There's no protocol on screening for EC

BMGky
BMGky Member Posts: 621
in Esophageal Cancer #1
How often should a family member be screened for EC? Through our journey, we have learned that my husband's uncle died of EC, my husband had EC surgery and is now NED. There are multiple cancers in his family. We encouraged our adult children to get scans. The scan for one child showed he had a ring caused by acid reflux and was put on Nexium. I have encouraged him to get one annually.

The other son, while he was told his scan showed no identifiable problems, he does experience indigestion and occasional difficulty swallowing due to allergic phlegm. It had been a year since his scan and for his physical, he asked about being re-scanned or how often. The doctor told him, "There's no protocol for screening for EC." You've had a clear scan, and you can get another one sometime in the future if you wish but regular scanning is not in protocol for risk of EC.

I've read of several posts on here where patients with heartburn are put on PPI's for long term without being scoped nor monitored until it was too late or they were put on heart meds until it was too late. Is the research data on EC so limited that insurance companies cannot justify the expense for preventive scanning. Is there enough information out there for a protocol to be developed.

I guess I'm just complaining; however, I feel time is of the essence when dealing with EC and there ought to be updated guidelines for scanning for the cause of the recurring heartburn.

Comments

  • Laura23
    Laura23 Member Posts: 81
    #2
    I agree
    I know that in Japan, EC is much more common. They do routine screening every 2 years after the age of 40. Maybe we should insist on something similar for those of us with a family history or long term acid reflux.

    Laura
    Wife to Luis
    Dx 4/11/2011 T3N1M0
  • birdiequeen
    birdiequeen Member Posts: 319
    #3
    My husband's Dr. had a protocal for screening
    My husband’s first scope revealed Hiatal Hernia and Barrett’s esophagus. After that he was scoped every two years, which he did for 11 years before the diagnoses of EC.
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #4
    Laura23 said:

    I agree
    I know that in Japan, EC is much more common. They do routine screening every 2 years after the age of 40. Maybe we should insist on something similar for those of us with a family history or long term acid reflux.

    Laura
    Wife to Luis
    Dx 4/11/2011 T3N1M0

    I agree.

    I agree.
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #5
    birdiequeen said:

    My husband's Dr. had a protocal for screening
    My husband’s first scope revealed Hiatal Hernia and Barrett’s esophagus. After that he was scoped every two years, which he did for 11 years before the diagnoses of EC.

    That's good to know. Sounds
    That's good to know. Sounds like every two years is a good timetable. Screening can't prevent it; however, it looks like the protocol that was followed with your husband found it at an early stage. I'll be certain to remind my son that he should ask for a scan every two years.
  • json_2011
    json_2011 Member Posts: 100
    #6
    BMGky said:

    That's good to know. Sounds
    That's good to know. Sounds like every two years is a good timetable. Screening can't prevent it; however, it looks like the protocol that was followed with your husband found it at an early stage. I'll be certain to remind my son that he should ask for a scan every two years.

    probebly every 2
    just wanted to also comment on your photo - i love it . Carry on , carry on .
  • birdiequeen
    birdiequeen Member Posts: 319
    #7
    BMGky said:

    That's good to know. Sounds
    That's good to know. Sounds like every two years is a good timetable. Screening can't prevent it; however, it looks like the protocol that was followed with your husband found it at an early stage. I'll be certain to remind my son that he should ask for a scan every two years.

    Preventive measure
    Looking back, my husband questions rather he should have had the surgery to create a new valve to stop the reflux, but yes the scope every two years did catch his cancer at a very early stage.

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