My Family: Poster Children for Esophageal Cancer
October 27 will be the third anniversary of the death of my little brother, John Edward Morris. John, who turned 37 the year he died, was a competitive athlete, vegetarian, smart, funny and an honest-to-goodness *hero. He didn’t smoke and an occasional beer was pretty much the extent of his alcohol use. After a two-year battle that was fierce and often ugly, John died of esophageal cancer.
In March of this year, our uncle, Dave Williamson, also lost his battle with esophageal cancer. They both were diagnosed in a terrifying three-week period of time in 2001.
Another uncle was found to have Barrett’s Esophagus, a precancerous condition that may, or may not, become malignant. My sister Meg, and I, were also diagnosed with a milder form of Barrett’s. We’ve been fortunate, however, because there have been no signs of Barrett’s in our last two endoscopies. The whole blasted family is participating in a Mayo Clinic study on genetics and Esophageal Cancer.
Esophageal Cancer and My Smoking Habit
Esophageal cancer is the most rapidly growing type of cancer in the U.S. It’s also one of the most deadly cancers. Only 15 percent of people diagnosed with the disease live five years. Smoking is a risk factor for esophageal cancer.
Please do not ignore risks and symptoms of Esophageal Cancer such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, commonly referred to as GERD and problems swallowing. See you doctor ASAP. Remember that over-the-counter and generic proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, are relatively inexpensive and effective in controlling GERD for most people.
When John first became ill, I was horrified at the prognosis and felt guilty that he got the cancer instead of me. After all, I’m older and had smoked for many years. I also felt that my smoking was kind of an affront to the admirable way John conducted his life. And I was more than a little afraid of the cancer, itself.
I also was utterly disgusted with my smoking and decided I had to quit. That was the period of time that I cut back to about four cigarettes a day. Of course, my smoking inched back up over time. I did cut back again after I was found to have Barrett’s, but one clear endoscopy and I was puffing away.
Knowing my risk, I have felt like such an idiot because I kept smoking. But, no more! I’ve been cigarette-free for 17 days.
* John made top-of-the-fold, front-page news in the Chicago Tribune in 1988, when he was all of 22 years old. After witnessing an out-of-control car nose-dive into a retention pond, my little brother jumped into the water, pulled a woman from the submerged car and gave her CPR–saving her life. John received a number of civic awards for this act.
