Meeting with the surgeon

We met with Pete's surgeon today at the University of Michigan hospital, and Tanya & I both walked out feeling very optimistic. Pete couldn't be in better hands than those of Dr Mark Orringer who did a fantastic job of educating us about what Pete is facing http://surgery.med.umich.edu/thoracic/clinical/faculty/morrin.shtml . I'll outline the doctor's findings and proposed course of treatment, and Tanya or I can try to answer questions about anything I don't touch on here.

Pete does indeed have a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. There are 3 layers in an esophagus and tumors begin on the inside layer. As the tumor grows it goes through that first layer, through the second and third, and then can break through that last outside, muscular layer. Pete's tumor had grown through all three layers and had just broken through that last layer, making it a T3 tumor.

The good news is that all indications are that the cancer is confined to the one tumor and has not spread to any other organs. There are a few lymph nodes that are suspicious, but not obviously cancerous which puts the cancer classification at Stage 2A. If they were to find cancer in any lymph nodes it would become Stage 3.

Pete's treatment will start in the next couple of weeks and will progress as follows: 1) 4-5 weeks of simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation; 2) 3 weeks of rest; 3) surgery/recovery; and 4) possibly 1-2 more courses of chemo and radiation. The surgery for this type of cancer used to be very difficult with a high mortality rate (and many hospitals still perform this "old fashioned" surgery), but Dr Orringer is an expert at T.H.E. (transhiatel esophagectomy) surgery which he said has a survival rate the same as basic gall bladder surgery and has 98% of patients home after one week. Here's a link about the surgery http://www.med.umich.edu/michigandifference/victor/orringer.htm .

The bottom line here is that Pete has a very rough 5-6 months ahead of him, but after that time he should be cured and better than ever! Dr Orringer was adamant that he must prepare for what is ahead of him by doing breathing exercises and walking 3 miles EVERY DAY, even during chemo & radiation, so when you talk to him make sure to ask if he's following doctor's orders! (he'll love me for that!)

Thanks for your continued concern, and I'll post another update after he meets with Oncology to get prepped for chemo and radiation.