I am now a 76 year old male and had esophageal cancer 12 years ago

I am so glad you’re here to tell your story! Stay healthy and enjoy your family and friends.

Thank God for your nurse! So glad you had such a positive outcome. My husband has just started the journey with esophageal cancer, we pray for this kind of outcome as well. We hail from Kent but have not lived there for years now.

I admit I need a few more details to understand your journey and just why one oncologist and/or surgeon would say nothing else could be done for you... and another took on your surgery... and here you are 12 years later.
What stage were you? What chemoradiation treatments did they do for you in total? Any adjuvant treatments? That long ago I know you had no immunotherapy.
I admit I see substandard care in the UK for us EC patients... I'm guessing they just don't have the qualified oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, etc, that we have in America. I feel for this dx'd in the UK. I've chatted with many over there.

Be well... and we'll done sir!

Welcome, @chas123. Your story offers hope. I'm glad you're hear to tell it. I look forward to your sharing more of your experience to help others newly diagnosed.

Let me start with asking some questions. What would you tell your 66 year old self if you could go back in time? What questions would you have asked to help with treatment decision making? What tips would you offer someone who is newly diagnosed?

Thank you for posting your story. I'm learning a lot about EC , as I will be a care giver for my 65 year old son.
Have a long happy life.

Hi thank you for your reply. I was at stage 2.and I am certainly not sure why the surgeon at Manchester come to his conclusion. It really hit my wife and myself. The first thing that happened was they sent me to Blackpool to see if they could cut any away I think then after that to Manchester for some radiation treatment . Now I only had four treatment with that over a few months. Then the surgeon called me into see him not long after that. And said what he did say good luckfor the future and if needed they would insert a scent at a later date to help with eating. Needless to say we were not happy with that. So when we got back home u got in touch with my gi nurse .and she arranged for me to go back to preston to see the specialist Mr persani. And really glad I did. He said its my choice to make but also stated if nothing was done it would certainly spread although possible slowly. Anyway I choose to have the operation I knew I was fit enough to go ahead with it. As we walked for miles to get the best I could one I knew I had the cancer. I hope that helps you a little bit but if I am honest I was reluctant to go ahead with it to start with.but all that time after I am happy I went ahead with it. Charlie

Hi again. Just a follow up to my operation. After the operation I was in the intensive car.for a while longer than I thought I would be. I got an infection then neumonia. I think I was in hospital for about 3 weeks. Got home and had some very bad pains in my stomach the only thing that would help the pain was oramorph. Anyway over the next few months the pains didn't ease. And they said it was dumping syndrome. And had to get my diet in order. I'll be honest it wore me down that I used to say to myself I hope I can go to sleep and not wake up. The pain was that bad.well time went on and I either got used to the pain but things started to settle down. I will say the doctors did my life might never be the same. And they were right. Anyway the years went by and we even went on holiday a few times.i was feeling better .then jump forward a few years I started getting problems again all of my right hand side seemed to be swelling. And the pain was getting worse after seeing loc al hospital doctors and x rays they come to the conclusion I have got adhesions and nerve endings damage. While I was in hospital they said my gall bladder had sludge in it but not enough to bother me I was admitted to hospital a number of times but never actually done anything they sent me home and I was back in again I a few days that was with the pain and vomiting every morning .my wife got mad at them for sending me home every time.so in the end they removed my gall bladder. And to be honest it made no difference. Any in the end the surgeon said its beyond his means to sort me out. And they will send me to the hospital that done my operation.so that's it about it for now. I am feeling well at the moment but my disability is getting poor.i cannot walk far with the adhesions pressing on my stomach when I walk. Don't think I am not doing well I am happy enough I just thought I would be fitter than I am. I spent a lot of my life in the building trade as a plasterer.so I was a pretty fit person.but now at 76 not so.🫠

Just a little bit more. Is their anyone on here had problems with adhesions and nerve ending. Because it's really bothering my disability ie walking my local hospital as not give me any reason why it should affect me. And I did get an appointment for preston where I had my operation done. But if I tell you we booked a night into a hotel for the night has my appointment was early in the morning and I am never well in the mornings and I got a phone call at 8.30 am going to cancel my appointment I told them I was already in preston so they said yes come then. And when I got into see them they said they are very sorry but some one had booked me into the wrong department. Talk about being mad. But that was that they said they would make me an appointment with the correct place. That was 6 weeks or more ago. And still waiting. So if anyone knows why I am having the problem with walking it would be a great help. Thank you 😊

Thank you Colleen. Well if I could put the clock back. I am sure I would make the same decision. Maybe a bit more hessitent. But happy had it because more than likely I would not be here now. Any one else in the same position I would say talk it over with your family,and try to be brave and go for it if that's what is on offer to you. I hope this helps a bit of the way. I am now 10 years after.

I would just like to say. I have put 12 years ago it was actually 10 years ago 2015.thanks