Events

March 11, 2010 my dad, Frank Castanio Jr., went to a gastrologist. He was having trouble swallowing and had been attributing it to acid reflux. He had been taking Tums and Rolaids and they weren’t working.  He thought this was all due to the stress of working two jobs in order to provide  for his family. The gastrologist performed an endoscopy.  The endoscopy showed a large tumor in his esophagus and the doctor performed a biopsy and sent him for a cat scan.  He received the results, cancerous, on March 17^th.  On March 23, 2010 at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in NYC, my dad was diagnosed with Stage III esophageal cancer. The tumor at the time was believed to be confined to the esophagus. The doctors then ordered a pet scan and the results showed something up near or in the appendix. They removed the tumor which was attached to the outside of the appendix and the appendix laparoscopically and another biopsy ensued.  We were informed by the surgeon that they “got it all”, they couldn’t find any trail to link it to the esophagus and there were no signs of it in the stomach swashing. However, the biopsy said something else. Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. Our whole word changed forever. He began chemotherapy immediately. The tumor wasn’t shrinking, the swallowing was worse; he was loosing so much weight. By August, Radiation was ordered.  The tumor shrunk in the esophagus but had now metastasized to his bones. In May 2011, after six different mixtures and rounds of chemotherapy, three rounds of different radiation and  monthly bone strengthening medicine, we were told there was nothing more that they could do and we should seek clinical trials. Mid May he was hospitalized for a week. The doctors tried to help him with his pain and regulate his medication so he could come home.

 

MacPherson’s Raise $5,176.00

 

In July of 2008, Robbie was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Unlike many others that face this disease Robbie had no symptoms. He was extremely lucky to have a doctor, Dr. Howard Guss of Ocean Township, New Jersey, who recommended an endoscopy due to his age and other history. As a result of this test and regular follow up recommended by Dr. Guss, the disease was caught very early and he was successfully treated with surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Robbie has been cancer free since then. Unfortunately, most do not find out they have this disease until they have symptoms, at which time the cancer may be more difficult to treat.

Through Robbie’s surgeon at Sloan, Dr. Manjit Bains, Janice and Robbie learned of the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF), and the Foundations’s mission to make people aware of this disease, its symptoms and to help people like Janice and Robbie who must face this disease.

Gary Orr is a two year survivor of Stage lV Esophageal  Cancer and wants to help bring awareness of this disease and hopefully raise money to support a research project that will lead to an early detection of this disease.

Gary’s story begins when as a youngster he became interested in swimming and found himself swimming 11 months out of the year. He continued with swimming and ultimately getting a scholarship to a Division 1 College. Realizing the politics that go along with a Division one school he decided to return home and go to Ramapo College where he was a leader on the swim team.  He set many records some of which still stand today and won the 1650 Metropolitan Conference Championship by two-tenths of a second.

Jeff Maggio completed the Baton Roughe marathon to raise money and awareness for esophageal cancer in honor of his Dad, […]

Kim and Ed LeGault recently lost a 37 year old cousin to esophageal cancer. She left behind a loving husband […]

The Katz family has and continues to be a vital support for our Foundation. They have, through their efforts, approached […]