Herb – Grateful patient of Dr. J. David Garnett

Esophageal Cancer

How do you adequately say thank you to someone who has saved your life?  Every day I am reminded that were it not for the expertise of Dr. Garnett, I might not be here today.

An interesting chain of events led me to KU and Dr. Garnett. Some might say it was luck; I believe it was more than that.  Late in 2004 I developed a hoarseness that did not go away. Since I use my voice in my job, I thought perhaps, I had strained my vocal cords from doing too many training workshops.  Finally, at my wife's insistence after weeks of diminishing voice power I visited my primary care doctor.  Ruling out a virus he referred me to an ENT physician in the Northland near my home. That physician discovered white patches on my vocal cords which when biopsied proved to be carcinoma in situ. Soon after I became his patient, however, he left the area to take a position in another state. He referred me to KU Medical Center for treatment.  There I became a patient of Dr. Garnett. Certainly, a fortuitous turn of events for me.

His examination led to more outpatient laser surgery to remove more white plaque, plaque that continued to reappear.  My question was "What is causing this?"  Dr. Garnett said he believed it was acid reflux even though I had been on antacids and outwardly I was asymptomatic. I had no history of heartburn or difficulty swallowing.  Rather than send me to another specialist who might question the necessity of further testing since I had no symptoms he set a time to scope me in his office for which I will always be grateful.

After numbing my gag reflex he put a tiny wire with camera and lights down my throat. As my wife watched he carefully guided it into my esophagus and down it to my stomach.  What the camera saw was shown on a TV screen that was not in my line of vision, but had my wife's rapt attention. Dr. Garnett, however, kept me informed with a running commentary of his findings.  And they were startling.

The camera disclosed I had Barrett's Syndrome, a real surprise to me.  And near the stomach a small lesion was found on the wall of the esophagus.  The tumor he biopsied looked like a very small cauliflower.  I discovered later that was not what you wanted a tumor to look like.

We left town on vacation the next day before any results were known. I called Dr. Garnett's office for the biopsy report the day we returned home. When his nurse said the doctor wanted to see us the next day, I had a premonition the news was not good. Even though we felt we were prepared there are few things to equal what I felt when I heard the words "It is cancer."   Life changes instantly.

So where do we go from here, we asked.  Dr. Garnett was a great help in counseling me on the next step. I was referred for staging. Testing showed my cancer was Stage Two.  I got on my computer and Googled esophageal cancer and researched the statistics.  Had Dr. Garnett not scoped me and found the cancer before it metastasized or had there been lymph node involvement chances are I would not be writing this today. By the time I experienced symptoms, it might well have been too late.

Five days a week for five weeks I had chemo and radiation together. I had a short recovery period and more testing before the surgery in 2006.  It has now been three years since my esophagus was removed and my six-month check-ups have not shown any recurrence. I work a 40-hour week and am now worried that I am gaining back some of the 50 pounds a lost. I needed to lose them, but don't recommend this method of doing it.

I will always remember the oncology gastroenterologist who asked me how my cancer was discovered since I had no symptoms of problems with my esophagus. I told him about Dr. Garnett , and his belief that acid reflux was the culprit in causing the white spots on my vocal cords The oncologist  commented how very intuitive of him that was and added, "I hope you told him how grateful you are."

Every chance I get--and my wife, also!  Since Dr. Garnett continues to keep an eye on my vocal cords we have many opportunities.