2020年10月12日
Esophageal cancer caregiver: I’m grateful we came to MD Anderson
BY Jo Ann Foster
我丈夫加里，在67岁时开始抱怨腰疼之前，他一直健康和活跃。然后他开始吞咽困难。食物不会下来。
A doctor in our hometown of Russellville, Arkansas, ordered an endoscopy to examine Gary’s esophagus.
After reviewing the results, the doctor pulled me aside. "It’s not good,” he said. “Your husband hasesophageal cancer。“
The tumor was at the end of his esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. That explained Gary’s backaches and swallowing problems.
我努力理解他的话。事情发生了模糊。“什么？”我想。“他不能有癌症。”
The doctor offered little hope. He told us to go home and focus on Gary’s comfort.
几天，我悲伤。我努力适应加里诊断的变化。肿瘤已经长大了，他无法吃固体食物。他必须坚持饮食泥浆和汤。
“只是呼吸，妈妈，呼吸，”我最古老的女儿一直对我说。
食管癌专家对专业待遇计划提供了信心
我决定采取行动。我叫MD安德森。结果是有史以来最好的决定。我们在几天内获得了预约，我们在休斯顿。
我们一旦走过2018年6月11日的MD Anderson的门，我们就会感受到希望。
辐射肿瘤学家Stephen Chun, M.D。，是我们遇到的第一位医生。他很棒，积极，让我们放心。他告诉我们了proton therapy，一种辐射治疗，其使用质子束将辐射直接输送到肿瘤，在制止健康组织时破坏癌细胞。春博士认为质子疗法以及化疗，可能会缩小加里的肿瘤，使手术删除更容易。
Each doctor we met was so confident and supportive. Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeonAra Vaporciyan，M.D。，在我的笔记本中勾勒出加里的肿瘤，并向我们展示了他如何用叫做Transthoracic食道切除术的手术去除肿瘤。首先，他会去除食道的癌症部分。然后，通过第二次切口，他将加里的肚子拉入胸前，将其连接到食道的剩余的上三分之一。
“这是可行的！”我记得他微笑着说。“去获得质子疗法和化疗，休息很多。然后我们会做手术。“
“什么？你的意思是你可以帮助他吗？“我想。“天啊！赞美神！”
我丈夫的食管癌治疗
For six weeks, Gary underwent proton therapy Monday through Friday, and chemotherapy every Wednesday. He typically suffered fromnausea化疗后。一个MD安德森·努托人教我们关于食物，这些食物可以帮助他感到满满的而不令他伤害他的胃。
During this time, we stayed in Houston at a nearby condo, driving back to Arkansas only a few times. Our three adult children called and texted us frequently to check in, and our six grandchildren sent us handmade artwork to lift our spirits.
在Gary完成化疗和质子疗法后，我们回到了阿肯色州的家庭休息两个月，为他的手术做好准备。2018年10月24日，Vaporciyan博士成功完成了经术治疗食管切除术。After Gary’s seven-day hospital stay, we moved to an apartment near MD Anderson. We stayed there for 48 days while Gary recovered.
Helping my husband with his feeding tube
During this time, I gave Gary his liquid meals and medicine through a feeding tube. I was initially nervous. I’m a retired school teacher, not a nurse. But I took classes forcaregiversat MD Anderson and learned how to do it.
Whenever I had questions or needed help, Gary’s care team took my calls and walked me through the steps. It didn’t matter if it was 2 a.m. to 5 p.m.
一旦加里患了极端恶心，我就伸出了他的护理团队。他们解释说他很有可能dehydrated，并走了我如何通过附属于他的IV来给他水feedingtube. We saw immediate changes to Gary’s nausea level.
然后，就在圣诞节之前，我们收到了最好的新闻。加里是无癌症的，我们可以回到家。
One day at a time
Looking back, we got through that period one day at a time. After Gary had had his feeding tube removed, he was gradually able to begin eating regular foods.
The journey wasn’t easy for Gary or for me as his caregiver, but it was certainly worthwhile. And none of it would have been possible if we hadn’t made that call to MD Anderson.
Request an appointment online at MD Andersonor by calling 1-877-632-6789.