Bob's Cancer Journey

This is my first time ever having to write anything like this. I am embarking on a challenge I never thought I would be on, the challenge of cancer. Esophageal cancer to be exact. For about a year, I had noticed that I started to lose some weight, which I assumed was due to the change in medications my doctor prescribed to me. I didn't think too much about it and noticed my appetite was slowly decreasing and I was not able to eat hardly anything at all as food felt like it was getting stuck. My wife, Nancy, kept bugging me to go to the doctor and get it checked out but I was feeling good and liked my weight loss.  We went out as a family to a Chicago Wolves game to celebrate my birthday in January and decided to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse before the game. I knew something was seriously wrong when I managed to only eat 2 bites of steak and I could not eat anymore. That was the last straw for me and after researching online of things it could be, it kept coming up with the cancer diagnosis. I called my doctor within a couple of days to get it checked out. Through tests they discovered I had H Pylori (a bacteria), put me on antibiotics and sent me in for a scope. The scope revealed a huge mass in my esophagus about 4" in length and told me I had cancer. We were not prepared for that news at all. It has shaken me and my family to the core.  I had to go through more tests to confirm the diagnosis and of the two main types of esophageal cancer out there, I have a combination of both, the official name is adenosquamous. To make matters even worse, I found that I carry the HER2 gene, which is a genetic gene for breast cancer. This tends to be a more aggressive cancer. I have never been sick in my life or have had to fight for anything. I saw my wife through many of her surgeries, a son through a kidney transplant and here I am getting ready to gear up for the fight of my life. I am scared, I am nervous and I know what the statistics say about this type of cancer.  I am choosing to give it everything I've got to fight this beast. Will I be successful? Only God knows that. I can only hope he gives me more years with my family and to enjoy things like I used to. Your prayers and support mean the world to me and I am truly grateful for all the special people in my life. We have come to the point in my cancer journey where we will need some assistance. Long term disability ready to kick in and frankly, it isn't a whole lot. If you can donate to give us a hand with our monthly expenses, we would greatly appreciate that. If you can volunteer any of your time to yard work or plowing/salting our driveway come winter time, that would be just as much appreciated. Anything you can do we are most grateful. If you can afford your time or a dime, that is okay too. This will be a long haul and are very thankful for each and every one of you for your help.