best places to go for EC care???

Hello, I posted at the end of July about treatment and emotions. What I'm concerned about at this point is where are the best places to go for treatment of Esophageal cancer. Also, I have skimmed through some of the messages on here, but is there anyone who has had complication after complication? My husband was diagnosed in early June and had metastasis to the liver and bones. They started radiation and chemo at the same time. Thankfully, he has responded well to treatment and his life expectency  was extended, but the complications have kept him in the hospital for 9 weeks. First it was dehydration and elevated triponin levels, then a blood clot and multiple small pulmonary emboli in both lungs, then nausea, vomiting and pain. He has had nothing significant to eat since early June. He had a JG tube and now it's only the Gtube but he couldn't tolerate the feedings. This past week he developed right upper abdominal pain and had an enlarged and sick gallbladder. They put a drain in and it has helped with the nausea greatly. That night he was having pain and trouble breathing and now has pleurisy. We want him to come home so badly, but can't seem to get him out of the hospital. It's a local community hospital and he is a beloved physician there, thus it's hard to want to go somewhere else.

I hope this has made sense and if anyone has any input or encouragement, we would surely love to hear it.

 Thanks!

I was treated for t3 ec at Brigham and Womens in Boston Massachusetts.I couldn,t have had better care. Dana Farber cancer center is connected to the building and is so convenent. They do many EC cases and surguries.They extended and maybe saved my life and I am so grateful I lived close to them. They really know what they are doing and the staff is very compassinate. Hope this helps and God bless

 

On 8/22/2009 the5ofus wrote:

Hello, I posted at the end of July about treatment and emotions. What I'm concerned about at this point is where are the best places to go for treatment of Esophageal cancer. Also, I have skimmed through some of the messages on here, but is there anyone who has had complication after complication? My husband was diagnosed in early June and had metastasis to the liver and bones. They started radiation and chemo at the same time. Thankfully, he has responded well to treatment and his life expectency  was extended, but the complications have kept him in the hospital for 9 weeks. First it was dehydration and elevated triponin levels, then a blood clot and multiple small pulmonary emboli in both lungs, then nausea, vomiting and pain. He has had nothing significant to eat since early June. He had a JG tube and now it's only the Gtube but he couldn't tolerate the feedings. This past week he developed right upper abdominal pain and had an enlarged and sick gallbladder. They put a drain in and it has helped with the nausea greatly. That night he was having pain and trouble breathing and now has pleurisy. We want him to come home so badly, but can't seem to get him out of the hospital. It's a local community hospital and he is a beloved physician there, thus it's hard to want to go somewhere else.

I hope this has made sense and if anyone has any input or encouragement, we would surely love to hear it.

 Thanks!

 

There are two places in Boston: Massachusetts General Hospital, or Brigham and Womens (which, as mentioned in another reply) is connected with Dana Farber.  The thoracic surgery team at Brigham and Womens Hospital is excellent.  Dr. Raphael Bueno did my husband's minimally invasive esophgectomy recently.  The whole team there are excellent. At Massachusetts General I believe it is a Dr. Cameron Wright who is also noted for esophageal cancer surgery and care.

At Dana Farber Dr. Peter Enzinger is a good gastroenterology oncologist.

I hope this may be helpful.  You should not feel badly about the doctor you like- good physicians welcome other opinions, etc.  The best care and management that you can find is what you want  and need!  I so hope that your loved one will be home soon.

my husband was treated at Dana Farber Cancer Center in Milford, MA with surgery at Brigham and Womens in Boston. Unfortunately, if you have read my other posts, he passed away Aug 5 after battling the beast for about a year. The care he received at both facilities as well as Milford Regional Hospital in Milford, MA (he was hospitilized 3 times for complications) could not have been better. His oncologist, surgeon nurses etc. were wonderful and when it came time to tell him he would not survive, I swear they all felt like it was one of their own family members. I know doctors/nurses are not supposed to get personally connected to their patients, but my husband was one of those people that you just liked right off the bat. So to all who will travel the path that we have, may God go with you and give you strength for the battle. It is not an easy path, but it can be beaten.

I also had my surgery at Brigham & Womens Hosp. and received nothing but the highest quality of care from all there. I have taken my follow up care out of there due to the follow up surgeon I was assigned after my surgeon, Dr. Zellos returned to his native country of Greece, after thirteen years here in the United States. I was told on two occasions there, while I was waiting over two hrs. plus that my surgeon was busy with new patients and when he finally saw me I stated to him" Why don't you take care of the patients you already have." He appeared shocked but not as much as when I was told that I had cancer. I am sorry about rambling on but unless you have this cancer nobody knows what its like to live with it. Surgeons of this caliber should receive extra lessons on how to deal and not keep us waiting long. Phil A.

Where you live might help narrow down where the best care is. There are a few places that are at the top and being closer to home is easier if possible. All your responses came from the Boston area (we live near Boston too), but I know people who have had excellent care in other parts of the country that might work better with your Dad.

I was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC....the staff and facilities are the best i have ever experiened.  My oncologist is Dr. David Ilson.

I can give you further information if you want it....let me know.

Good luck and God bless!

-Stacey