I is for Inverell. ... View more

What a horrible experience!  How are you now?  Did the doctor give any reason for the vomiting of blood?     ... View more

Hi Davros,  sounds like you are having great results with your treatment, I hope you have continued success.   Laat month we found I had a recurrence at the original tumor site, but it is only there and small. I have had 10 radiotherapy treatments and will have follow up ct scan in 5 weeks. If not successful I will go back on chemo. ... View more

Stable is a good reault! Best of luck with your continued treatment. ... View more

 Hi Paul, I've just read your other posts. How are you doimg? Are you coping with the chemo? Kathy ... View more

Hi Gordon Sorry to hear about your oesophageal cancer. Hopefully someone here will have some good ideas for weight gain. I have not had the surgery but when my cancer was raging and my oesophagus was almost fully blocked I lost a lot of weight. I found a food diary app was helpful in tracking what food I ate and how many kilojoules I needed to eat just to maintain my weight. I had to look at it as a challenge or job - didn't matter if I was hungry or not I ate. I did not have the issue of lactose intolerance then as you do (but I do have it now as a side effect of chemo!). Have you tried soy based drinks? Does Sustagen cause issues? Can I also suggest you look at the 'Smart Patients' website - it is a USA based site and there is a good number of esophageal cancer people who have had the surgery (which seems to be offered more readily in the USA) and some of the forum topics have been about regaining/maintaining weight post-surgery. All the best. Kathy ... View more

Hi Chris, This must be a very worrying time for you. The 'up in the air' is frustrating. All I would suggest is that you maintain a healthy lifestyle so you are as prepapred as you can be for whatever comes next, be that surgery, chemo or radiation. Try to have have some relaxation time as well, do whatever takes your mind off current worries - although that is easier said than done! I hope your dye test results are good and I wish you all the best. Please update regarding your situation when you can. Regards Kathy ... View more

Hi Smokey, I also have oesophageal cancer, specifically metastic gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma. This means my cancer has spread (metastasized) and the type of cancer is adenocarcinoma. There are two main types of oesophageal cancer - adenocarcinoma which starts in the mucous producing glands and squamous cell carcinoma which starts in the squamous cells. Adenocarcinomas usually are found in the lower half of the oesophagus. Mine is at the junction of the stomach and oesophagus. I was diagnosed in January 2013. I have only been treated with chemotherapy. Currently I have 5FU weekly. I did have symptoms before diagnosis - long term reflux and then increasing difficulty swallowing food. Do you know what stage you are? Have you been offered surgery? How did you cope with the chemo? Please feel free to ask me any questions either via this forum or private message. All the best, Kathy ... View more

Hi Devo, Sorry to hear you and your wife are having to deal with this horrible cancer. Yes it does feel like a nightmare in the beginning, and I definitely went through a stage which can only be described as grieving. Similar to your wife I was treated for reflux for several months before GP sent me for a barium swallow test which showed the tumor. I am very grateful for the support of my partner, who would encourage me through the pre-chemo panic attacks, and he was the only person I could talk to about all my fears. Carers have a tough time too. Take care and I wish you both all the best. Kathy ... View more