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Originally posted by Censored:
I am in great shape for a mid-50 year old. Worked out several days a week, cycled, volleyball. In Oct of 2017 upon returning from Europe I began feeling dizzy and had mild epigastric pain. Went to the ER and got hospitalized with a DVT/PE resulting in an emboli storm. Survived 50+ emboli to the lungs (angiogram was really interesting) and was discharged in 3 days. Later I went to China and Taiwan for several weeks and upon return had a little difficulty swallowing. Reached out to GI doc friend and got set up for a scope in late Dec 2017. Scope revealed the ugliest looking 6 cm esophageal tumor you have ever seen.

Flash forward to today I just finished 6 cycles of chemo (one per week) and 28 doses of proton therapy at MD Anderson in Houston. I am now waiting a few weeks before having surgery to remove 2/3 of my esophagus and 1/2 of my stomach. The pathology on my removed innards will set my 5 year survival rate.

If you are suffering from reflux (I did not) or have trouble swallowing it would be in you best interest to be evaluated for esophageal dysplasia or cancer. I got lucky (if you can call it that) and was staged as a 3a, if I would have been a 3b then it would have been palliative care only.

It is also kind of a twist of fate that I work in the cancer research field. I have always sympathized with patients, but now I empathize with them.

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Originally posted by Censored:

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Originally posted by Otto Pilot:
Censored, you are dealing with exactly what my dad fought. Including the stomach and esophagus loss.

Besides sending my best wishes and encouragement, I am going to either tell you something you haven't thought about or repeat something the docs have told you.

You are going to have to eat. A lot. By that, I mean frequently. My dad went from being a big guy eating three big meals a day to having to eat every few hours. It was a big change for him. Add to that the fact he was getting chemo at the same time and his appetite was crap. All politics aside, he was the poster child for medical MJ which wasn't available back then. Something to help the discomfort and keep the appetite strong. If you have problems, think about it.

I don't want to be a downer. You can do this. Just be thinking of things that will help you fight the fight. Stay strong brother. You are in my thoughts.

I am sorry that your dad had to go through esophageal cancer. Eating has been a challenge. I developed a viral pneumonia on Cycle 1/Day 1 of chemo and dropped 12 lbs in one week. Food did not taste good, smells were amplified and I just was not hungry. To date I can only taste 50% of the foods I eat (I cannot taste salt at this time). Like your dad, 3 meals a day has been my norm for ever. Switching to small meals has been a challenge. Even though I am relatively free from pain at this time, eating is painful. I will check out the medical MJ. thanks for your input.