The first sign that all was not well appeared one evening when I was eating a sandwich. The mouthful became "stuck" in my throat, for what felt like a long time, as I remember gasping to breathe. As I have a habit of eating quickly, it was ignored - silly to not have listened more closely to my body.

In hindsight, there must have been other episodes of food getting caught, but of lesser severity.

Life carried on and it was perhaps a year later when I was prescribed risedronate (Actonel) to manage my osteoporosis which triggered off persistent swallowing difficulties, and led to the diagnosis.

Like many people, my cancer diagnosis came as a shock; wasn't this something that happens to others? The phrase "I have cancer" occupied my mind every moment that I was awake, and successfully woke me up at all hours of the night as well. It was a lonely experience. There were friends and family around me doing their best to try and support, but it just felt really lonely.

At the beginning of my journey, I did not receive any support or resources for oesophageal cancer patients. One day, close to the time of my scheduled operation, a friend asked if I had any support (for after the operation - meaning home care). I had not prepared anything, of course, since my mind was so preoccupied and muddled. But this prompted me to search for "support" on the web. Searching for the appropriate information was confusing and in desperation, I contacted the Cancer Council of Victoria. This really was the turning point, and I shall forever be grateful for the empathy and practical information given. 

I was referred to their Cancer Connect programme, where I received support from an oesophageal cancer survivor. It was also through the Cancer Council that I learnt about the Pancare Foundation.

The support I received has been immense. My brother was a medical specialist, and it was through him that a team of trusted specialists evolved to manage my illness. Friends and family were also very supportive. Prayer helps immensely, and continues to do so. Most importantly, support from fellow "travellers" is paramount. 

I joined my first Pancare support group several months after my operation. It was enlightening to be able to ask questions as well as to listen and learn. With time, I became bolder and contributed by sharing my tips and experiences. 

I am now close to 4.5 years after treatment and have adapted to my new way of life. The thing which guides me forward is to be of help to others to the best of my ability. This has led me to help out when opportunities arise at Pancare Support, as well as volunteer with the Cancer Council of Victoria's Peer Connect programme and also act as a consumer representative for the UGI Cancer Registry Victoria. I continue to attend the Pancare Support group because this gives me insight into what others are going through and helps with my work, especially at the Cancer Registry. 

I would encourage my fellow travellers to stay focused and try to do your best each step of the way. Set mini goals and once this has been achieved, move to the next one. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" (written by Laozi in Tao Te Ching).