CancerCompass message board discussion started by Phil A. on 1/25/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20097,0.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ To everyone that has helped me on this forum a big thank you. I went into surgery on 2 Jan. 11:15 am and was completed at 7:00 pm that night.I opened my eyes at 7:30 a.m. the followimg morning just in time to have the vent removed, how wonderful. That night, I was walking with assistance by nursing staff and others and this continued three times a day until my release on Saturday 12 Jan. My Doctors could not believe how my prognoses turned out and thats all I heard from everyone while there. My Surgeon gave me a complete report on my study and stated that my lymphnod and all other organs were totally free from cancer and that no further chemo or radiation would be needed. I still fight the battle of being tired and weak but have been told I will start feeling a turn around about the sixth week. Again to all those who wrote me and kept my courage and outlook high, thank you. I do believe that a positive attitude is a great portion of beating the beast.  Again Thanks,  Phil A Phil A. Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Phil,  I am so glad to hear you are doing so well.  Please keep up the great progress and keep us posted.  You're inspiring to those of us with loved ones with EC, or with EC themselves.  Keep it up, we're routing for you!Angie angree Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT What wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it takes a little longer than the doctors say to get your strength up, don't be disappointed.  It took me longer, but maybe I'm not as strong as you seem to be.  Nutrition and a positive attitude is the key.  Keep us posted.  Gerri Gerri Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 1/25/2008 Phil A. wrote:To everyone that has helped me on this forum a big thank you. I went into surgery on 2 Jan. 11:15 am and was completed at 7:00 pm that night.I opened my eyes at 7:30 a.m. the followimg morning just in time to have the vent removed, how wonderful. That night, I was walking with assistance by nursing staff and others and this continued three times a day until my release on Saturday 12 Jan. My Doctors could not believe how my prognoses turned out and thats all I heard from everyone while there. My Surgeon gave me a complete report on my study and stated that my lymphnod and all other organs were totally free from cancer and that no further chemo or radiation would be needed. I still fight the battle of being tired and weak but have been told I will start feeling a turn around about the sixth week. Again to all those who wrote me and kept my courage and outlook high, thank you. I do believe that a positive attitude is a great portion of beating the beast.  Again Thanks,  Phil APhil,First of all, I had to laugh at the apoplogy for the late posting. I think you had a fairly decent excuse for not communicating! I don't believe I was on the web 3 weeks after surgery.Second, CONGRATULATIONSThird, (a posting from me would not be complete without this advice) "Keep Moving" the more the better.Keep it up and keep us posted. (Any excuse for not posting is gone now.)Good Luck, Steve Cyclist Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello Phil !!!       I am so glad to hear from you. I have been praying for you. I knew you would let us know how you were when you could. I am so happy for you. You are cancer free !! It is wonderful that you don't have to have further treatment. That says to me that they are sure they got it all. I hope you continue to gain strenght everyday. Please do keep us updated. It is so nice to hear wonderful news.                                                        Pat Patty5 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Yeah!  So glad to hear from you.  I know how rough the surgery is, so I knew it wasn't really that long to not hear from you, but I'm so glad to hear you are doing so well.  Excellent news!!! tongrenhealer Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I will keep all of you informed after I see the surgeon on 4 Feb2008. This surgeon has been walking around with a smile and his whole surgical team the same since they broke the news to me. Everyday that I saw them all they would say prior to the study coming back was that you are about twenty hours ahead of you schedule and are doing so unbelieveable. I thanked everyone of them daily and all they would say this is why we spend the long hours here because of cases like yours thats were our reward is. God love them all.  Phil A Phil A. Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Phil,I had been wondering about how your surgery went.  I have kept you in my prayers.  What great news!  I am so happy for you that you are cancer free!  Now you just have to concentrate on getting better.  You are doing so good for someone who had this surgery.  I have heard how difficult this surgery is to recover from, so you are doing wonderful.  Keep us posted on how you're doing and what the doctor says at your appointment the beginning of February.  Again, congratulations on such a great report!Joanne  joanie9093 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Phil, it sounds like you made remarkable progress.  Congratulations!!!! DonHo Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Phil,How are you doing now? Have things improved? Good Luck,Steve Cyclist Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am doing pretty good considering the surgery one has to go through to eliminate this demon. My first checkup was excellent and I now start soft foods along with my nutrition drinks via feeding tube. If all works out well I will be off this feeding tube on 25 Feb, my next checkup. I am curious to know from those of you who have already gone through this feeding tube procedure was their any discomfort or trouble swallowing soft foods when you first started and how is it today, compared when you first begain. Again Thanks,  Phil A Phil A. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 2/7/2008 Phil A. wrote:I am doing pretty good considering the surgery one has to go through to eliminate this demon. My first checkup was excellent and I now start soft foods along with my nutrition drinks via feeding tube. If all works out well I will be off this feeding tube on 25 Feb, my next checkup. I am curious to know from those of you who have already gone through this feeding tube procedure was their any discomfort or trouble swallowing soft foods when you first started and how is it today, compared when you first begain. Again Thanks,  Phil AHey Phil,I'm happy that you are doing so well. As far as the eating: I left the hospital after 18 days. I was eating then. I had a feeding tube still in, but it was just-in-case I couldn't eat enough. I never used it. I never had any trouble swallowing - just trouble adapting to eating slowly and small amounts. Today, 2 1/2 years after surgery, I still can swallow anything. I can eat more than right after surgery, but still have to be very careful not to eat too much at once. (I want to go to an all-you-can-eat, hog trough kind of restaurant and eat like I used to, just once, but I guess those days are over!) Keep up the good progress and KEEP MOVING,Steve    Cyclist Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I will be having my first CT on June 23 in Boston, and I will post the results that evening. I have lost additional weight and then gain a few pounds back so I am not worried about it. I have developed Hypoglecemia and between eating six times a day and keeping my blood sugars elevated it has caused some depression, nothing serious maybe more frustrating. I kind of feel that I have a full time job again(haha) My last x-ray's where in late February with everything outstanding. I feel my CT will be the same for I feel great most of the time except for "dumping sndrome" problems occasionally, but I will survive it. Phil A. Phil A. Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT