Help! Where do my mom and I go to find help?

buzzzy
buzzzy Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
What web-sties can we go to to find the hospitals/doctors that deal with this type of cancer more often and more successfully? With only 13,000 cases diagnosed a year, it seems that we need to go to a doctor/hospital that sees a lot of us each year.

Comments

  • mrbt
    mrbt Member Posts: 46
    #2
    Hi. I was diagnosed and treated for Stage III esohpagel cancer in 1998. I live in San Jose, CA. There are several very good cancer centers around the US. Let me know where you are and I'll see if I can help. You can email me directly at "triebold@telocity.com". My first name is Bruce. Good Luck.
  • mrbt
    mrbt Member Posts: 46
    #3
    Monday AM. I sent a message late last night but didn't check your profile. Sorry. I don't know what the resources are in Georgia but I am sure there is excellent cancer treatment in your area. First, the current standard of care for esophageal cancer is a course of chemo and radiation followed by surgery. The chemo is usually Cisplatin in combination with 5FU. The chemo is usually administered in two segments each lasting a week. There is usually a 3 week break between segments. During the approx. month long treatment there is also a daily (except weekends) radiation treatment. Usually 25 treatments. Surgery is usually 6 to 8 weeks after completion of chemo/radiation. The surgery is complex and this is where I would look for someone who has done it many times with good results. The surgery is called a trans-hiatel esophagectomy. Survival rates for esophagel cancer have been low but are improving. Usually it depends if the cancer has spread outside of the primary site.

    I hope this helps. Let me know if you want additional information. Good luck, Bruce

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