CHICAGO, Ill. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Eating is something most of us take for granted. We do it three times a day – that adds up to more than a thousand meals a year. But what if you had trouble eating? Every bite was hard to swallow? That’s the case for more than 21,000 people diagnosed each year with esophageal cancer. Now, innovative robotic technology is helping these people eat pain-free once again.
Orange Jell-O never tasted so good! One day after 77-year-old Rudy Bland had part of his esophagus removed, he could eat and drink! That wouldn’t have happened five years ago. Rudy was diagnosed with Barrett’s of the esophagus a decade ago — that put him at risk for esophageal cancer.
“I was just going in for a normal colonoscopy, and that’s when they found the cancer spots,” Rudy recalls.
Until recently, he would have had to undergo a very invasive surgery involving lengthy incisions across his chest and stomach. Thoracic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, Ankit Bharat, MD, is one of the first to perform the premier program.
“It’s a minimal invasive, no muscle cutting, no bone cutting, no rib cutting,” Dr. Bharat explains.
Using a robot, several small incisions are made in the belly. Through these incisions, surgeons remove the cancerous part of the esophagus.
Dr. Bharat further explains, “We take the food pipe out, we have to replace it with something else. So, we use the stomach to make a tube out of the stomach to replace the food pipe.”
The new approach reduces hospital stays from one month to two days, there’s less pain, less risk of infection and no feeding tube.
Because the stomach is smaller, Rudy now eats eight small meals a day. He hopes, one day, he can soon take his wife out to dinner to properly celebrate their 52 years.
Because the Premier procedure is less invasive, surgeons hope that more people who may not have been healthy enough for the more invasive operation will have a new alternative for treatment.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Source:
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: A PREMIER WAY TO TREAT ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
REPORT: MB #5304
BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer happens when malignant cells form in the tissues of the esophagus, a muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. This type of cancer can occur in two main forms: adenocarcinoma, typically found in the lower part of the esophagus and often linked to chronic acid reflux or Barrett’s esophagus, and squamous cell carcinoma, which typically develops in the upper and middle sections of the esophagus and is often associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Esophageal cancer may not exhibit noticeable symptoms in its early stages, but as it progresses, individuals may experience difficulties in swallowing, pain in throat/between shoulder blades, unintended weight loss, hoarseness, and a persistent cough. Due to its potential to cause significant health challenges, early detection and timely intervention are crucial in effectively managing esophageal cancer.
(Sources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6137-esophageal-cancer
DIAGNOSING: Diagnosing esophageal cancer requires a combination of medical assessments and diagnostic procedures. It often begins with a thorough medical history and physical examination, followed by imaging studies such as endoscopy, which allows direct inspection of the esophagus and potential biopsy of suspicious lesions. Additionally, imaging techniques like CT scans, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), or an esophageal endoscopic ultrasound may be used to evaluate the amount of cancer that’s spread and check lymph node involvement. Biopsy samples taken during endoscopy are crucial for confirming the presence of cancerous cells and determining their specific characteristics, which in turn guides treatment decisions.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6137-esophageal-cancer#symptoms-and-causes)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Recent advancements in esophageal cancer treatment have seen the approval of targeted medications like Trastuzumab for HER2-positive cases and DF-1001, which received FDA orphan drug status. Second-line treatments, such as Ramucirumab, are considered for cases that worsen or recur after initial therapy. Additionally, promising results from clinical trials offer hope for further breakthroughs. The progress in esophageal cancer treatment is evident in improved survival rates, with about 20 percent of patients now surviving at least 5 years across all stages, compared to 5 percent in the 1960s and 1970s.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Jenny Nowatzke Megan McCann
Jenny.nowatzke@nm.org memccann@nm.org
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
