Esophageal Cancer Support Group

I would recommend you see a gastrologist and let him run some tests. I think the ER is a bad choice because they are not specalists and usually rush you through. It's more for emergencies and probably recommend you see one anyway. That's just my opinion.

Thank you! Rascalbill, I've keep my appointment its Aug 23rd, I'll post and let you know what was done concerning this. I do pray its not esophageal cancer. Gee! Why do we all think the worst?

We all tend to think the worse but I found more often than not we worry more about things that haven't happened yet and when they don't, think of all the time we wasted. Cancer is not the only cause of things. Keep an open mind. Good luck on your finding and keep us posted. Mucho Hugs

It seems like you do need an endoscopy. This is what the drs. should have done for my husband when he first started to complain about pain in his chest. They sent him to a heart dr. took all kind of test for his heart. gave him nexium for acid reflux. It seems you have to tell them what to do. If we had asked for that endoscopy maybe he would have been diagnosed sooner with his esophageal cancer he kept going to the family dr. and heart specialist. But it wasn't until we consulted with our family physician, and asked him to refer us to someone who could do an endocopy. My husband had been hurting since January 2006. but wasn't diagnosed until the end of august 2006 well by that time the cancer had ate thru his esophagusto his lung. What was happening was his food started going into his lung. So of course he had to have a pec tube put in his stomach. and that is how he was feed, liquids. They thought he would have to have a bag put in his neck so he could eat but not swallow. But one of the drs. from the cancer center called on his professor who was the chief Oncologist at one of New Orleans best hospital, Oschner. Well my husband lucked out and they were able to put a stint in his esophagus, so he was able to eat some after awhile. Sorry to go into detail, but this is only part of the on going battle we went thru for 8 months, before the tumor burst. And that is another story.

I did not make it to my appointment, I ended up in ER for the sciatica nerve in my left buttocks on the day of my appointment with the Gastrologist. I'm still planning to go, just as soon as this sciatica nerve heals and I can walk without pain in my left buttocks which can last a week or two. I'm on muscle relaxer and pain medication with bed rest.

I agree with everyone here. You need an endoscopy. As for pain, my reflux caused me to have a 3 1/2 inch tumor in the esophagus, which pushed out on my breastplate, causing intense pain, so that I thought I had a hiatal hernia. Had I not had an endoscopy, I'd be dead today.

Remember, just because you don't feel the reflux doesn't mean you don't have it. I agree with everyone else, you need to be evaluated. Let the gastro doc explain your pain and discomfort. Whatever is going on, catch it as early as possible.

Thanks for encouragement, Oct 2nd, I go for my endoscopy. But will not get my results back until Oct. 30th. I'm still scared, I'm just a big fat chicken with and great big yellow streak down my back.