From Diagnosis to Determination - Oesophageal Junction Cancer Diary

Embarking on the path of esophageal cancer treatment can be daunting, with surgical interventions often being central to the journey. One such procedure, the Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, stands out due to its complexity and significance. Let's delve into what this surgery entails, its purpose, and the road to recovery. What is an Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy? An Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is a surgical technique primarily used to treat cancer located in the middle or lower sections of the esophagus. This procedure involves the removal of the affected portion of the esophagus and the upper part of the stomach, followed by reconstructing the digestive tract to maintain its functionality. The Surgical Steps: Navigating the Procedure The surgery is typically performed in two main stages: Abdominal Phase : Surgeons begin by making an incision in the abdomen to access and mobilize the stomach. This step ensures that the stomach can be reshaped into a conduit to replace the removed esophagus. Thor...

 Hey! It's been a while! So since we last posted we've been getting ready for surgery. I'll write another post shortly about the surgery and explore that in more detail. We've had 2 meetings with the surgical team since we got the go ahead for the surgery, one with the surgical team, and one with the surgeon who will be performing Tony's operation. I've mentioned in previous posts that compared to the Oncology side of things, the surgical team seem to be a lot less..... Fluffy, shall we say. We had been warned to leave surgical appoinments feeling like you've been hit by a train or swamped with negative stuff, and our first appointment certainly did! The Doctor we saw for the first appointment  seemed to be pushing us towards a palliative treatment plan, rather than the curative one our oncologist recommended. He wasnt happy that Tony hadn't had the prescribed 4 rounds of chemo pre op, and called the surgery ''sub-optimal''. We found this...