I have been steadily losing weight since May (25 pounds}. I can eat but have to throw up because of pain further down above my stomach. Well I went to Battle Creek VA Hospital and they found something in an -xray that they didn't like the looks of. I was then sent to Ann Arbor where they confirmed that I have cancer in my esophagus. I should be operated on soon so am asking for your thoughts and prayers. So much for clean living....never drank or smoked. I WILL beat this thing. Too much to do to my Fiero to be checking out now. Don't know for sure what stage it is in....will find out more nex
Very glad you are so determined to beat this - you have a challenging period ahead of you, but hopefully, they will discover it is minor, and you can get treated and beat it.
You better heal quickly - I'm challenging you to a yodeling contest one year from today.
I have a feeling you yodel as badly as you rollerblade.
I hope things turn out ok for you...
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 09-28-2009).]
You will beat this, Cliff, with a little help from the Docs etc. You won't have time to worry when you are in hospital I hear the nurses over there have part-time second jobs on Baywatch!! Just watch out for that old Queen Hasselhoff though God Bless and all my best wishes and prayers are with you already I will give my special Licence plates an extra cleaning session this week, and hope the energy will rub off onto you too! Nick
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02:09 AM
Raydar Member
Posts: 41280 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
I have marked September 28th 2010 on my calander for the yodeling contest Chris.......I had a Uncle who use to do that while milking his cows. They didn't give much milk.
Thank you Slinger.........I know you are not far away. Nick ....you are right. Pretty Nurses are one great way of healing Dar......next appointment is Friday. Hoping they will do something soon as far as operating. If you have ever been hungry to where it hurts, that is what it is like. Then of course you have rumblings down there and you wonder what is going on inside. I appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers. Seriously.............I am not afraid.....I really do have too much more to accomplish in late life...............Cliff
I know what you've been through. Had an extremely close call with that 2 years ago, and still have to monitor it closely from now on. Sounds like they found it early enough, so you'll be good. I had a few surgeries to keep mine from progressing, and I'm doing fine now.
I'll keep you in my prayers and wish you good luck and speedy healing. How long were you having the pain before you decided to see a doctor about it? Did you have GERD? Take care and remain positive.
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10:34 PM
PFF
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never2old Member
Posts: 1854 From: Wyoming, Michigan USA Registered: Dec 2005
Don't know what GERD is?????????? I have had heartburn for years, taking alot of TUMS and stuff like that. Don't know why, but one of the symptoms is not wanting to swallow your saliva { one of the questions asked me was that} If you ever played sports and had " cotton mouth" that is the way i would spit if I had to. Not trying to gross you out but that is the way it is. Then the sudden weight loss and not being able to eat. I had a lean hamburget tonight, just the meat, and that stayed down about three minutes. I am very hungry...but have a taste for nothing. Not trying to turn this into a Doctor forum but maybe some one else has similiar problems. tesmith66...what were your symtoms? Thanks again........Cliff
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10:51 PM
kyunderdawg Member
Posts: 4373 From: Bowling Green, KY. USA Registered: Aug 2008
One thing I've noticed and my wife had ovarian cancer 4 years ago and says the same thing. People speak in hushed tones when they find out you have cancer. Not that it is something to jump and scream about but it is almost like in biblical times when a person had leprosy. The Doctor said to me "Sorry to give you the bad news" I said" Doc , it's news....it aint bad, unless I don't make it". And then I guess I wouldn't be hearing it.
Chris.......you hit the nail on the head. I did make alot of model airplanes when I was a kid using Testors airplane glue. You got high real quick {I guess thaat was why I had A's and B's my Senior year} The only thing foreign being self inserted {keep it clean guys} was a pussy willow I shoved up my nose when I was goofing off. Don't remember ever getting it out!. Now that could be the source.
Chris.......you hit the nail on the head. I did make alot of model airplanes when I was a kid using Testors airplane glue. You got high real quick {I guess thaat was why I had A's and B's my Senior year} The only thing foreign being self inserted {keep it clean guys} was a pussy willow I shoved up my nose when I was goofing off. Don't remember ever getting it out!. Now that could be the source.
That stuff used to make me put the wings on backwards. or maybe I was just bad at followeing the directions...
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12:04 AM
never2old Member
Posts: 1854 From: Wyoming, Michigan USA Registered: Dec 2005
Originally posted by never2old: So much for clean living....never drank or smoked.
Yeah, go figure, . My sister never drank or smoked either. She got a cancerous brain tumor and had to have some of her brain removed with it. Which ended her career in the Air Force, she was a Captain. She also made straight A's, and went/still goes to church more than twice a week. God does work in mysterious ways.
quote
Originally posted by never2old: One thing I've noticed and my wife had ovarian cancer 4 years ago and says the same thing. People speak in hushed tones when they find out you have cancer.
I dunn know. I think that is similar to like when you buy a certain car, you see them everywhere. I am sure that people do take it seriously but that is usually from not having a great understanding of cancer and a fear of it which has been passed down to them. In reality, cancer has become a very manageable affliction, in most cases. As Sage mentions, half the battle is attitude. You strike me as a tuff old coot but even a support group can benefit you. No matter what, I am pulling for you here, .
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07:02 AM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
Never2old, I started typing a response to your question and kinda went nuts, but here's my story.
Was diagnosed with advanced Barrett's esophagus due to a deformed valve that allowed acid to flow up into the esophagus unchecked for all of my life. Got checked out because of chronic reflux and heartburn. Ended up having GERD surgery to fix the valve (they stretch the top of your stomach and wrap it around the base of the esophagus to strengthen it. I got a full wrap.) Also had a massive hiatal hernia that had to be fixed, a tear in my diaphragm from the hearnia, and my gall bladder removed, as it was only performing at 18% (slacker). After all of that, I had to have 2 more surgeries to open blocked bile and pancreatic ducts. In addition to all of that, I have a weak pancreas that refuses to absorb nutrients if there is too much fat in my system, so I am in a fat restricted diet for the rest of my life. Aside from all of that I feel great and have lost a lot of weight. Went from 280+ to 195 and stayed there.
Had another scare this past spring when I had difficulty swallowing. They found a Shatzki ring
and had to fix it. I still have trouble swallowing, but not as bad.
I hope I didn't bore you with all of that, just being thorough. They got mine before the Barret's had a chance to mutate into cancer, but it was so close that I have to be checked annually. The esophagus is thin and is single-walled, so the cancer cells can quickly pass through and infect the rest of the body. If they get it early and remove it (by taking the bad section of esophagus out) you are good.
Good luck. The testing they will likely put you through is NO FUN, but it is necessary. (The esophageal motility test will be the worst thing you will ever do in your life.) Maybe you'll get to drink radioactive paint while wearing a lead apron so they can photograph your insides. That was interesting... Timothy E. Smith
------------------ 1986 SE 350 V8
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02:34 PM
never2old Member
Posts: 1854 From: Wyoming, Michigan USA Registered: Dec 2005
Holy Cow ...you went thru alot. I know I am scheduled to swallow the radio-active stuff before they do theCat-scan. I had my gall bladder out 12 years ago and SWEAR they didn't. I had heartburn before and after........QUACK-QUACK. Know they are trying to help us but I guess they have on the job training so if..................... Cancer is a scary thought....everyone else gets it...that kind of thing. Thanks again for all the response.........Cliff
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02:53 PM
Boondawg Member
Posts: 38235 From: Displaced Alaskan Registered: Jun 2003
I hear the nurses over there have part-time second jobs on Baywatch!! Just watch out for that old Queen Hasselhoff though 
. My sister never drank or smoked either. She got a cancerous brain tumor and had to have some of her brain removed with it. Which ended her career in the Air Force, she was a Captain. She also made straight A's, and went/still goes to church more than twice a week. God does work in mysterious ways.
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