Ok Becky... I have a few comments about the situation you two find yourselves in, and we can talk privately as well, or you may drop in on our free Zoom calls we host twice weekly (not official Mayo Zoom calls hosted by doctors, but these are calls run by EC patients and caregivers for other EC patients and caregivers... believe me... we know a lot!)

Anyway, having talked to many Canadians about their care, I'm used to how things tend to work in Canada. In fact two of our counselors on our Zoom calls are from Canada.

So... stage 4... and still went to surgery. Yes... unusual. I'm not saying good or bad, just unusual. If only a local lymph node (to the solid esophageal tumor) I would not call that stage 4 necessarily. So... debatable. But I am happy a J tube is going in. So take it seriously... adapting to and using this tool is important. To not only gain weight and stay healthy, but to heal up his esophageal perforations. This is priority #1 for your husband (after his new method for feeding and hydrating himself). If his "esophagus" is not repaired and fully functional... he's going nowhere fast. And how this is to be accomplished is anyone's guess... even the most skilled surgeon and GI doctors are often at a loss. The first try is always a stent... hopefully it heals. But from what I've seen, eating and drinking while this healing process is taking place... doesn't help. That's why the j tube is needed... which is nasty to subject the patient to because he just came out of a nasty esophagectomy surgery!! And his true post-op journey back towards digestion and a normal life... is on hold... until these perforations are repaired and his esophagus is ready to go.

I will come privately to chat... and help you come on our Zoom calls if you so choose.

Hang tough,

Gary
Southern California