My friend had major surgery for cancer of the oesophagus 10 days ago. I Went to see her today for the first time and am feeling stunned how poorly she is.

One of my friends has just been diagnosed with the same cancer, and has opted for surgery. She is a widow and lives alone. It must be such a terrible thing to have to face.  I hope your friend makes a good recovery.

So sorry that you are left feeling so upset at seeing your friend, it is a serious operation and generally requires a full 2 weeks in hospital after the op, when you think about it today they have you out and the bed freed as soon as you can put a foot out of bed so for a required minimal 2 week stay it really must take a lot of healing and take things out of the patient.

I hope that your friend will come around over the next few days, but I guess it will be a long time before she is feeling anything like herself.  Wishing her all the best, and sending you a {{hug}} it is frightening seeing people so ill, I hope that she will be ok.

Oh Treacle, that's sad. Your visit will have been a huge boost to her though as so often people are too frightened to face serious illness and tend to shy away from ill people at a time when they are needed the most. Wishing your friend the very best.

So sorry you're feeling this way but well done for going. Wishing a speedy recovery for your friend, I'm sure your visit was moral boosting and very much appreciated.