Don Lee
"Keep a positive attitude- my family's constant reminders of this and inspiration made all the difference in the world."
There are very few things in life that you can hear that have as much impact on you and your loved ones' lives as the words, "You have cancer." After many, many years of suffering from heartburn and indigestion, coping with the most "sophisticated" medications at the time (Tums and Alka Seltzer), I was eventually told I had a high probability of developing Barrett's Esophagus; because Barrett's Esophagus has a slight chance of causing esophageal cancer, I was advised to keep a close eye on it. In those days, most people had never even heard of esophageal cancer, or that heartburn could be a precursor.
In 1999, I began having extreme difficulty swallowing on occasion, along with major, deep hiccups. With much encouragement from my family, I visited a doctor who ordered an endoscopy. The endoscopy revealed I had stage II Esophageal Cancer. I remember at the time, it was nearly impossible to find any information available on the disease, other than that it predominately occurred in African American men who drank and smoked heavily and that chances of survival were not good. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, rarely drink alcohol and am living proof the survival statistics are improving.
After the shock wore off, my family insisted I immediately contact M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. From this point on, it was no longer "I", but "we", as my family went through every step right by my side, cheering from the sidelines and offering much-needed encouragement and positive words. Cancer is a "Family" illness - it invades one member's body- but it affects the entire family just the same...the fear, the hopelessness, the helplessness, the sadness, the constant "What ifs..."
We were not able to get an appointment at M. D.Anderson as quickly as we would have liked, but once we did, we met with Dr. Linus Ho to discuss chemotherapy and treatment options (Dr. Ho was my gastroenterology oncologist). I had three types of chemotherapy administered at the hospital and also chemotherapy administered via a main line that was installed in my body and attached to a pump I wore around my waist. I also underwent 30 days of radiation. We later met with Dr. Garrett Walsh, thoracic surgeon, to discuss surgery. Dr. Walsh had the entire family in tears while telling us about the seriousness of the Ivor-Lewis surgery. It is a major surgery - four times more serious than a quadruple bypass, and serious complications can occur. March 27, 2001 was the big day. Surgery lasted 9 hours and 45 minutes. My treatment was totally successful and I am currently an eight year survivor and considered "cured" for all practical intents and purposes.
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with esophageal cancer, don't consider it a death sentence. It is common human nature to associate cancer with death, especially when you hear the odds of esophageal cancer. Keep in mind that they are making new strides every single day. The most important advice I can give is to get yourself to a major cancer center, even if you do not live near one. This can mean the difference between life and death. Also, if you have frequent heartburn, don't simply dismiss it as heartburn. I am here today because of early detection. I am also here because I was in the best hands imaginable - I received phenomenal care at MDA. These are the reasons I am still here. I lead a happy, productive life. I have lost a lot of weight- fifty pounds. Sure, my eating style has changed - I eat smaller meals rather than going out for dinner and gorging myself. I find this a small price to pay.
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with esophageal cancer, try to get as much emotional support as possible. We have met some of the most wonderful people through this process. There are cancer support groups available online that served as a lifeline to my wife and daughter.
Keep a positive attitude- my family's constant reminders of this and inspiration made all the difference in the world. Other survivors also helped us through the process. We would like to offer a helping hand to anyone who would like or need it. Feel free to contact us at 281-485-5263 or Kay@gecancer.org.