doingfine

doingfine's Recent CancerCompass Activity

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  Sorry I didn't read properly. I just re-read your post and see your father has just been diagnosed with EC. Perhaps the food cannot get down because of the cancer.  When I was first diagnosed I went because I could not swallow food.  I would chew and chew and have to spit it out.  The doctor said the tumor in my esophagus was so large the food would not pass.  I am very sorry for your Dad and hope...

  Wednesday at 10:17 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  I am so sorry.I definitely cannot talk while eating.  I have to sit up straight and eat very slowly and keep my chin tipped slightly down.  Eating slowly and having a room temperature drink nearby surely helps.  9 years later and I'm still here.  Best wishes to your Dad.

  Wednesday at 10:13 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  So sorry. Yes, I had dry heaves very badly (2004). Thankfully, I had a woman who was 5 years EC surgery before me and she re-assurred me that she also had dry heaves.  To be honest, I didn't find a remedy.  I did learn not to eat anything with milk.  I could not even have mashed potatoes mashed with milk.  I used chicken broth to mash to potatoes.  It was pretty rough because I was trying to ...

  Wednesday at 10:05 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  So sorry for your Dad. I don't know about others, but the radiation was so rough on my lungs that when I had the surgery to remove the esophagus and portion of stomach, that my surgeon also removed lower portion of my right lung.  I had respritory therapy for a long time after surgery.  I still use an inhaler (combivent) and yes, some difficulty breathing.  Now it is even more difficult because my stom...

  May 10 at 10:53 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  Amen!  My verse when I began my EC journey was Psalm 118:17 "I will not die, but live and declare the works of God."On May 25th I will celebrate 9 years since my surgery. PTL.

  May 10 at 10:43 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  Wow! What a wonderful report. Just goes to show that you cannot predict an outcome.  H=haveO=optimisticp=positiveE=expectationsYou just never know.  Thanks for that post.  

  May 10 at 10:39 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  You have had plenty of advice. Just take it one day at a time knowing that it will take a good while to figure out all the food combinations.  After the first month, my surgeon told me to try Chili.  I couldn't believe that, but I tried it and it was so good and it stayed down.  The first month is the pits.  Anyhow, 8 years ago I was a size 4 to 6 and looked like a skeleton with skin pulled over ...

  May 06 at 10:45 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  I was Stage 2B.  When I finished my radiation, the radiologist said he was sure they killed everything in the tumor.  "He said that thing (tumor) is dead!"  I went through chemo/radiation simultaneously for 2 months.  At the end of radiation, my doctor asked, "Do you want to go ahead with the surgery?"  He was so sure he got it all.  Then I asked, "How many people have chosen NOT to...

  May 06 at 10:28 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  Congratulations Joanne. It was a long time coming.  I am so happy for Jim and for you too.  I never know who hurts worse the patient or the caregiver.  After year 5 I didn't need any more PET/CT scans or anything.  It felt wonderful.  Looking forward to your posts when Jim passes his 8-9-10 + year milestones as well as this 4th. 

  May 06 at 10:15 PM view post

• doingfine has replied to a post on the message board

  Hello, I am so sorry you and your hubby are going through this awful time.  Keep positive and keep thinking he will be just fine.  I agree with the rest who have posted.  It is a very long and hard journey, but the end is having life versus not having life without the medical treatment. My surgery was 9 years ago (2004) this coming May. I was 58 and I retired.  I had the McKewon (sp?) s...

  April 16 at 9:53 PM view post