Surgery this Week

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PaTreatment
PaTreatment Member Posts: 5
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Good Evening -

Tonight is the first time I'm posting to this board, even though I have been reading it since my father has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. Luckily it was caught at Stage I, and he was able to go get a second opinion from Dr. Luketich.

He visited Pittsburgh last week, and already has his surgery scheduled for Friday. My mother will be traveling with him and I plan on meeting them out there Thursday night. We will most likely be staying in one of the family houses.

Any advice for my father (and my family) is much appreciated. I'm just happy that he'll be in good hands at UPMC.

Thank you for sharing your experinces!

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  • flmo
    flmo Member Posts: 65
    #2
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    My husband had stage 1 esophageal cancer also..
    He was operated on by Dr. Luketich on Feb. 23, 2011. He just had his 3 month checkup in Pittsburgh. Dr. Luketich was very pleased with his recovery. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them. I hope your father's surgery goes well on Friday. We stayed at Shadyside Family House. You can ask for a specific house the day that you arrive in Pittsburgh.
  • DanaM
    DanaM Member Posts: 29
    #3
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    Confirm that Dr. Luketich will be performing the procedure
    Myself and another family also recently connected at UMPC for the MIE, after visiting Dr. Luketich and scheduling surgery. I later found out on my discharge papers that one of the fellows who works with Dr. Luketich actually performed the procedure (Dr. L was present) and I wasn't informed ahead of time. I did receive a paper in my packet that stated that Dr. L is a very busy surgeon and may not be available for your procedure at the time of your surgery. Pay attention to the small and seeminly insignificant print on the papers they send you. Dr. Luketich had minimal involvement according to the credits on my discharge papers and did the last "scope and drain manipulation." It is a teaching hospital and if this makes you uncomfortable, please be sure to sort it out prior to surgery. If you and your family can request Shadyside family housing, it has 2 single beds and a roll-out couch which seems like a good idea for 3, since your dad will be discharged to family housing while he recooperates and after he leaves the hospital. It is also within walking distance to a grocery store, several fast food places and a nice diner and other restaurants. God Bless u & and your family.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • flmo
    flmo Member Posts: 65
    #5
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    My husband received the
    My husband received the exact same treatment that Bill and Loretta Marshall described to you. Dr. Luketich has a phenomenol team! They treated my hisband like royalty. Please don't let the naysayers on this site discourage you. Your father will be in good hands at UPMC.

    Maureen
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #6
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    Hi,
    My father went to UPMC
    Hi,

    My father went to UPMC for an experimental chemo treatment. My mom and dad stayed at the Shadyside Family House and the staff there is great and helpful. One of the benefits of staying at the Family House was that you get to meet other patients with all types of difficulties but they become like extended family. The Family House is located around grocery stores, restaurants and lots of other shopping. There is limited parking and so you will probably have to park in one of the garages (for $5 a day) - or on weekends you can park in the Hillman garage for free.

    My father was hospitilaized twice during his stay in Pittsburgh at the Shadyside Hospital - which is right across the street from the Family House. We found the nurses and doctors to be attentive, helpful and responsive. My dad was not the easiest patient - he hated that he wasn't in control - and would ask so many questions and correct the nurses but they very patiently worked with him answered his questions and took care of him. We found the facilities and the staff to be wonderful and very clean. Dr. Gibson was my father's oncologist and he (and his entire team) stayed in contact with me during the entire time. He even called me one time when my dad was getting admitted because he wasn't sure my parents would let me know right away. One nice thing about Dr. Gibson's team is that they communicate via email just as easily as via the phone and given my busy schedule I found that to be an optimal method. Of course we spoke in person when needed or during visits - but being able to ask a question and get a response without playing telephone tag was really a plus for me.

    Unfortunately, my dad was not a candidate for the MIE surgery. So I can't give you any information about that part of your journey. Good luck and prayers for the surgery.


    Best,
    Cindy

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