Just an update.

I've been rather lax on getting on here.

My eating is progressing. The weight loss has either slowed or stablized. Not sure which.

I still am having pain from the side incision to one rib along the right front. It does seem to be improving.

I have been taking short walks around the block to build up strength and getting back into some of my hobbies. But the stamina is not up to par yet.

I see the oncologist this week to find out of there is chemo on the horizon. The surgeon thinks not. I hope he is right.

Keeping all of you in my prayers.

Sounds like you are doing well and I am so happy to hear your update! I know they are always pleased when the pathology report comes back clear after surgery. Mine didn't completely, but my surgeons felt they got all the cancer out & 6 years from diagnosis, I'm still doing well & showing cancer free :-). I had chemo & radiation before surgery. Wishing you the best! Brenda

Glad you are feeling better and the weight loss is slowing. My husband found he was gradually able to eat more. It's a nice time of the year to build your strength. Thanks for updating us. Glad to hear you are on year six Brenda

Hello again,

Well my oncologist said there would be no chemo. I will have to have CT Scans periodically to make sure nothing new shows up.

The weight is still dropping so I have to get my diet in order.

Best wishes and prayers for everyone here.

Now that your chemo & surgery are behind you, hopefully your recovery from both will have you getting your strength back & your recovery complete. You've been through a lot & it's time to give yourself some time to adjust to your new inner workings & finding what works eating wise (quantity & food types). Wishing you the best. Enjoy being cancer free & knowing you've done all they've asked to the best of your ability :-) Wishing you the best. Brenda

You are doing incredibly well. The others on this site have heard me say this before....but take the time you need to heal. I had the surgery on August 6, 2009 and was determined to return to the office in August(no idea why). I got back to my practice on August 31...and crashed and burned. I ended up back in bed. Giving yourself extra time now will serve you long term. Congratulations on your course to this point. August 6, 2014 is 5 years for me...ahhhhh...ML.

Thanks. Had a second follow-up exam with my surgeon. He lifted my diet restrictions. I still experience pain in the ribs but he said that will probably last 6 months to a year.

I was fortunate to be able to go to a family reunion last week; something I did not think I would be able to do when this all started.

I feel very lucky and thankful for the encouragement and prayers.

Glad you are feeling better. Martin, great news, congratulations!!

Today marks 3 months since surgery. Still not used to the eating routine. I tend to forget myself and start to chow down like I used to but quickly learn to put on the breaks. Not a good feeling. But the weight seems to have settled between 175 to 180 lbs. The pain in the side incision area still runs to the front ribs. It seems to have moved above the initial area. I think the nerve paths may be trying to reconnect. At least I like to think that's the case.

While the pain does keep the spirits down from time to time, I still feel fortunate to get to this point and begin to plan projects and get some done.

Thank you again for your encouragement and prayers. You are in mine.

Glad you are doing well. Three months is a good milestone and you will continue to feel better. My husband went to a physical therapist after surgery. They worked on his neck and worked through the scar tissue. He actually didn't need a referral either. He didn't have much pain after three months. He is 16 months out now.

I got some bad news last month. Not about me but about one of my high school classmates. I received an alumni magazine and in there was an obit. He had passed away this past April after a year's battle with EC.

I don't know any details, but the fact that some I knew was losing his battle just as I was starting mine sent my positive outlook into reverse for a while.

I know that each person's journey is unique yet there are still doubts in my mind.

My oncologist is pretty much out of the picture now and follow-ups are being handled by my surgeon. He said he didn't want me having scans too close together. Originally I was to have a scan in August but now it look like it will be in October Just before another follow-up exam.

As for the weight, I seem to be holding steady, only fluctuating up or down by a pound or two.

Still having some episodes of pain. It seems worse when the weather is changing. Other times not as bad.

In spite of the bad news I spoke of, I am regaining a positive outlook.

Again thanks for prayers and encouragement. I continue to pray for everyone here.

It is hard and scary to hear bad news. My husbands oncologist suggested a scan two months after the surgery. This is aggressive, but he had an affected lymph node right where his biopsy was taken during his endoscopy. So far he is EC free 16 months out. I know you had a different type of cancer , so things may be different. We had the opposite experience, a relationship with the oncologist but not the surgeon. Maybe you can ask your oncologist what he thinks about the scans.

Had some confusion about my upcoming scan. Last month the Surgeon ordered my 3 month scan and for some reason my follow-up exam with him was set for December 10. So the scan was set for December 1.

Last week I get a call from the radiology group that they had a script for an additional scan for a November follow-up.

I called the surgeon's office and got everything straight with both CT scans for November 10 and the dr. appointment for November 19. So everything is set for a 3 month scan within the 3 months of my first post-op exam which I thought was to be 3 months after the actual surgery. So as someone said in another post time for scanxiety.

So far everything else is coming along. Occasional discomfort when I eat too fast. The surgical related pain is decreasing and I am getting used to seeing the thin me in the mirror.

Best wishes and prayers for all of you.

Glad you are doing well.

First post-op scan today. It's been a little over 5 months since the surgery. Definitely having scanxiety. Won't know the results until I see my surgeon on the 19th. At that point it will be one day shy of 6 months post-op.

Hoping and praying for a clean scan.