Re: Re: Hello Friends.... in Houston needs to talk to anyone who has done chemo

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I wonder if the nerves are really dead in the " e " for achalasians, or

> if cancer treatment could make nerve damage to the " e " worse. And I

> wonder about perforation of the " e " lining because of it. And would

> I have like a likelong spasm because of it???? Also, how certain can

> we be that radiation will miss my " e " ? I can ask the radiologist that

> last one.

From what I see chemo and radiation can both cause problems in the

esophagus and to nerves. This is true with or without achalasia. I don't

know how much radiation the esophagus gets for treating breast cancer.

The likelihood of problems would depend on the amount and intensity of

what it receives. At least esophageal problems would not be new to you

so perhaps it would be less stressful for you if it happened. I don't

know if there would be any more long-term damage for those with

achalasia than those without it. If you did have long-term damage to the

bad nerves of achalasia I think your myotomy should still do the job.

Here are links to general information about cancer treatment and effects

on the esophagus. They are not specific to achalasia.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/nutrition/Patient/page3#Se\

ction_159

http://www.oncologychannel.com/chemotherapy/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_What_Are_The_Side_Effects_of_\

Chemotherapy.asp?sitearea=ETO

I can't seem to find anything that is specific to achalasia. It can be a

logical fallacy to make an argument from silence, but I think the

silence on the subject of achalasia with chemo or radiation is a good

thing. It probably means that we are much like everyone else in this

case. I would still ask about the wrap, if you have one.

notan

[Guest guest]

, I am by no means an expert on cancer and the effects of treatment. But Jan. 17 will mark the 24th anniversary of my last radiation treatment. I also had chemo before the radiation. I think I may have been one of the exceptions, but neither treatment seemed to affect my overall health. They did not cause me to get sick, altho I did lose all my hair and several layers of skin - the radiation I had was to the whole body. I do not believe either treatment had any effect on my 'E' - just one of those coincidences that 'A' developed 20+ years later. I do wish you all the best. Your positive thinking will be a great asset! And I agree with Notan that you will probably want to inquire about the wrap. Good luck, and let us know how everything goes for you!mike in WI __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I wish you all the best during this time of trials! I can’t

imagine what you are dealing with but wanted to extend my prayers and well

wishes.

C Warren

Co-Founder

www.achalasia.us

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of lizzie2542

Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 9:21 AM

achalasia

Subject: Re: Hello Friends.... in Houston needs to talk

to anyone who has done chemo

Hi ,

I can't offer any advice on your current situation. I just wanted

to say hello and offer my best wishes as you embark on this new

challenge in your life. I remember very well when you had your

myotomy and would post from your bed because you somehow had the

internet connected to your tv. It was very entertaining. I was at

my worst with achalasia and still pursuing options for treatment and

you gave me a lot of hope that it would get better if I persevered.

I had a myotomy done in Toronto 1 year ago this past December and I

too have had complete success with it. I can eat anything and don't

even need an unusual amount of fluid to get it down. I just eat a

little more slowly than those around me. The only down side is the

weight gain after years of deprivation to eating normally.

I hope you get some useful advice, as always Notan seems to be the

most knowledgeable and balanced on his advice. All the best to you.

Liz

Cambridge, Ontario.

>

> HI Everyone,

> It's been a long time since I was here on this board. My life

> after my surgery concerning achalasia has been wonderful. Four

years

> out of surgery, I am very stable, can eat virtually anything.

Steak

> and spaghetti require milk as the " push it down liquid " simply

because

> it weighs more than water, but with everything else, I just drink

the

> usual liquids and I am fine. I sleep flat, have just occasional

> spasms. I still highly recommend the surgery and my surgeon Dr.

> Reardon in HOuston if you are sitting on the fence about

> surgery. I walked out of the hospital the following day without

even

> a sore throat, and I got my life back.

> BUT, now I am facing a new challenge. I have stage 2 breast

> cancer. I have had my small tumor excised with clear margins, but

it

> was microsopically in two of the five centinal nodes. I had

another

> surgery 3 weeks later to have the rest of my lymph nodes removed on

> that side. I am doing well after surgery, had no complications,

and

> have already regained the ability to stretch my arm up straight

over

> my head pretty easily. Now, I am faced with treatment option

decision

> time. The best protocol for my long term survival is to do chemo,

> followed by radiation, and then hormonal therapy. The whole

speel. I

> am most interested to talk to anyone in this group who has had to

face

> breast cancer and chemo. I want to know how your esophagus fared

> longterm on the chemo. I am at MD Cancer Center in

Houston,

> one of the best in the world. My doctors are parents of children I

> teach! I feel very lucky that it was caught early, but since there

> was small lymph involvement, I must now tackle the chemo to have

the

> best results. I know everyone reacts differently to chemo, you

can't

> say that just because one person threw up on it for days that

nobody

> should do it. I have friends who have actually breezed through it,

> kept working, and then I have friends who have been sick the whole

> time. It's a huge decision. I know I can live through feeling

like

> crap and then recovering in time, but I am most concerned about any

> studies that have been done on achalasia patients and chemo.

Notan,

> are you out there, oh wise one???? Best wishes to all.

> in Houston

>