Endoscopy Advice

Posted By Cindy S on April 14, 1998 at 20:42:20:







My mother was diagnosed with Barrett's Disease about a year ago.  She also has Alzheimer's, I think she's in stage two.  She is scheduled for diagnostic endoscopy's once a year to check for esophageal cancer.  The endocronologist she was seeing left and she has a new one.  She is scheduled for her next endoscopy in about a week, but her new endocronologist told us he doesn't want to do it if we won't allow him to do surgery if he finds cancer.  He really didn't give us an explanation as to what surgery would involve and what impact it would have on her life.  I've read some of your responses and see there are alternatives to surgery.  It seems like it depends on the situation as to what the best treatment is.  In particular I was intrigued by the laser surgery and wondered how effective it has proven to be and what the survival rates tend to be as opposed to surgery if the cancer is caught early.  Unfortunately, in my mother's case symptoms are hard to come by with her Alzheimer's though she frequently complains of chest pains.  I think that's how they found the Barrett's disease to begin with.  She's also seeing a cardiologist who feels she may have had a slight heart attack in the past year or has some blockage.  She's taking a number of medications between the Alzheimer's, Barrett's disease and possible heart trouble.  I guess my main concern is the new endocronologist's attitude.  I'd appreciate any comments/suggestions that you have.