I have not been on in awhile because so much has happened since Christmas. Rick developed a fever right after Christmas and was put in the hospital. Initially ,they thought it was pneumonia He was having shortness of breath but they thought that it might be due to the 5 weeks of radiation that he finished right around Christmas. After 4 days in a local hospital, we went home. They did drain 1 lung as there was alot of fluid around it. We then got the news that the fluid had cancerous cells in it. They called it malignant pleural effusion. Our oncologist here had all ready called Mass General where Rick had had his esophagael surgery in August. They wanted us to come back there. We did and we were told that Rick is now a Stage 4 since the cancer has mets to the lungs. Obviously, the outcome is not good. They are saying a few months.They do not believe that he had pneumonia. They inserted a chest tube to drain some more fluid from that lung. They then put some talc powder over the lung which is to stop fluid from gathering around the lung. While that was going on, he got Myrsa and was pretty sick from that. What was suppose to be a 3 or 4 day trip, turned out to be 11 days in the hospital. He was very sick. What I am wondering is-1. He is so short of breath. Just walking a couple of steps gets him out of breath. They are saying that he has been out of it for over a month and it is just going to take time. He needs to get up every hour and walk to get his strength back. We do now have oxygen. Has anyone experienced this? Also has a constant cough 2. Thank goodness they put a J tube in after his surgery but his stomach is very firm and extended-Has anyone experienced that? 3. We started pallative chemo on Friday-Has anyone done that? Thanks for all your ideas and help!!!