow, you're totally describing my husband's eating habits! My husband(65) is (was) built like a football linebacker, and ate like one too. haha Our continuing problems STILL stems from him eating incorrectly. I haven't found anything to lubricate the throat, just good old reminders on taking smaller bites, chewing food better, eating less, etc. And my husband found overcooked pasta easy to swallow, along with other softer foods. When Jim does it wrong, he'll usually throw it up. That is still happening several times per week, but is improving. It's not that he is feeling nauseous, it just gets stuck and he will gag. So it's 'user error', not the illness.

Oh, and i clearly remember the first 2 weeks post surgery. It was very difficult, but honestly it gets better quickly. Jim had his surgery on Jan 17. Only 4 months ago. We are now going to Las Vegas in a couple weeks to golf and have fun.

Prayers to you and your dad!

Jump to this post

I forgot to add. My mom found that Farina helps first thing in the morning and mixed with meals thru out the day. Thankfully he is willing to ear amaller meals now.

The alkaline water helps too!
Thank u

REPLY
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