Jen87

I was stage 4 esophageal cancer with a spot on lung and liver. I took the chemo and the radiation then had the surgery. I was cancer free before the surgery but elected to have surgery for more survivor years. I believe that being in such good physical shape, meaning not having any other ailments , is the biggest reason I survived. Treating more than one cancer or cancer and other ailments is hard for the oncologist and the patient as well.
Always be a good patient.
Don't believe everything you think.
If you get overwhelmed from your research, stop researching.
Surround yourself with nothing but POSITIVE.
Make yourself do everything you can to maintain your present health.
Take the treatments and the radiation, when you start, its 50/50.
Esophageal cancer is a tough one and the recovery is even tougher. Some are winners and some are less fortunate but you never go to battle expecting to lose. Get tough and stay tough regardless. At the young age of 57 there is no reason you can't do this.
Depending on location and the stage of the cancer will determine what surgery will be best for you. Then recovery begins and your toughness will be tested to its limits. At this point in your journey look at how far you have come not how far you have to go. Positive attitude and staying as busy as possible will help everything pass more quickly.
Cancer is not the end of life. Its the end of life you are use to.
Being creative in accomplishing the things we want to do is the fuel that keeps us going. So plan things to do and the more you amaze yourself along the way will really help keep the demons away.
I wish you the best and my prayers are with you.
Remember, Never Ever Give Up.

I agree with LubeDude in that staying positive is one of the most important keys to fight this disease.

The glass is always half full and not half empty.

Chemotherapy has come along way in treating this disease and there are several chemo drugs that the doctors can use to fight his condition.

It helps to bring God into your journey. I was a stage III EC patient and I am in my 14th year post surgery. I had as a saying " God sits on my right shoulder and there is nothing that he and I together can't handle"

Tell your Dad to live in the moment. Can't change what has happened and none of us have any control of the future but we do have control of the moment. Live it to the fullest.

You may want to look at the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation Website www.fightec.org for some support

Bart

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. Please feel free to join in the conversations. Here is a link to our cancer dx page for your type of cancer. Take a look at it to get you started on some information. You will notice at the bottom of that page 4 of our active users who have had that journey already, you may wish to contact them for their experience and wisdom. Also, I encourage you to go to the questions page now by clicking on the questions tab at the top of the page and post what is the most pressing issue you have right now. This will introduce you to the community and get you started on the help you need right now.

https://www.whatnext.com/conditions/cancer/esophageal-esophagus-cancer

There are also subtypes listed on this page to narrow down the type of cancer to match your dx.

Also, if you can take a few minutes and fill in some details of your journey so far, it will help others as they try to answer questions for you, it also helps others as they search through the data base to find someone like themselves. Confirming your email will allow you to receive updates and notices from the site when someone answers your questions or writes on your wall.

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GregP 3X Survivor
Team WhatNext Community Mgr

Welcome to the WhatNext family! The WhatNext family is made up of people like you who are looking for help or looking to help others. To help you along your journey the WhatNext family has put together a Beginner's Guide to Cancer that I highly recommend you check-out here: http://bit.ly/10BQKCi. Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to others or ask for help.

Wishing you the best.

David
Founder, WhatNexter