Resources for Cancer Patients

For the past 3 months, since mid-December 2017, I've been researching and compiling information. I figured I should share what I've found to save people time and energy. If some good can come from this horrible experience then it's all the better. In this section I have questions to ask your doctor, recipes that have helped my dad while he's been having a hard time eating, websites for further research and knowledge, and my travel guides to get the most out of some of the cities you may be traveling to for treatment. I have both general cancer information and resources as well as specific esophageal cancer information and resources. I'm not a doctor, yet, and I'm not an expert. My opinions are my own based on my research and the sources listed. If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you! pandaaze@aol.com

I am not advising on how to proceed, only providing as much information I can, so you can better make your own decisions.

While in general the statistics can be grim, one must keep a few things in mind:

  1. Statistics are just numbers, whilst you are a living, breathing human being. An individual. Everyone reacts differently to treatment.
  2. Published statistics are usually already outdated by the time they get published, and then they hang around in cyberspace and may be extremely outdated by the time you find them and read them.

Prevention

Obesity and acid reflux linked to the development of esophageal cancer.

According to Mark B. Orringer, M.D. professor and head of thoracic surgery at the University of Michigan, there has been a dramatic change in the type of patient developing esophageal cancer. Twenty years ago, esophageal cancer was primarily squamous cell carcinoma, found in people who drank alcohol and smoked excessively. As the obesity rate has climbed, however, Orringer has documented a 350 percent increase of adenocarcinoma (cancer that tends to be malignant) over the last 30 years. This is related to more gastroesophageal relux / reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus.

Reflux disease is an inflammation of the lower part of the esophagus, and causes heartburn and pain in the area below the breastbone. It happens as a result of the acidic contents of the stomach flow backwards and up into the esophagus. This back flow of acid is called reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux. One of the causes of reflux is being overweight.

Chronic and/or untreated acid reflux leads to a condition called Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's is a condition in which the cells lining the lower esophagus change because of repeated exposure to stomach acid. Normally, the tissue lining the esophagus is similar to the lining in your mouth (squamous mucosa), but with Barrett's, the body replaces the normal esophageal lining with one similar to that found in the intestines.

Esophageal cancer tends to be a "silent cancer" in that it's symptoms are mistaken for other conditions and/or ignored. As a result, it carries a terrible prognosis. By increasing awareness that heartburn may have serious implications, along with earlier detection, improved staging tests and better treatment are leading to better outcomes.

Five tips for preventing Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer

  1. Work on losing weight. Obesity leads to hiatus hernia and reflux which are in turn responsible for the increasing rates of esophageal cancer. Talk to your family physician about developing a plan to lose weight by eating well and exercising regularly.
  2. Don't lie down after eating. For those with acid reflux, the valve between the esophagus and the stomach doesn't function properly, allowing the contents of the stomach to back up into the esophagus. Lying down can make this problem worse, leading to late-night heartburn. Be sure to eat early to give your stomach time to empty before bedtime.
  3. Sleep propped up. Lying down can exacerbate acid reflux. If you have reflux, consider arranging pillows so that your head and upper chest are elevated while you sleep. Stomach acid, like water, does not roll uphill.
  4. Take an antacid. Neutralize stomach acid before it backs up into the esophagus with antacids.
  5. Talk to your doctor. If you have a long history of severe heartburn or acid indigestion, talk to your doctor about Barrett's esophagus, which increases your risk of developing cancer. Even if your acid reflux symptoms are controlled, you still could be at risk. The only way to diagnose Barrett's is with an endoscopy and biopsy. Esophageal cancer can be cured, if it is diagnosed early

University of Michigan Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center https://www.mcancer.org/esophageal-cancer/prevention