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Linda’s Story (Esophageal Cancer)

Linda's Story Gastroesophageal AdenocarcinomaI’ve had acid reflux for quite some time. Sometimes, I’d even wake up coughing from the reflux! I’ve even had trouble swallowing my food, but I never thought that anything could really be wrong.

One evening, I went out to eat with my friend, Cyndi, and we had salads with beets. I’m not much of a beet person, so I rarely eat them. The next morning, I noticed that my urine was red! Thinking I might have a kidney stone, I went to the doctor, and he sent me for a CT scan. That was how I discovered that I had a thickening at the juncture of my esophagus and stomach. I didn’t know that beets could make your urine reddish, so that had to be a “God thing”!

Further testing showed that I had a stage four adenocarcinoma that had metastasized to several lymph nodes in my lower abdomen. Surgery was out. I was blessed to find my tumor was HER 2+, so it could be treated with Herceptin. I had radiation and a course of several months of Cisplatin. That was the only time in my life that I was glad I was fat! Cisplatin made me so sick that I lost 60 pounds!

I’m feeling pretty good now! My tumor and lymph nodes have been considerably reduced in size. I still get a Herceptin infusion every three weeks. I’m presently taking an oral chemo drug, Xeloda, but the oncologist says he’ll take me off that if my next scan looks good!

I fight like a girl every day! At 63 years old, I go kayaking, swim with my great nieces, and play drums! God is good, and so is my life!

Linda
North Carolina
Submitted 09/26/2015

The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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2 comments

  1. Brigitte Estelle Gaudreault

    Dear sweetLinda,

    You are so cute !!
    I laughed when I read the part about you being glad that you were fat because you had lost 60lbs. Oh thank you it felt great to laugh !♡♥♡♥

    Keep fighting like a girl Linda!!
    With love from Québec, Canada
    Brigitte Estelle xxx

    • Linda Halliday

      Thank you, Brigitte!
      I’m glad I could give you a laugh. You know what they say -“Laughter is good medicine!” My doctor has taken me off the chemo, so I’m just getting Herceptin infusions every three weeks. It is so nice to see my skin slowly returning to a somewhat normal state! Now if my nails will just follow suit… ?
      I hope you are doing well and fighting like crazy!!!
      Love,
      Linda Halliday

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