Esophageal Cancer

[arminnie]

Endoscopy can save a life.

Tell your parents (most of you are younger I am not) to have an endoscopy on a regular basis (which I think is every 5 years) as part of their physical. Especially if they have any issues with heartburn, GERD.

Most people know they should have a colonoscopy - an endoscopy can be done the same day. There is no prep work involved with it. It's an in office procedure where a scope is put down the esophagus. I've had a couple - not a big deal at all. Medicare pays for it.

Esophageal cancer is very, very bad. There is often a precursor called Barrett's disease which can be detected with the test.

From the Mayo Clinic:
Monitoring and treatment of Barrett's esophagus focuses on periodic exams to find precancerous esophagus cells. If precancerous cells are discovered, they can be treated to prevent esophageal cancer.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Endoscopy can save a life.

Tell your parents (most of you are younger I am not) to have an endoscopy on a regular basis (which I think is every 5 years) as part of their physical. Especially if they have any issues with heartburn, GERD.

Most people know they should have a colonoscopy - an endoscopy can be done the same day. There is no prep work involved with it. It's an in office procedure where a scope is put down the esophagus. I've had a couple - not a big deal at all. Medicare pays for it.

Esophageal cancer is very, very bad. There is often a precursor called Barrett's disease which can be detected with the test.

From the Mayo Clinic:
Monitoring and treatment of Barrett's esophagus focuses on periodic exams to find precancerous esophagus cells. If precancerous cells are discovered, they can be treated to prevent esophageal cancer.

Good alert! My cousin was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer and is in the middle of chemo and radiation treatments before he'll have surgery. He had a good deal of trouble with "heartburn" but never had it checked out. He's only 48, and I believe he's in stage 3. I think early detection could really have helped.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, this is a very timely and important PSA!!!!!

Anybody who has any kind of problem with hertburn (unless you know it is because you just ate spicy food, of course!) Should be checked out.

My MIL has had this.
I believe hers was going almost into stage 3.

At this point, she is VERY lucky to still be alive.
She definitely beat the odds.
This is a very deadly cancer.

 

[kwelch10377]

Endoscopy can save a life.

Tell your parents (most of you are younger I am not) to have an endoscopy on a regular basis (which I think is every 5 years) as part of their physical. Especially if they have any issues with heartburn, GERD.

Most people know they should have a colonoscopy - an endoscopy can be done the same day. There is no prep work involved with it. It's an in office procedure where a scope is put down the esophagus. I've had a couple - not a big deal at all. Medicare pays for it.

Esophageal cancer is very, very bad. There is often a precursor called Barrett's disease which can be detected with the test.

From the Mayo Clinic:
Monitoring and treatment of Barrett's esophagus focuses on periodic exams to find precancerous esophagus cells. If precancerous cells are discovered, they can be treated to prevent esophageal cancer.

Just an FYI it is not always an office procedure. I know several people who have had one and they were required to have it done in a hospital.

 

[Coach K]

My wife had this cancer and went into remission 4 months later. Unfortunately, the cancer came back in different areas of the body (liver, lungs and abdominal area) and I lost her 6 weeks later. She always had heart burn problems and she started having problems swallowing. Her nephrologist finally had her get an endoscopy and the cancer was found. Do not hesitate to get an endoscopy if there are any problems!!!! I didn't even mind the prep for a colonoscopy knowing what the consequences could be.

 

[kellydizfan]

I have one every year. My ENT does it in his office. Yes they do a more extensive procedure in the hospital. My Aunt and Dad have had the one done in the hospital. It is very easy - just really tickles. I have LPR Reflux and live on Nexium. I didn't have the heartburn but kept loosing my voice and my regular dr. couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I went to my ENT for my hearing and he found that plus a sinus infection I didn't know I had.

 

[pixie dust 112]

My Dad dies of esophageal cancer. It is a horrible disease. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have issues, I have had my colonoscopy but need another one. I am 49, they want to do the scope...I just cannot do it. so they are doing everything in a few weeks. Cancer does run in my family. I cannot have it done, panic is severally stopping me and I am afraid to eat, I get that choking thing going on.
I am under going IV treatment for anemia due to all this. and I have GERD really bad, even with all the meds, and the proper diet.
I just cannot do it. the doctor will do all the other tests first, I begged to have it that way.
Here it is a hospital thing, I just cannot do anything down my throat!

 

[pixie dust 112]

I have issues, I have had my colonoscopy but need another one. I am 49, they want to do the scope...I just cannot do it. so they are doing everything in a few weeks. Cancer does run in my family. I cannot have it done, panic is severally stopping me and I am afraid to eat, I get that choking thing going on.
I am under going IV treatment for anemia due to all this. and I have GERD really bad, even with all the meds, and the proper diet.
I just cannot do it. the doctor will do all the other tests first, I begged to have it that way.
Here it is a hospital thing, I just cannot do anything down my throat!

You especially have gotr to just do it! I don't know, do they or can they give you anethesia for this?

 

[LaraK]

My five year old son has already had 9 endoscopies. He has a disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. They put him fully "under" for each procedure. For adults, they usually put you into a "twilight" if you're going to have the procedure in a hospital.

For the person who talked about constant "heartburn like" symptoms and swallowing problems, please get the procedure and get biopsied. They can drug you to the point that you don't care what's going on and finding what it is is important.

A perforated esophagus can kill you....quickly. You need to know if you have Barrett's syndrome or need a dialation.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have problems with being put under, this is what is so scary for me. The first thing is my BP is sky high, and they can not do it when it is that high. second, I have asthma, and have had problems in the past.
So my doctor is doing the upper and lower GI, barium testing, which I can handle. I agreed if those do not come back good I would have the scope done. So it is not like I am not doing nothing, but I just cannot do that right now. I do not think it is as bad as I had it 3 years ago. I have the onset of Crohn's so there are other issues I am aware of, I am hoping that the crohn's is just getting more aggressive.

 

[arminnie]

My wife had this cancer and went into remission 4 months later. Unfortunately, the cancer came back in different areas of the body (liver, lungs and abdominal area) and I lost her 6 weeks later. She always had heart burn problems and she started having problems swallowing. Her nephrologist finally had her get an endoscopy and the cancer was found. Do not hesitate to get an endoscopy if there are any problems!!!! I didn't even mind the prep for a colonoscopy knowing what the consequences could be.

I am so sorry for your loss. There are so many people with heartburn who don't have this test. I'm not sure why doctors don't recommend it more. I used to live in New Hope in Bucks County. Beautiful area.

I have one every year. My ENT does it in his office. Yes they do a more extensive procedure in the hospital. My Aunt and Dad have had the one done in the hospital. It is very easy - just really tickles. I have LPR Reflux and live on Nexium. I didn't have the heartburn but kept loosing my voice and my regular dr. couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I went to my ENT for my hearing and he found that plus a sinus infection I didn't know I had.

I never had heartburn, but my pulmonary doctor figured out that my asthma was caused by reflux. I've had many tests including wearing a monitor with a tube down my esophagus for 24 hours. I guess I'm thinking of this as I'm scheduled for colonoscopy and endoscopy both in a few days.

Natasha - I know what you mean about the choking. I had that with some other tests, but with the endoscopy I was in that twilight area and didn't care. I remember coming to very quickly though and the doctor was saying something and telling the nurse that I was still asleep. I piped up and said "no I'm not". The twilight is not the same as being put under. I don't know how to describe it. It's sort of like a pause. I've been put out for surgery, and the twilight is totally different.

 

[rparmfamily]

This is freaking me out, I've had what feels like a lump in my throat off and on for months, normally at night, plus trouble swallowing sometimes. I think it's reflux but I need to make an appt.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I am so sorry for your loss. There are so many people with heartburn who don't have this test. I'm not sure why doctors don't recommend it more. I used to live in New Hope in Bucks County. Beautiful area.

I never had heartburn, but my pulmonary doctor figured out that my asthma was caused by reflux. I've had many tests including wearing a monitor with a tube down my esophagus for 24 hours. I guess I'm thinking of this as I'm scheduled for colonoscopy and endoscopy both in a few days.

Natasha - I know what you mean about the choking. I had that with some other tests, but with the endoscopy I was in that twilight area and didn't care. I remember coming to very quickly though and the doctor was saying something and telling the nurse that I was still asleep. I piped up and said "no I'm not". The twilight is not the same as being put under. I don't know how to describe it. It's sort of like a pause. I've been put out for surgery, and the twilight is totally different.

I have the exact same thing!! I never have heartburn, and my "secondary" asthma is caused by reflux!! I go thru so much because of this! the hoarseness, the problems eating, the post nasal drip and then when you get it...coughing, makes the reflux worse!! it is a nightmare is it not??

 

[jazzielady]

My father died of this 4 1/2 years ago.

Last fall, I was having severe abdominal pains and they thought it was my gallbladder. After every test in the world, it was discovered that I had ulcers in the same places where my dad had the cancer. Scared the bejeebers out of me. They were caused by GERD.

Now I have to have a scope every year to check on them. I take prescription prilosec, and my last scope this spring showed that they were healed.

Please everyone, don't hesitate to have a scope done. Request that you be put out for it, I was completely unaware of it being done.

 

[kacaju]

Most people know they should have a colonoscopy - an endoscopy can be done the same day. There is no prep work involved with it. It's an in office procedure where a scope is put down the esophagus. I've had a couple - not a big deal at all. Medicare pays for it.

You need to check your insurance. I have to have both done and was told my insurance will not allow them to do both procedures on the same day

 

[arminnie]

I have the exact same thing!! I never have heartburn, and my "secondary" asthma is caused by reflux!! I go thru so much because of this! the hoarseness, the problems eating, the post nasal drip and then when you get it...coughing, makes the reflux worse!! it is a nightmare is it not??

Yes it is. I got diagnosed in '99. I even had surgery on my esophagus valve. It helped, but it is no cure.

In 2006 my upper back started hurting. I bought a new desk chair, etc. I could only get relief when I laid down. Sitting or standing could so uncomfortable. I thought I was getting osteoporosis and that my back was disintegrating. This went on for a few weeks. Then one night I coughed up blood so I went to ER.

It turned out that I had pneumonia from the acid that was getting in my lungs!!!! I was not sick, had no fever, just the back pain. I was on antibiotics for over 6 months. It started I think when I ate some chocolate just before going to bed one night. I had the WORST reflux that had me trying to cough up acid for a couple of hours. The throat, etc felt like a blowtorch had been put down my throat.

I've been mostly okay for the past few years. But I had to learn one by one the things I could not eat before bed. I know I shouldn't eat anything before bed - but I can't go to sleep if I'm hungry.

You need to check your insurance. I have to have both done and was told my insurance will not allow them to do both procedures on the same day

Thanks - I'll check on this Monday. Seems crazy as it is cheaper to have both done at the same time. But who says insurance always makes sense.

 

[PatsMom]

I have Barrett's esophagus and will be having yearly endoscopies. I have been on Nexium for years and my last endoscopy was five years ago. This year I developed some pretty bad anemia so the doctors started looking for why. Since I was having problems with GERD even with the nexium, I was scheduled for the colonoscopy and endoscopy on the same day. There was no problem with the insurance coverage - the GI doctor said she likes to do both together because it is one prep and one anesthesia. The prep for endoscopy isn't bad -just fasting for a while.

Endoscopy is painless and I have absolutely no memory of having it done. I love the twilight sleep!

 

[marcyinPA]

This is freaking me out, I've had what feels like a lump in my throat off and on for months, normally at night, plus trouble swallowing sometimes. I think it's reflux but I need to make an appt.

Those are exactly the symptoms I had when I went to my dr. five years ago. I had NEVER had a problem with reflux before that. I don't normally get the burning feeling, just the lump, and sometimes coughing at night.

I had a barium swallow, which indicated reflux. Then the endoscopy to see how bad the damage was. Just a little esophageal errosion, but nothing else. I've been on Protonix ever since. I try to take it every other day, and watch my intake of stuff that bothers me (tea, coffee, acidic food)

Once I was on the meds, the lump in the throat went away. See a doctor soon!!!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Yes it is. I got diagnosed in '99. I even had surgery on my esophagus valve. It helped, but it is no cure.

In 2006 my upper back started hurting. I bought a new desk chair, etc. I could only get relief when I laid down. Sitting or standing could so uncomfortable. I thought I was getting osteoporosis and that my back was disintegrating. This went on for a few weeks. Then one night I coughed up blood so I went to ER.

It turned out that I had pneumonia from the acid that was getting in my lungs!!!! I was not sick, had no fever, just the back pain. I was on antibiotics for over 6 months. It started I think when I ate some chocolate just before going to bed one night. I had the WORST reflux that had me trying to cough up acid for a couple of hours. The throat, etc felt like a blowtorch had been put down my throat.

I've been mostly okay for the past few years. But I had to learn one by one the things I could not eat before bed. I know I shouldn't eat anything before bed - but I can't go to sleep if I'm hungry.

Thanks - I'll check on this Monday. Seems crazy as it is cheaper to have both done at the same time. But who says insurance always makes sense.

yep, I will start out with post nasal drip, then it acts up my reflux. I then think I have bronchitis or something like that, with a cough etc. but what is happening is I am aspirating into my lungs! I usually am on predniose for months on end....and it is a circle It is hard to get out of, I am on a very strict diet, I have to use salt water nose spray and use a wedge on my bed, I am very careful what I eat. I do eat Godiva chocolate, it is the only one that does not cause reflux.