The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation

This post was originally published on January 1, 2015 on the website: “On a Brighter Note” by Lori Welbourne.  Thank you Ms. Welbourne for allowing us to share this inspiring story.

FATHER’S CHERISHED GIFTS:

Two months ago my dad called and as soon as I heard the sound of his voice I knew something was wrong.

“Hi, Honey,” he said softly. “Do you have a couple of minutes?” Instinctively my eyes welled up with tears and I could feel my throat constrict.

“Yes,” I said, bracing myself for the news he was about to deliver. His voice uncharacteristically cracked with emotion as he told me he had esophageal cancer. Feeling the quick onset of a throbbing headache and a shortness of breath I failed to stop myself from crying out loud.

“I don’t want you to worry,” he said. “I’ll be going for tests and we’ll find out what can be done. I’ll keep you informed. Just think positive thoughts, okay? There’s nothing we can’t handle.”

After our conversation ended and I hung up the phone I no longer tried to control my sorrow and allowed myself to weep with abandon.

Ken White was only 67 years old and had just retired in May. He was full of life and excited about the future. He’d been diagnosed with skin cancer and a slow-growing leukemia not long ago – both of which he’d downplayed as nothing to be concerned about. But this new discovery of a life-threatening tumor in his lower esophagus was alarming.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in a haze. I tried to only think optimistically as he requested, but I found myself emotionally raw and physically drained, breaking down in tears several times over the next few days. After our mother’s death less than a year prior I’d convinced myself that our healthy father would live to be at least 100 years old.

Over the next couple of weeks, as he went for tests and we waited for results I got better at carrying out his wishes to only think positively, and when he called with an update I fully expected him to tell me the cancer was treatable. When my hopes were met I cried again, but this time with tears of joy.

“We’re going to fight this aggressively, Kiddo,” my dad said, detailing the weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments for the entire month of December. “Hopefully the tumor will decrease in size and the surgeon will be able to remove it in the new year.”

As promised, Dad kept us updated with his progress, even sending smiling pictures of himself hooked up to an IV getting his chemo.

Since he was advised to avoid crowds and public places so his weakened immune system wouldn’t be challenged, we weren’t sure if we’d have the opportunity to see him at Christmas. Fortunately his doctors approved a visit from us providing we were in good health.

My children, husband, brothers, sister-in-law, nephews, uncle, grandma and I arrived at Dad’s place on Boxing Day at 11 am at his request. When we got to the door his wife said he was resting and summoned us into the living room. We visited quietly for awhile until we were suddenly interrupted by a jolly good bellowing of “Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!”

Looking up in surprise, I watched my father enter the room wearing a Santa outfit and beard, ringing a bell and handing out gift cards to everyone.

Again I felt my eyes well up with tears of joy.

It was one of those moments I’ll never forget. Not because it caught us off guard in such a sweet and wonderful way, but because it so completely captured the essence of this man who always seems to react to everything with an optimistic frame of mind.

“My cup is never half empty,” he’s often said over the years. And from a lifetime of observing how he’s chosen to think, his cup isn’t just half full, it’s running over.

Dad’s jovial outlook has been an incredible blessing to our family. But the gift we cherish most is his unconditional love and support – something we adoringly give right back.

Would you like to share your personal experiences with esophageal cancer?  Learn more about how your story can make a difference: Share Your Story 

Earlier this year, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine published a new study in which they claim and have been reported by the news media as claiming that the majority of cancers are due to “bad luck.”  They have more recently come back to address the concerns and questions that generated due to their initial statements.

Esophageal cancer was included in the study of 31 cancer types and was also mentioned in a diagram that came with the press release from Johns Hopkins.

At first look, we became quite alarmed.

For years, we have explained the dangerous risk factors associated with esophageal cancer and the importance of early detection to improve the chances of survival; which are currently grim.

There is substantial research which proves that factors including, but not limited to: chronic heartburn, obesity, tobacco use, poor nutrition and excessive drinking can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Unfortunately, this new research from John Hopkins and subsequent media reports seems to imply otherwise.

Esophageal cancer should not be categorized as “bad luck.”  

These statements have the potential to bring us leaps and bounds backwards in this mission to raise awareness of the dangerous and deadly risk factors associated with esophageal cancer.

Especially chronic heartburn, which is one of the most common symptoms of the primary risk factor associated with esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus is a potentially precancerous condition which is caused only by the reflux of stomach acids and contents upwards into the esophagus.

Raising awareness of risk factors associated with esophageal cancer can help to reduce incidence of esophageal cancer diagnosis; just as encouraging those who are at an elevated risk to speak with their doctors about getting screened as early as possible will improve the chances of survival if esophageal cancer is detected.

This research does shed light on an important aspect of esophageal cancer.

There are cases of esophageal cancer which occur in people who do not have any of these risk factors.  These people never had acid reflux or had mild, occasional heartburn; never smoked or used any tobacco products; exercised regularly; ate a well-balance and nutritious diet; maintained a healthy weight and did not use alcohol in excess.

How will we encourage these people to get screened for a cancer that they show no risk for?

How can they reduce their risk of esophageal cancer if they are already considered not to be at risk?

The takeaway from these new claims from John Hopkins should be that there is still a dire need for funding of esophageal cancer research.  Researchers need to explore the fundamental reasons behind esophageal cancer, especially in those who show no risk.

Would you like to support these efforts and to fund esophageal cancer research?  Please click here to make a contribution in support of our mission.

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

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