eritrea18

Eritrea18, how are things going? Please provide an update.

Hi Pal

I suggest that you take a recorder(Dr. permitted) take notes and get a medical printout of each visit and dups of all your scans. Don't be bashful they are yours but u need to ask for them. You will need this if you get that second opinion.

Find out what stage cancer and the chemo/radiation you will be getting.

Also ask about a med port for chemo normally placed in upper chest which is no big deal.

Be sure to ask oncologist to test you for the HER2 gene.

Be sure to keep us updated most of us have been down this road and no doubt you will hit some bumps along the way and we can help you.

PS. Tell the oncologist you want to be aggressive, looks like you are moving fast.

A survivor, I was diagnosed Nov 2002 @ 65 now going on 82.

First you need to get a second opinion and get checked for A drug that targets the HER2 protein, known as trastuzumab (Herceptin), may help treat these cancers when used along with chemotherapy.
If you have esophageal cancer and can't have surgery, your doctor may have your tumor biopsy samples tested for the HER2 protein or gene.

A survivor of stage lll (T3N1M0) going on 16 years, all is well.

I am an esophageal cancer stage III survivor of 17 years. We created the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation www.fightec.org in part to help patients with their journey through this disease.

We have co-authored a book called 100 Questions and Answers about Esophageal Cancer published by Jones and Bartlett and you can get at any book store.

We have also published a book called Esophagectomy Post Surgical Guide Questions & Answers published by Authorhouse that you can get at any bookstore or on our web site www.fightec.org

We have support groups that meet by conference call on a monthly basis. Patients calling in with quality of life questions and hearing how other patients have handled a specific issue. We also have a support group for patients who have experienced a recurrence. Go to www.fightec.org and click on services to get more information.

We also have a 24 hour hotline to help with quality of life questions as well. We have a You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkh7_H9BOnNASdmG4pdF0g . If you subscribe to this channel, you will receive notice each time we add a video about esophageal cancer to it.

Good luck
Bart

Hello and welcome, we are happy to have you with 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/esophagus-esophageal-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 database 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. Thanks for being with us and let me know if I can help you find any information on the site. After you have an opportunity to look the site over and see what great things there are here, we encourage you to invite your friends, family or anyone you know that may be helped by the connections on WhatNext to join the site also.

Just click this link to invite them to join. http://www.whatnext.com/recruit-a-friend

Follow Us on Twitter Click Here =>http://bit.ly/XExkce
Find Us on Facebook Click Here =>http://on.fb.me/zjBAPl
Our Pinterest Page with Resources=>http://bit.ly/12qVtEs
Follow Us On Instagram=>>http://bit.ly/1pF5yh0
Our Help Page with instructions for the site->http://bit.ly/1aR5165

GregP 3X Survivor
WhatNext Community Mgr.

How can we help you,
I am a 8 year survivor of stage IV EC as well as another agressive cancer. Survival is not easy but it is doable and worth it
Currently my PCP believes I will not die of cancer but a fatal fall
Sending prayers and best wishes

One other thing never hesitate to get a second opinion

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