TOR Meeting with my Doctors

Today started early, its been a very tough and stressful day. We have taken in so much information that my head is literally spinning on top of my shoulders. I will post up what information I have, but understand that I will most likely have to come in later and edit this post after Ive read it 4 or 5 times.

I arrived at the Greenebaum Cancer Center at The University of Maryland at 0815 this morning

We met with Dr Gui, after talking with him for almost an hour , I fired him and asked him to leave. I expressed to the other team members that I do not want this man on our team, and I do not want him near me. In a nut shell, is was unprepared, and very uneducated with the information I feel he needed to sucessfully treat me ,not to mention his lack of command with the English Language

So my All Star cast is;

Tiffani Tyer- CRNP

Dr Bruce Greenwald M.D. Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thoracic Oncology

Dr Whitney Burrows M.D. General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery
Dr Naomi Horiba, M.D., MPH , Thoracic Oncology

Dr Suntha, M.D. Radiation Oncology, Thoracic Oncology,

I have faith and trust with my Doctors and I believe in them and that they will get me through this. It will be hard, but I must do exactly what they tell me to do.
I was told today that, FIRST and most importantly, I MUST gain weight ! I have lost another 7 pounds this week just since last Monday. Apparently my Cancer is stealing my glucose, fat, and calories before my body can use them, thats why I am aged looking and losing weigh so rapidly. It is very important that I pack on the pounds before treatment because I will lose more weight that I cant afford to lose.

I have what they call Antral Carcinoma of the Esophagus. It is locally very advanced and is classified as a Stage T-3 Lesion. It is approxamatly 5 Cm long and 11 cm thick. Length does not matter however, its the thickness that makes this such a big ordeal.
I have 2 Lymph Nodes that are Cancerous, one low into the Esopogus and one up high near the neck. This presents a problem with treatment due to the large area that the Cancer has spread too, and needs to be treated.

I was initially under the impression that Esophagus Cancer was a Cancer that was very easily treated and removed but I was wrong, this type of Cancer is very rare and difficult to fight. There are only 15,000 cases of Esophogas Cancer reprted a year. Well you know me, If I am going to do it, Im going to do it right !

My upcoming schedule is this:
Stress Test to make sure that my Heart is strong enough for the upcoming treatment.
Pulmonary Tests to make sure that my Lungs have enough capcity to with stand Radiation Treatment, since Radiation Theropy with take some Lung capacity away from me due to the burning process.
Feeding Tube~ I will have a feeding tube permanantly/surgically installed to the front of my body for night time feeding. Make it a Pepperoni Pizza please !

Once all of this is accomplished Dr Horiba will take the Helm and giude me through and start my Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatment that will be done concurantly.
I will be administered Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil together on the first day of treatment , predicted to start around the first week of June and then will be given 5-Fluorouracil for the remaining 5 1/2 weeks everyday.
Side effects to the treatment will vary depending on the individual of course but technology has come a long way with new medications to counter act the effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment. But some of the most common side effects that I may come accross are; Burning when swallowing, Nausea, painful mouth sores, fatigue and diarhea. Oh goody !

Once we get all of the radiation I will be sent back to Dr. Greenwald for another PETSCAN to see what the progression of the Cancer is, if that goes well then I be picked up by Dr. Burrows who will then take over from Dr Horiba and surgically remove my entire Esopagus. From what I understand my Esphogas will be removed compleatly and then my Stomach will be stretched up to meet my Trachea. From there who knows !