Well for those of you on this "blog" here's my story; I was diagnosed in April of 2023 (after having to leave an ETA
Festival) with esophageal adenocarcinoma and was quite upset and scared! I was immediately referred to radiation & chemotherapy specialists in Knoxville, Tn. as well as 3 sets of surgeons(all who wanted to cut me) When I am faced with what I consider serious issues I sink myself into looking into things and educating myself!
I was 75 at the time and after finding out how serious and debilitating the surgery was I told the surgeons I was going to opt for radiation & chemo and if I could get 3,or so more years with some quality of life that would be my choice! I was probably between stage 1 & 2. I was referred to a radiation MD who wanted to start treatment right away for 6 weeks along with 2-21/2 hrs. of chemo every Friday. Found out that this was "photon radiation" they were going to do but in my research found out that Knoxville, Tn. had one of only 39(at the time) PROTON radiation centers in the country so I called them right away and was seen that same week. I had an interview with Dr. Ryan Grover (an outstanding radiation DR.) and started treatments right away. The difference between the two is proton targets the tumor and stops while photon hits the tumor then goes "through" the body which could cause problems with healthy organs as well as having worse side effects. So after 6 weeks every day of radiation with chemo treatments those Fridays I was done(sort of) After waiting approx. 2-3 mos. for the "dust to settle" I had a Pet scan that told the doctors that they had made my EC go away so I got to ring the bell. Well that's not the end of it by any means. I continued to have pet scans every 3 mos.(now on every 6) but during a follow up endoscopy was told I had Barret's with dysplasia(had been told earlier I had Barret's) but now the dysplasia cells could become cancerous and that I would most likely need some sort of ablation process! I said okay let's start. Unfortunately where I now live (Brunswick, Ga.) there was NOONE that could perform that procedure so my choice was going to Savannah or to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Guess where I picked. Again I was fortunate in that I got put into the hands of one of the country's foremost gastroenterologists (Dr. Eluri) that could do the procedure. My wife and I have to go on a Thursday, spend the night and the procedure is done early Friday morning so after I am out of recovery we can head home. I have had two "cryoablation" procedures and they (so far) have been successful in reducing my Barret's Esophagus and preventing the cancer from reoccurring! I am now 77 and have to take my daily naps as I tire out but am eating fairly well keeping away from anything too spicy but am able to still have my glass of Cabernet with dinner and am going on an 8 day ETA cruise next month!! I have been very fortunate and realize "life is terminal" so I am doing what I can to enjoy every day. I wish "everyone " (along with those caring people who also have to deal with this "God awful disease") the best moving forward and to stay positive as difficult as it may seem! Two recommendations I would make are if you have the wherewithal to do it is, if you need radiation treatment find a facility that offers PROTON and if you can get both a consultation and treatment at a Mayo Clinic I would "highly recommend it! So Doctor Gary,(I say that because in your comments you sound like one) what might you say about my synopsis and story??