I am a 4 stage esophageal cancer survivor. Not knowing what stage or where your cancer is located I don't think I should comment much on what is next. I do think that I should tell you my experiences at the beginning of my battle and why I share them.
When I was diagnosed I did what I think most do and that was research everything I could find out about esophageal cancer. Didn't take me long to figure out this was not what I needed to know and quit researching. Esophageal cancer is one of the toughest cancers around but does not really get the awareness that needs to be presented. I found that for me to fight this battle I need to surround myself with positive and not even consider the negative. There is so much info out there that you won't know what to believe or what to think. If financial or insurance issues seem to get in the way talk to your Doctors. There are a lot of programs that help patients going through the fight with cancer and they can lead you to the right people to help you the most. If they don't have any suggestions find you some Doctors that do. My Doctors helped me in so many ways, financially and mentally. My family and my Doctors and their positive attitudes I do believe put me where I am today. When they gave me at the most 6 months you can just imagine how low that can make a person feel. My wife and I had our moments of crying and sympathy and all the other stuff that seems to haunt a cancer patient and decided to get tough and stay tough to the end. We gathered our troops and we gave it our all and we won. I was cancer free at the end of my chemo and radiation treatments. My Doctors recommended surgery to add to my survivor years. If you are a candidate for surgery that is when things will really get tough. This site has a lot of great people on here and can provide you with good information, just use common since and weed out the ones that are not as positive as you.
I wish you the best and pray that all goes well during your battle. Stay as healthy as you possibly can and push yourself that extra mile. Sympathy has never won a war and this war is unforgiving. Get your troops together and make a plan and give it all you got. Always remember how far you have come and don't worry about how far you have to go.
Fight to Win, Win to Live !
AND
Never Ever Give Up.
0
January 2015
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I have stage IV lung cancer and currently on maintenance chemo for the duration. I've been through radiation for the brain and bone met's. I agree with the group, Research your cancer. The American cancer website is a good start http://www.cancer.org/search/index?QueryText=esophageal+cancer&Page=1.
Hi Throatless. I am also have Esophageal Cancer and I was diagnoses in January. I have started radiation and chemo therapy and so far so good. No side effects, normal energy, lots of wonderful support from caregivers. Not nearly as scared as I was in the beginning. I hope the same for you, too.0February 2015
I am a 4 stage esophageal cancer survivor. Not knowing what stage or where your cancer is located I don't think I should comment much on what is next. I do think that I should tell you my experiences at the beginning of my battle and why I share them.
I am an esophageal cancer stage III survivor of 14 years. We created the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation www.fightec.org to help patients with their journey through this disease.
