brucemillar
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2010
- Messages
- 8,661
- Car
- C55 AMG Wagon - W124 300te 4matic Wagon - BMW 4.8is X5 E53 - SWB Pajero 3.5 V6 24v
OK
I am writing this not for me but hopefully to help you and yours and anybody you know who may just need this help. Please read all the post as it may just have something that helps. I want this to be a positive message and not to upset anybody on here who has, or is losing anybody to this dreadful disease.
Symptoms:
After spending months of increasing discomfort when eating and several visits to my GP who diagnosed indigestion. I insisted on being seen privately. This was after I noticed that I had started to bleed internally (black poo).
Important bit:
My symptoms meant that I had an appetite (normal). When I ate food I could swallow normally but then the food would get stuck before it got into my stomach. I could feel this and would describe it as a backing up of stuck food. or the food was hitting a blockage.
So in May 2014 I was sent privately for a CT Scan followed within 24 hours by a Laparoscopy. 48 hours later I was asked to come in and meet with the specialist responsible for me. I was told that I had Cancer of the Oesophagus, which was visible as a tumor at the join of my stomach and my oesaphagus. The prognosis at that point was dreadful.
I am considered young (59) for this cancer. So I was sent off to meet a surgeon who MAY be able to operate and give me some hope.
Next phase:
I met with Dr James Gossage in London Bridge Hospital. He explained in great detail what things meant for me and what the next steps were.
1) More detailed scans (off to Harley street)
2) Another endoscopy (carried out by himself)
Both done in the same week, I was back sat in front of James. He was now confident that he could operate and as importantly he could see no visible signs of SPREAD.
3) Onto Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. This was done at home with one visit every three weeks to the local hospital to be topped up.
In August I was scanned again. Good News. The tumor had shrunk and was now operable.
On the 1st September 2014 I went into St Thomas's Hospital in London to have my oesohagus and 2/3 of my stomach removed by James Gossage. Massive surgery done in a superb place by the most brilliant team of doctors and nurses.
5 days later I was told that my cancer was gone!!!
I am now on chemotherapy to limit any chance of it's return. We pray that this is successful.
Life now:
I recovered well from the surgery. I have a rather attractive scar on my neck and a less attractive scar across my body. I can eat solid food in tiny portions and drink (not gulp) pretty much anything. I am pain free and have lost 4 stone in weight along with my hair.
I feel good about life and positive about my future. Only time will tell how that proceeds.
The learning:
Don't believe everything you Google.
Stay positive.
Trust the doctors and surgeons. If you don't ask for a second opinion.
It's your life. If you feel ill, get seen quickly. Late diagnosis can be a killer.
My wife and family never changed. They stayed positive no matter how low I got. I could not ask for more than the love that they have given to me. I am here today in part through their love.
Dr James Gossage is now my hero. He never gave up. Instantly likeable as a man he exudes confidence. He was the last man I saw when I went into surgery and first I saw when I came out. He called my wife as soon as surgery was over and was as caring on that call as any man could be.
Next steps.
Back to work in January.
Restore my W124 300TE - 4Matic that I kept putting off.
Offer any help that I can to anybody who is where I was.
I am writing this not for me but hopefully to help you and yours and anybody you know who may just need this help. Please read all the post as it may just have something that helps. I want this to be a positive message and not to upset anybody on here who has, or is losing anybody to this dreadful disease.
Symptoms:
After spending months of increasing discomfort when eating and several visits to my GP who diagnosed indigestion. I insisted on being seen privately. This was after I noticed that I had started to bleed internally (black poo).
Important bit:
My symptoms meant that I had an appetite (normal). When I ate food I could swallow normally but then the food would get stuck before it got into my stomach. I could feel this and would describe it as a backing up of stuck food. or the food was hitting a blockage.
So in May 2014 I was sent privately for a CT Scan followed within 24 hours by a Laparoscopy. 48 hours later I was asked to come in and meet with the specialist responsible for me. I was told that I had Cancer of the Oesophagus, which was visible as a tumor at the join of my stomach and my oesaphagus. The prognosis at that point was dreadful.
I am considered young (59) for this cancer. So I was sent off to meet a surgeon who MAY be able to operate and give me some hope.
Next phase:
I met with Dr James Gossage in London Bridge Hospital. He explained in great detail what things meant for me and what the next steps were.
1) More detailed scans (off to Harley street)
2) Another endoscopy (carried out by himself)
Both done in the same week, I was back sat in front of James. He was now confident that he could operate and as importantly he could see no visible signs of SPREAD.
3) Onto Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. This was done at home with one visit every three weeks to the local hospital to be topped up.
In August I was scanned again. Good News. The tumor had shrunk and was now operable.
On the 1st September 2014 I went into St Thomas's Hospital in London to have my oesohagus and 2/3 of my stomach removed by James Gossage. Massive surgery done in a superb place by the most brilliant team of doctors and nurses.
5 days later I was told that my cancer was gone!!!
I am now on chemotherapy to limit any chance of it's return. We pray that this is successful.
Life now:
I recovered well from the surgery. I have a rather attractive scar on my neck and a less attractive scar across my body. I can eat solid food in tiny portions and drink (not gulp) pretty much anything. I am pain free and have lost 4 stone in weight along with my hair.
I feel good about life and positive about my future. Only time will tell how that proceeds.
The learning:
Don't believe everything you Google.
Stay positive.
Trust the doctors and surgeons. If you don't ask for a second opinion.
It's your life. If you feel ill, get seen quickly. Late diagnosis can be a killer.
My wife and family never changed. They stayed positive no matter how low I got. I could not ask for more than the love that they have given to me. I am here today in part through their love.
Dr James Gossage is now my hero. He never gave up. Instantly likeable as a man he exudes confidence. He was the last man I saw when I went into surgery and first I saw when I came out. He called my wife as soon as surgery was over and was as caring on that call as any man could be.
Next steps.
Back to work in January.
Restore my W124 300TE - 4Matic that I kept putting off.
Offer any help that I can to anybody who is where I was.
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