biopsy

Posted By Gordon on September 01, 1998 at 09:42:15:







A few months ago I began to have a problems swallowing food.  The piece of steak I was eating didn't seem to want to go down.  It took about a minute to finally reach my stomach.  About a month ago I was on my way to work eating a piece of bread and butter.  During the entire 10 minute commute the bread was stuck in my esophagus.  I kept trying to build up enough saliva to flush it down but it didn't work.  I could feel the muscles of my esophagus pushing downward but this lousy piece of bread wouldn't budge.  When I pulled into the parking lot I opened the door and immediately threw up.  The bread came out along with what looked like a cup of saliva.  After this incident I decided to consult my doctor.  This was about a month ago.  I told him that the swallowing problem was infrequent and at no time did I have any problems swallowing liquids.  He decided I should get an Upper GI done anyway just to make sure.  Well, I had my Upper GI done yesterday and this is what the Doctor told me after I woke up from the procedure.  He said that everything looked normal but he took a biopsy of some tissue that was the size of a pea.  Since I was so groggy from the drugs, I did not ask him any questions at all.  He said I would be contacted for an X-Ray appointment.  At present, I have not had ANY problems swallowing since the fateful "Bread" incident almost four weeks ago--NONE.
I am afraid to hear what the results of the biopsy are and I wanted to prepare myself by having the following questions answered:
1)  Is it possible that this is life-threatening?
2)  If it's not cancer, than what could this be?
3)  If it is cancer, wouldn't I still be having trouble swallowing?
4)  If it is cancer, how can it be treated?
Thank you for your help.