esophageal cancer recurrence

[daniel]

So 4 times to the emergency for a small bowel obstruction after 2 years being clear for stage 4 inoperable oesophageal cancer they decide to do a keyhole into my small bowel to see whats going on...wham bam there it is,a dirty big bit of cancer in my small bowel(well have to wait 10 days or so before the results come back but the surgeon was pretty confident it is cancerous) Well she cut it out and says she was surprised it was only confined to one area and she is confident she got it all....phew...maybe i dodged a bullet for a while...back in march when i had my first episode of bowel obstruction i went through a ct scan,x rays etc,"don't know?"says my oncologist....2nd episode"don't know?" says the oncologist...3rd episode"still don't know?"....4th time the hospital decides to look in with an actual camera and what do you know its cancer...geez 6 months from the first SBO and oesophageal cancer is aggressive so I'm wondering does my oncologist even really give a shit whats happening....i feel like just a number now...stuck on this big conveyer belt....i have been realistic since my diagnosis about my condition and accept it will probably take my life eventually but if i can get a bit longer and a better quality of life then i will take every chance i can...how does someone go about getting another opinion in the public health system?changing cancer doctors etc?it is even possible unless you got truck loads of money? dan

[Jules2]

Hi Dan Sorry to read of your recurrence! If you don't trust your oncologist have you thought about changing to a different one? I can ask my cancer nurse re getting a different opinion in the public health system, she is such a great resource for me and of course other patients. My cancer nurse (K) is quite used to me asking her about other people and is always more than happy to provide information if she is able to. Glad to read that your recurrence is isolated at least. I am pretty sure you can change oncologists, but as I mentioned happy to find out for sure for you if you like?? What state do you live in? Julie

[daniel]

Hi julie,thanks for the reply :) well after going through the process of the operation and speaking to the surgeon who did my procedure i am somewhat heading in the right direction.After 4 times with the same bowel obstruction and finally being operated on and discovering it was cancerous the public hospital surgeon wants to see me in a couple of weeks regarding a procedure where they put the camera down my throat and into my stomach to have a good look...it basically will cover all areas i feel as in my last ct scan 2 months ago all my major organs dont have any sign of it still...i just keep my fingers crossed.... I guess in a way i get frustrated as being a cancer patient and having to go through the whole doctors shuffle back and forth it can be a little confusing.I have an appointment with my oncologist this week and should be interesting to see what he says about the problems that started back in march that turned out to be a tumour..I do know i have the odds against me and i just take it as it comes and the doctors cant be purfect with everything but in a big way at this point in my life its a case of "i want to know rather then not know"just lucky the cancer had not spread throughout my small bowel,then i guess they wouldnt have cut it out and i probably would have had a disasterous prognosis. I am out of hospital today and feeling good 🙂 and hopefully i can get on with some quality life without wondering if my food will go in one way and out the other..hehe...maybe im cured...now that would be awwwwwsome :) dan

[Jules2]

Hey Daniel I can relate to being frustrated. Before I was diagnosed I was seeing gp's for 10 months ... once a month to begin with and then on to twice a week and crying because I was in so much pain. It was frustrating to go and be continually told that what I had would "spontaneously" fix itself. Right!! One T4 N2 tumour plus friends later. So if you feel something isn't right, stick to your guns till they check it out! Glad you are feeling brighter and your post certainly sounds brighter. Lets hope for good results with your new scan. Take care Julie

[SILLY]

I think these medical mistakes are not uncommon . Sometimes doctors don't seem to care as much as we think they ought but that's probably not true .That said, you do have to be your own advocate throughout ,which is what was said by Jules2.