Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Chemo & Radiation
In February 2000, I began a new chapter in my life when I started esophageal cancer treatment. The top-notch medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center had diagnosed a stage III, 5-centimeter cancerous tumor at the junction of my esophagus and stomach.
Now I was preparing for a six-week course of simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation designed to shrink the size of the tumor.
Despite their assurances that this was the right course for me, I was not sure if this treatment would work. Even if it did, my future was so uncertain that I called on God to help me through this part of my journey.
Proceeding in Faith
One evening, in response to my prayers, I came up with the saying:
“God sits on my right shoulder, and there is nothing that He and I together can’t handle.”
That statement stayed with me each time I went through another treatment.
I faced six weeks of simultaneous chemo and radiation, and there were many days when I was overwhelmed by doubt. When uncertainty took over, I would recall that statement and find comfort, knowing that God was with me.
Esophageal Cancer Treatment Begins
Since we had decided that I would receive my treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I needed to drive 100 miles round-trip each day, Monday through Friday, for six weeks.
I chose MSKCC rather than involving a second medical team closer to my home in New Jersey. From my business experience, I knew how frustrating it can be when multiple teams are involved—each blaming the other when problems arise.
With my life on the line, I wanted to eliminate any chance of miscommunication during my treatment.
Simultaneous Chemo and Radiation Therapy
I started the first phase of my treatment on a Monday. My wife, Ginny, and I would go to the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion on 53rd Street in New York City, where they attached a needle to my mediport.
I spent the first few hours receiving intravenous hydration, followed by the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin.
After that, they connected a pump with another chemotherapy drug, Taxol, which I wore around my waist. We then went to Memorial Hospital on 67th Street for a short radiation session.
The radiation treatment itself was quick—it took longer to undress and get dressed than the treatment lasted.
Afterward, we drove back home to New Jersey. For the rest of the day, I could hear the pump cycling on and off. I kept thinking, I am injecting poison into my body to fight this cancer.
All I could do was hope that the healthy cells in my body were strong enough to withstand the battle.
Support From Family and Friends
The daily commute to New York City placed a heavy burden on my wife, Ginny.
To help, many of my friends—including my Knights of Columbus brothers—offered to drive me to my treatments.
We created a schedule: Ginny and I would go together on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while my friends would take me on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the six-week period.
Treatment Reactions
Aside from the first day, my reaction to treatment was surprisingly manageable.
After my initial session, Ginny prepared one of her usual excellent meals, but the smell of food made me extremely nauseous. I feared that this would continue for the entire six weeks.
The thought of driving 100 miles daily through New York traffic, only to spend evenings feeling sick, was discouraging.
Thankfully, that first night was the only time I experienced that reaction. None of the other severe side effects I had been warned about occurred.
At times, I even wondered if the treatment was working. I still had difficulty swallowing solid food because the tumor continued to block my esophagus.
However, the MSKCC team reassured me that everything was progressing as expected.
After six weeks, I underwent another CT scan and endoscopic ultrasound. The results were encouraging—the tumor had shrunk from 5 centimeters to just 1 centimeter.
Rest and Recovery
Completing the six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation was a major milestone, but my journey was not over.
I now had a six-week period of rest and recovery. Once I regained my strength, I would face the final step: surgery to remove what remained of the tumor.
Bart Frazzitta is an esophageal cancer survivor and the founder of the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF). Read more of his story here >