5 Year Anniversary

Milagro,

One of the worst things I did when I was battling this disease was to look up info on the internet.  It would leave me feeling very depressed because the statistics were not very encouraging.  My doctor told me something that really helped however.  She told me that I am a statistic of one, that I am unique and shouldn't lump myself in with others who may have different factors or issues in battling the disease.  When I thought of it like that, it really helped me.  Hopefully, this helps you a little?

Donna

Yes, it helps!  His oncologist said he is young and strong and those are not factors considered in those stats since most of those stats pertain to older population with many other health issues.  The problem is that we are also dealing with another health issue, his immune system is not as strong and platelets are low.....that will make chemo (if an option) a challenge.  I started giving him papaya leaves extract which I read helps boost platelet production.

Congratulations Donna. I am 6 yrs post diagnosis but had a recurrence two yrs ago. I get a CT every 6 mos and an endoscopy once a year. They will probably go to a yearly CT after this one. Tom

Congrats on your five year anniversary! Have a very Merry Christmas.

Love

Pipernickel

Donna, My husband has stage 4 cancer EC and gets his nutrition through a tube inserted to his stomach with a formula called Jevity. He is still in treatment but he is ok so far and we are also very hopeful. I just wanted to share this information about a Naturopathic doctor, Dave Frahm. His practice and teachings make a lot of sense. He might be able to help your husband. Www.healthquarters.org We will include your husband and your family in our prayers. God bless. Rubini

Congratulations, Donna!  That is great news, indeed.

My wife just passed her 5th anniversary post-treatment in November.  She began as 3a/4b with some local lymph node involvement and the sucker had also invaded her trachea.

Her very first CT since treatment showed marked improvement and every one since has shown No Evidence of Disease.  The plan is to have a CT scan once per year now since the esophagus was never removed.

Good luck to you!

Congratulations. After my 5 year anniversary I did not get any more CT or PET scans.   I see my oncologist once a year for bloodwork. 

I have an endoscopy once every 2 years with a gastro specialist.  I am 8-3/4 years past my EC scare.  Best wishes as you continue to enjoy life and are through with of many of those office visits.

That's so good to hear, Donna!  It gives me hope.  My 52 year old dad has been diagnosed with Stage 3 and he is going into his 4th week of treatment now.  I'm so scared that even if he makes it through this that it will come back.  I think they say statistics are 75% recurrence for Stage 3 and 4 in the first two years!  That's so scary...therefore, I like hearing stories like yours.

congrats to all survivors!  That is so encouraging.  My husband had stage 4 with met to the liver, in June, the scan showed no discernable tumor, however he now has mets in the liver again and has trouble swallowing.

My question to all survivors is how did you change your lifestyle?  You see, he still smokes and I know it is so hard for him but it is equally as hard for me. 

He has a hard time eating so he does not always eat healthy, basically it's whatever soup he wants.  Any suggestions?

Congrats Donna, I also reached my five year mark in Nov. My surgeon released me then. I have an appointment for bloodwork with my oncologists the middle of Jan. I guess we will cover future tests at that time. I know they say "cured" but after five years It's hard to think of not having any scans.

Sandra