Hello again, I thought the following information of our experience would help others in a similar situation.
My lovely husband was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in August 2017. He had nine weeks (3×3 week cycles) of chemotherapy which he came through with flying colours. Very little side-effects other than tiredness and tingling sensation in his fingers. There was a few weeks gap to regain his strength and he had an operation to remove 7 inches of his oesophagus and the top half of his stomach on 29th December. Unfortunately because of the location of his tumour the surgeon had to make an incision into his windpipe which in turn caused several complications including a collapsed lung and lung infection. My lovely man also had micro leaks from his surgery site and had to be fed via a tube for the best part of four weeks. He spent, in total, about two weeks in critical care. He started eating, once his micro leaks had healed naturally, a week ago and was allowed home on Friday. Last night he had his first dumping session which has lasted about 8 hours and has left Steve completely exhausted ( I have checked with his nurse that there is nothing untoward and she has reassured me that, given his diet yesterday which was high in fat – my attempt to get calories into him – he is just going through a particularly unpleasant episode) .
So, the purpose of this little note is to try and reassure anybody out there going through a similar experience that no two patients are identical and every patient and carer all have their own versions of the truth. We have a wonderful sponsor who went through this three years ago. He, unfortunately suffered terribly through the chemo but sailed through the operation and was out and eating within a week.
What I am learning to accept is that this is not a quick fix, six months on we are, very likely, still at the start of our story but so far there is nothing we haven’t coped with– You just have to take each day as it comes and try to keep your sanity and a sense of humour!
One final thought. Steve has been given the opportunity to join three clinical trials. He has grabbed the opportunity of all three with both hands. Without these clinical trials progress takes longer and we are receiving the very best medical care and attention and given the very best chance due,in part, because of people who have gone before us and volunteered their services and experiences to these trials. So please, if you are given the opportunity, go for it – you will not only be helping yourself but you will be helping future sufferers.
Good luck everybody
