Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Chemo & Radiation
A New Chapter Begins
In February 2000, my life changed. I was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer—a 5-centimeter tumor located where my esophagus meets my stomach—by the team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The plan was aggressive: six weeks of combined chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor.
Even with the doctors’ confidence, I wasn’t sure if the treatment would work. And even if it did, my future felt uncertain. In that moment, I turned to faith to help carry me through.
Proceeding in Faith
During one of my prayers, a simple but powerful thought came to me:
“God is with me, and together we can handle anything.”
I held onto those words throughout my treatment. There were many days filled with doubt, but whenever fear took over, I returned to that belief—and it gave me strength.
Choosing the Right Path
I made the decision to receive all of my treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, even though it meant traveling 100 miles round-trip every weekday for six weeks.
I didn’t want multiple medical teams involved. From my business experience, I knew how easily responsibility can shift between groups. With my life at stake, I needed clarity, consistency, and one unified team.
The Treatment Routine
Each Monday, my wife Ginny and I would travel into New York City to begin the week’s treatment. At the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion, I received hydration and chemotherapy, including Cisplatin.
Afterward, I was connected to a portable pump delivering another chemotherapy drug, Taxol, which I carried with me. From there, we went to Memorial Hospital for a brief radiation session.
The radiation itself only took minutes—less time than it took to prepare for it.
On the drive home, I could hear the pump quietly working. I kept thinking: This treatment is fighting for my life.
Strength Through Support
The daily travel took a toll on Ginny. Thankfully, our friends stepped in.
Members of my Knights of Columbus group and others offered to drive me to treatments, giving Ginny much-needed relief. We created a schedule—Ginny and I traveled together three days a week, and friends helped on the others.
Their support made an enormous difference.
Facing the Unknown
Aside from the first day, I handled the treatment better than expected.
That first evening, however, was difficult. The smell of food made me nauseous, and I feared this would be my reality for weeks.
Thankfully, it wasn’t. That was the only severe reaction I experienced.
Still, there were moments of doubt. I continued to struggle with swallowing because the tumor was still blocking my esophagus. I wondered if the treatment was truly working.
But my medical team reassured me to stay the course.
Signs of Progress
After six weeks, I underwent follow-up scans and tests.
The results brought hope—the tumor had shrunk dramatically, from 5 centimeters to just 1 centimeter.
It was working.
Rest, Recovery, and What Comes Next
Completing chemotherapy and radiation was a major milestone, but the journey wasn’t over.
I now faced a six-week period of rest and recovery before the final step: surgery to remove what remained of the tumor.
About the Author
Bart Frazzitta is an esophageal cancer survivor and the founder of the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF).
Continue reading his journey:
- Esophageal Cancer: A Brutal Diagnosis
- Esophageal Cancer: Overwhelming Emotions
- Surviving Esophagectomy Surgery