The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation

Join us Saturday, June 15, 9 AM at Warwick City Park for the 2nd Annual Esophageal Cancer Walk/Run!

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event.

Whether you decide to walk or run, or a little bit of both, get your team together today!

Be sure to bring your friends, family, co-workers and pets, too!

Children 12 and under and pets are FREE!

Register online: http://salgiwalkrun.eventbrite.com

We look forward to another fun and successful event to support esophageal cancer research!

Thank you!

Four common heartburn myths

by: Dr. Dengler of RefluxMD

What would you do if you had recurring muscle aches a few times each month that you could manage with over-the-counter medication? Ignore it, right? It’s just a nuisance. What if on occasion those pains were so severe that you lost sleep, missed work, or even cancelled important plans? Still just a nuisance?

One in three American adults suffer from such a nuisance – heartburn – and they suffer monthly. Twenty percent of all adults lose sleep, miss work, and change their plans due to heartburn symptoms. The incidence of people suffering from these symptoms is increasing at a rate of 30% every decade.

For many, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, causes these symptoms. Heartburn, that burning sensation in the chest and the feeling of fullness that often results from eating too much, is the most common symptom of GERD, but some also experience regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, a persistent cough, and/or hoarseness. Over time, GERD symptoms can become more and more frequent – and much more severe. Many medical experts view reflux disease as an epidemic, yet most sufferers continue to think of this as a nuisance.

Here is what you need to know:

Myth #1: Food is the reason for heartburn

Heartburn is just a result of what we eat, right? WRONG!

Heartburn is a symptom of reflux disease, a progressive, long-term condition caused by a weak lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. The LES is a ring of muscle in the lower end of the esophagus just above the stomach. It acts as a valve, opening to allow food to pass into the stomach and then closing to prevent the contents of the stomach from flowing, (or “refluxing”) back into the esophagus. Because the contents of the stomach are highly acidic, reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus and cause the painful symptoms many sufferers know all too well.

Malfunction of the LES can happen for a variety of reasons – overeating, obesity, smoking, or excessive drinking. When it happens on occasion, reflux usually has no long-term consequences. Over time, though, the more you reflux, the weaker the LES becomes and the more you damage the esophagus. Reflux disease develops when the LES no longer functions as an effective barrier. Reflux disease can lead to complications such as inflammation, erosion of the lining of the esophagus, narrowing of the esophagus, Barrett’s Esophagus (a pre-cancerous condition), and esophageal cancer.

Myth #2: Heartburn is just a nuisance.

No one ever died from heartburn, right? WRONG!

Esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer of the esophagus, is directly linked to reflux disease. In fact, reflux disease is the only cause of this type of cancer. The number of esophageal cancer cases has grown more than 600 percent since 1975, making this deadly disease the fastest growing type of cancer in the United States. When charted against the incidence of all other cancers, esophageal cancer is in a league of its own. Sadly, esophageal adenocarcinoma is also one of the most lethal types of cancer. The overall likelihood of surviving five years is only 10-15 percent. This year alone, approximately 20,000 deaths will result from reflux-induced esophageal cancer.

Myth #3: Today’s medications cure reflux disease.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications stop the reflux, right? WRONG!

Many times when a patient experiences the symptoms of reflux disease, he simply purchases one of the many medications available over-the-counter at a drug store. If he complains to his doctor, the doctor will likely prescribe a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI, such as Prilosec, Prevacid, or Nexium to relieve his symptoms. All of these drugs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach, which helps minimize or even eliminate heartburn symptoms, but they don’t stop the reflux.

Reducing heartburn doesn’t mean that the reflux disease is cured. Unfortunately, even when taking PPIs and other acid reducing medications, the reflux continues! You just can’t feel it. Furthermore, it can continue to damage and deteriorate the LES. The disease progresses even though the symptoms aren’t apparent. Treatment with PPIs does not prevent the complications associated with reflux disease, and the conditions can still progress to Barrett’s esophagus and cancer.

Myth #4: PPIs can be taken with no risk as long as necessary.

Those PPIs must be safe since they are sold over the counter and don’t require a prescription, right? WRONG!

Consumers spend more than $24 billion worldwide each year on PPIs ($14 billion in the US annually), looking for relief from their reflux symptoms. While they have helped millions of people manage their symptoms, there are risks that users must understand.

Reflux disease is a chronic, progressive disease, so once PPIs are started, use typically continues on a daily basis indefinitely. Studies have shown that long-term daily use of these drugs may be correlated to an increase in the incidence of:

• Bone fractures
• Clostridium difficile colitis (a potentially deadly infection of the intestines)
• Pneumonia
• Low magnesium levels

PPIs are also known to interact with other drugs. The most important of these is Plavix, a blood thinner used for prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

What’s most concerning is that several studies have demonstrated that 30 percent of PPI users don’t even have reflux. That means that millions of people are at risk for these drug-related side effects when they don’t even need the medication.

PPIs do have a role in the management of reflux disease, but they must be used carefully as a maintenance medication and only under the care of a well-informed physician. Never take over-the-counter PPIs for more than 14 days without consulting a physician. And remember, even when they are used appropriately to treat reflux disease, PPIs simply control the symptoms of the disease. They don’t stop or cure reflux, they don’t reverse the damage to the LES, and they don’t stop reflux disease from progressing.

Fact #1: You can manage your reflux disease

There must be something that can be done to stop the progression of reflux disease, right? RIGHT! 

The good news is that, although reflux disease cannot be reversed, most people in the early stages of the condition can effectively manage their disease. By creating an action plan and following it, most can find relief for their symptoms AND keep their GERD from getting worse.

If you’re suffering from reflux disease, your first step should be to learn where you are in the progression of the disease. Then, you can identify the steps you can take to manage your condition, including working with a knowledgeable physician to design a personalized reflux disease management plan. Your plan will likely include monitoring your symptoms, incorporating lifestyle changes, taking intermittent medications, and/or undergoing minimally invasive surgery based upon the progression of your reflux disease.

Don’t be discouraged. The reality is that you are in control. And you don’t have to suffer. 

This article was shared from RefluxMD website. It was written by Dr. Dengler and has also appeared on Newsmax.  Visit http://www.refluxmd.com/ for more information!

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Imagine your favorite food.  Now imagine that simple act of eating being taken away from you.  Too often we take for granted the small and simple things that make life so enjoyable.

The following story is proof that the small things, such as the ability to eat, sometimes end up being the big things in life.

Thank you to Elizabeth Martin and The Digestive Disease Institute at Virginia Mason (DDI) for sharing.

A New Appreciation for eating

Fernando Fraga is a 39-year-old artist who has visited dozens of cities exhibiting his work.  Recently he journeyed from his native Uruguay to Seattle, not to celebrate art, but to regain a normal life.

A tuberculosis infection of the lymph nodes in Fernando’s chest ravaged his esophagus, causing a life-threatening perforation.  Surgery in Uruguay to remove the heavily damaged organ saved his life but resulted in a one-month hospital stay, leaving Fernando dependent on a feeding tube.  A bag affixed to the side of his neck to catch saliva was a painfully visible mark of his illness.  After the operation, the tuberculosis required eight more months of treatment before reconstruction could be considered. The only way back to the life he knew before meant restoring the ability to eat normally. Fernando had not eaten or taken any fluids by mouth for 10 months.

Fernando’s gastroenterologist in Uruguay, Henry Cohen, MD, FACG, contacted Richard Kozarek, MD, executive director of the Digestive Disease Institute at Virginia Mason (DDI) and recent president of the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO).  Given Dr. Kozarek’s role, Dr. Cohen knew where to turn to help his patient.  The question was where could Fernando safely undergo the extremely difficult surgery to reconstruct his esophagus, in a chest cavity riddled with scar tissue? The answer was the Esophageal Center of Excellence, part of the DDI at Virginia Mason.  Under the direction of surgeon Donald Low, MD, FACS, FRCS(C), the mortality rate in more than 600 esophageal resections at Virginia Mason is less than 0.5 percent, compared with a national average of about 7 percent. There are no better published results in the world.

“First, we thought of travelling somewhere near Uruguay, then to other clinics inside the United States,” says Fernando. “But after seeing the curriculum vitae of Dr. Low, we knew he was the one we were looking for. We were afraid because it was really far away, it was the longest trip we could have chosen inside the U.S., and we didn’t know if I could endure the trip with my feeding tube.”

Fernando became acquainted with the DDI team long before he got on the plane. Sonia Kunz, RN, and Jean Hong, ARNP, worked to set up the rapid series of consults and procedures he would need on his arrival and stayed in regular contact with Fernando and his family. Dr. Low sent a letter from England, where he was presenting at a conference, to reassure Fernando about the planned treatment.

“After the first contacts with Dr. Low and his team, we knew that Virginia Mason was the best decision we could have made,” says Fernando. “They gave us so much confidence and peace. It seemed that they knew us from long ago.”

Surgery to restore esophageal function typically refashions the stomach to replace the organ.  To ensure Fernando’s stomach was appropriate to use to reconstruct the esophagus, he underwent a procedure known as gastroscopy.  This procedure involves inserting an endoscope — a thin, flexible instrument with a light and camera — into the body, which then transmits images to a viewing screen.

In Fernando’s case, the pediatric endoscope had to enter the small bowel through the orifice created for his feeding tube to pass up the bowel into the stomach.  This atypical procedure was managed in the DDI’s Therapeutic Endoscopy Center of Excellence.  Dr. Kozarek performed the gastroscopy and was able to assure the team his stomach was appropriate to use to restore Fernando’s ability to eat normally.

After months of planning and traveling 7,000 miles from home, Fernando and his surgical team made a bid for a renewed life of eating and swallowing, a life without the bag he could never hide.  Virginia Mason ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon Stephen Bayles, MD, FACS, opened Fernando’s neck to mobilize the remaining short stump of esophagus.  Dr. Low accessed Fernando’s abdominal cavity to reshape his stomach from a bag into a long tube that was extended up the neck.  A normal esophagus resides behind the heart and in front of the spine.  In Fernando’s case the area was heavily scarred due to his perforation.  To bypass the damaged area, Dr. Low created a tunnel behind the breast bone and in front of the heart to reconnect the stomach tissue with Fernando’s remaining esophagus.

Normally a patient undergoing esophageal resection, even one less complicated than Fernando’s, could expect a 10- to 15-day hospital stay.  Fernando stayed five days.  Dr. Low encouraged Fernando to stay in Seattle for at least a week to recuperate following surgery.  During his recuperation, Fernando created gifts of paintings for the members of his care team.

“It was very important for me, coming from another country and speaking Spanish to have my family with me, encouraging me all the time.  To walk, to do the exercises, to get well,” says Fernando.

Dr. Low also credits Fernando’s remarkable outcome to the highly experienced, highly coordinated clinical team that is garnering international recognition. In 2011, the Esophageal Center of Excellence hosted visiting physicians from the United States, Europe and Australia to learn firsthand how a coordinated care team in a high-volume center can improve outcomes and enhance recovery for patients.

Before leaving Seattle, Fernando tasted his first soft food in more than a year, the same way anyone else would.

——-

The Digestive Disease Institute at Virginia Mason (DDI) is recognized as a leader in the multidisciplinary care of digestive disorders and has received international acclaim for excellent survival rates of colon, esophageal and pancreatic cancer patients. For more than 20 years, DDI’s teams of expert physicians and staff have collaborated to achieve breakthroughs in digestive disease, translating their findings into improved patient outcomes and advanced quality care.

In 2011, Virginia Mason received the 2012 HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Care Excellence AwardTM for the third year in a row. Virginia Mason also ranked No. 1 in Washington for GI Services and GI Medical Treatment, according to HealthGrades’ 2011 Healthcare Consumerism and Hospital Quality in America report.

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

We want to send a shout out of thanks to everyone who has supported us, in so many different ways, throughout this past year. As anyone who has a nonprofit can tell you, the first year is the most critical…and we’re still going strong! Thanks again.

One woman describes her battle with a rare cancer that’s rarely detected early.

NBC 10 Health Check: Esophageal Cancer. Barbara Morse Silva

From NBC 10 Health Check: Esophageal Cancer “CRANSTON, R.I. – They are as close as it gets for mother and daughter. Even though mom, Sue Everett, lives in Lincoln, Neb., and Kate Schmitter lives in Cranston, they talk all the time.

One phone call two years ago was a life-changer.

“She called me and said the test results came back and it’s cancer. Yep,” Schmitter said.

It started months before that diagnosis.

“I had a cough,” Everett said.

It didn’t go away. Her doctor sent her to a pulmonary doctor.

“He said your lungs are fine, no problem there. So then they sent me to my (gastroenterologist),” Everett said.

That doctor scheduled her for an endoscopy to see what was going on in her esophagus and digestive tract. That’s when they found the tumor.

“I did have a lot of acid reflux. Even as a child I remember that,” Everett said.

Acid reflux is a risk factor for esophageal cancer. Everett underwent chemo and radiation therapy, and surgery. Two years later, she feels great. And she credits support and a positive attitude.

“One thing that I did for myself with the help of my husband was I made a check list and I put down every single treatment. I put down shaving my head. I put down buying a wig.  I put down everything, and I checked things off,” Everett said.

Everett said that check list got her from her cancer treatments to the end result, which is she’s symptom-free and continues to work. She’s a teacher.

Everett shares her story in hopes of raising awareness about a cancer that is often found in the late stages when it’s more difficult to treat. Acid reflux is one risk factor. Smoking and alcohol use also puts a person at higher risk.

There’s a local organization, the Salgi [Esophageal Cancer Research]Foundation, that’s raising awareness and money for research.”

By: News Channel 10 Health Reporter, Barbara Morse Silva

From Tragedy to Hope: Family Affected by Esophageal Cancer Fights Back http://shar.es/dPuaw via @sharethis #health #esophageal #cancer #salgi

This is the second year that Rhode Island has recognized April as “Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month.”  This resolution was obtained through the efforts of The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, a Rhode Island based 501(c) (3) nonprofit charity and Representative Patricia Serpa (D – Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick).

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is amongst the fastest growing cancers. While many other types of cancers have stabilized or decreased, esophageal cancer has dramatically increased in the number of those affected by more than 400% in the past 20 years.

With risk factors which include acid reflux, obesity, smoking and excessive drinking, esophageal cancer is too often diagnosed in its later stages, which causes an alarming number of cases to be fatal.

“It is important to bring awareness about this terrible disease not only in April, but throughout the year.  We are working tirelessly to eventually have April named Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month throughout the United States,” The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation.

“There is too little known about esophageal cancer.  There is an astonishing lack of research regarding esophageal cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.”   “The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation believes that it is imperative that we receive the assistance of community members, public leaders and medical professionals to change the course of this cancer and save lives.”

Rep. Patricia Serpa with members of The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation at the Rhode Island State House in April 2012.

# # #

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation: Established in Rhode Island on November 21, 2011 in order to raise awareness, encourage early detection and support research in hopes of a cure for esophageal cancer. The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization, as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, visit: www.salgi.org

Diane Sawyer of ABC News discusses the dangerous warning signs associated with Esophageal Cancer.

Click here to watch the video.

Esophageal Cancer Warning Signs
ABC News, Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America
Original Air Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Learn how to enjoy the holidays and all of the delicious food while managing your acid reflux. Here are a few tips for you to take with you to the Thanksgiving dinner table:

1. Limit beverage consumption while eating. Sometimes fluids can cause more gas in the stomach when combined with food intake. Try to drink after you are done eating.

2. Sit upright for several hours after you’ve eaten. Or even better, take a family stroll around the neighborhood to help settle your stomach and aid digestion.

3. Avoid excess alcohol consumption. There are some people however who should avoid all alcohol consumption as even the smallest amounts can cause acid reflux. Know your body and plan accordingly.

4. Don’t over-eat. Ask for a smaller plate, take a small sample from each dish and load up on your “safe” foods that you’ve predetermined do not cause you acid reflux. Is having that second helping of pumpkin pie worth the hours of pain and misery due to the acid reflux afterwards?

5. Chew slowly. Help your digestive system by chewing every bite slowly and thoroughly. Put your fork down in between bites to help remind yourself to go slow while eating.

From all of your friends at The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

The following post is from Dr. Mike Lustgarten , Scientist from Tufts University.  Dr. Lustgarten explains the link between certain cancers, including esophageal cancer and dietary acrylamide, a chemical compound found in most foods.   Research shows that acrylamide has been found to in many cooked starchy foods and as a possible carcinogen, it has even caused cancer when administererd to lab rats in high dose experiemnts. (Source)

“In an earlier article I wrote about how cooking foods at a high temperature (greater than 250ºF, including frying, baking, roasting and grilling) produces the neurotoxic and carcinogenic compound, acrylamide (http://voices.yahoo.com/acrylamide-chocolate-another-10217911.html?cat=5). However, the adverse effects of acrylamide that I discussed were solely based on rodent studies. In this follow-up article, I’ll comprehensively discuss the evidence relating dietary acrylamide with human cancer.

Before introducing the data, it’s important to note that dietary acrylamide intake in all of the studies discussed below were calculated based on food frequency questionnaires. The highest acrylamide consuming group was approximately 40 µg/day, in comparison with low consumers of dietary acrymaide, ~10 µg /day. Without a doubt these values for dietary acrylamide intake are underestimated-for example, 1 ounce of Pringles potato chips contains 70 µg of acrylamide, and the commonly thought of as “healthier chips”, Baked Lays has 31µg/ounce (1 bag of chips).

 Esophageal cancer   One small study (987 subjects) found a 23% increased risk for esophageal cancer, and an 88% increased risk in those with a BMI greater than 25. In two other studies (Pellucchi et al. 2006, Hogervorst et al. 2008), no association between dietary acrylamide and esophageal cancer was found.

Head-neck cancer  Increased risk for oral-cavity cancer in female non-smokers in a large study (121,000 subjects; Schouten et al. 2009) was found. No association for oral cavity, pharynx or larynx cancer in a smaller study (1500-6000 subjects; Pellucchi et al. 2006)

Kidney Cancer   Although risk of kidney cancer was significantly increased by 59%, it appears as if this data was skewed by smokers. In non-smokers, risk of kidney cancer was not significant (Pellucchi et al. 2006). No association between dietary acrylamide and risk of kidney cancer was also identified in three additional studies (Mucci et al. 2003, Mucci et al. 2004, Pellucchi et al. 2007).

Gastric, Colon, Rectal cancer   A small study with 1129 subjects found a 40% decreased risk of large bowel cancer (Mucci et al. 2003). Four studies have not found a similar association (Pellucchi et al. 2006, Mucci et al. 2006, Hogervorst et al. 2008, Larsson et al. 2009).

Lung Cancer   A 55% decreased risk of lung cancer, in women was identified by Hogervorst et al. (2009).

Bladder cancer   Significant only in smokers, as 15+ cigarettes/day significantly increased risk of bladder cancer in those with the highest dietary acrylamide intake, relative to the lowest intake (Hogervorst et al. 2008).

Blood cancer   Multiple myeloma and follicular myeloma were found to be significantly increased by 14% and 28% for every 10 µg increment in dietary acrylamide (Bongers et al. 2012).

Breast Cancer  Six large epidemiological studies (ranging from 33,000-120,000 subjects) and 1 smaller study (1500-6000 subjects) investigated the association between dietary acrylamide and breast cancer risk. Of these, 1 study, the UK Women’s Cohort Study identified a 20% significantly increased risk between acrylamide intake and premenopausal breast cancer (Burley et al. 2011). The other six studies did not show an association between acrylamide intake and breast cancer risk (Pellucchi et al. 2006, Hogervorst et al. 2007, Pedersen et al. 2009, Larsson et al. 2009, Wilson et al. 2009, Wilson et al.2010).

Endometrial Cancer   Three large epidemiological studies have investigated the association between dietary acrylamide and endometrial cancer. In two of these studies, risk of cancer was increased by 41% and 99%, respectively (Wilson et al. 2010, Hogervorst et al. 2007). No association between dietary acrylamide intake and risk of endometrial cancer was found in the Swedish Mammography Study (Larsson et al. 2009).

Ovarian Cancer   No association between dietary acrylamide and risk of ovarian cancer was found in the small- scale Italian Cohort study, or, in 2 large-scale epidemiological studies (Pellucchi et al. 2006, Larsson et al. 2009, Wilson et al. 2010). However, a 122% increased risk for ovarian cancer in non-smokers was found in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer (Hogervorst et al. 2007).

Prostate, Pancreatic, Brain Cancer   Five separate studies found no association between dietary acrylamide and risk of prostate cancer (Pellucchi et al. 2006, Hogervorst et al. 2008, Wilson et al. 2009, Larsson et al. 2009, Wilson et al. 2012). Similarly, pancreatic cancer risk is not increased (Pelucchi et al. 2011, Hogervorst et al. 2008), nor is brain cancer (Hogervorst et al. 2009), or, thyroid cancer (Schouten et al. 2009).

Conclusions   The easy interpretation of scientific studies is that if six studies show no effect and one study shows a positive effect, that the no effect-data is the real answer. For example, in the case of breast cancer, six studies showed no effect, whereas one study showed a significant association between acrylamide and premenopausal breast cancer. Should we conclude that there is no risk for breast cancer? As I mentioned earlier, it is likely that total dietary acrylamide intake was underestimated, and therefore, it is my opinion that none of the 25 studies should have shown an association between acrylamide and cancer. Therefore, that there was indeed a significant association for breast cancer with potentially underestimated acrylamide values is significant. Also, dietary acrylamide was shown to be significantly associated with myeloma, head-neck cancer, esophageal cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Paradoxically, dietary acrylamide reduced risk of lung and large bowel cancer.

What should someone who is interested in optimal health do with this information? Knowing that dietary acrylamide is indeed significantly associated with increased risk of human cancers, I would reduce or eliminate cooking food at a high temperature. I have!”

For more information regarding dietary acrylamide and to read Dr. Lustgarten’s refrences, click here

To follow Dr. Lustgarten on Twitter, click here

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

Content found on Salgi.org is for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.