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Esophageal cancer treatment: Anyone have good experiences to share?

Posted by earnest @earnest, May 28, 2024

Hello troops. Does anyone have any good news about their treatments? All I've been reading are horror stories. Not very encouraging at all. I'm on my second week of radiation and chemo, and the first chemo didn't go well. Not meaning to add to the horror stories, but it made my stomach ache really bad. They stopped and gave me steroids, I think. Now I'm hearing these stories about leaking chemo causing pain, makes me apprehensive. So if anyone has had a GOOD experience, PLEASE share it!

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

gdj | @gdj | 3 days ago

Yes, was it just posted this morning?

REPLY
stever1 | @stever1 | 3 days ago
In reply to @lionsfan "I originally was diagnosed with stage 3, locally advanced esophageal cancer in May, 2024. Ultimately, they..." + (show)
@lionsfan

I originally was diagnosed with stage 3, locally advanced esophageal cancer in May, 2024. Ultimately, they said it was stage 4 due to leakage to a neighboring lymph node. I was on a clinical trial and received two sessions of Folfox 5 chemo along with 5 weeks of radiation. Medicare initially declined Proton Beam radiation so I received standard Photon treatment. After 4 sessions, I developed pericarditis which mimicked a heart attack and I spent 5 days in the hospital, two in cardiac ICU. I recovered from the pericarditis and continued on with the original plan of Proton beam radiation (Medicare finally approved our appeal). By this point, it's mid-Septmber and my Ivor Lewis esophogectomy was scheduled for November 1. By then, my tumor was essentially gone. I underwent successful surgery with full removal of the tumor and clear margins. I spent 10 days in the hospital and another 3 weeks of home care on a feeding tube. I'm happy to say I'm in remission, but continuing treatment of immunotherapy for 12 months to decrease the odds of recurrence. I'm 11 weeks out and spending 2-3 hours at the gym doing strength, balance, mobility and aerobic training. My appetite continues to improve and I continue to get used to small meals and snacks 5-6 times per day. I'm getting stronger each day and more comfortable with my new norm. It hasn't been easy, but with work, positive attitude and family/friend support, it gets better.

I wish the best for you and feel free to send me a question if you want while you recover.

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With attitude and committment like yours, I think you should do very well. sounds like you're doing it right.

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mrgvw | @mrgvw | 3 days ago
In reply to @lionsfan "Hey Gary, Was the article on Survivor.net about your journey?" + (show)
@lionsfan

Hey Gary,

Was the article on Survivor.net about your journey?

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Someone just sent it to me... you? I'm going to read it tonight. But my EC journey is boring... I'm plain vanilla... so doubtful any article would be about me!

REPLY
mrgvw | @mrgvw | 3 days ago
In reply to @lionsfan "Hey Gary, Was the article on Survivor.net about your journey?" + (show)
@lionsfan

Hey Gary,

Was the article on Survivor.net about your journey?

Jump to this post

Gary Jensen... Dr. Shanda Blackmon did his esophagectomy, before she left to head back towards family in Houston. She's with Baylor now.

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