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Hope for Healing
Before going to the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola University Health System, Peter was diagnosed at another health-care institution with stage 3 esophageal cancer in July 2006. He was told his only option was palliative care — a method of pain relief for patients with terminal illnesses — because medical treatment would not help him.
Family members disagreed, gathered his medical records and made an appointment at Loyola. Mr. Pappas and his family met with three physicians during their initial appointment at Loyola. They interpreted his tests and shared their thoughts and treatment suggestions. Mr. Pappas' face lit up and he said "These guys know what they’re doing; I’m staying here.”
Undergoing Surgery
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Peter Pappas with his wife, Joan. |
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Just before Thanksgiving, Peter underwent a transthoracic esophagectomy at Loyola University Hospital. Margo Shoup, MD, associate professor and surgical oncologist at Loyola, performed the procedure, which removed the lower section of Peter's esophagus and the upper part of his stomach where the tumor was located.
“This type of cancer is difficult to treat, but our team has the expertise to perform this procedure with excellent long-term survival rates,”Dr. Shoup said. “Peter was a good candidate, and he came through the surgery with flying colors. I can't stress enough to patients that our team approach to care and our attitude of always giving patients every chance to survive really does make a difference.”
Celebrating Life
Today, Peter is living life to the fullest and is grateful for all the prayers from his family and friends.
“I am a fighter, and I wasn't going to give up if I knew there was hope,” Peter said. “I'm so thankful for the physicians at Loyola who made it possible for my wife and me to reach our 50th wedding anniversary this July. To celebrate, we are going to Ireland with 11 other family members for a mini family reunion. If it weren't for Loyola, we would never have been able to plan this trip.”
To find out more about the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola, visit www.LoyolaMedicine.org/cancer or call
(888) LUHS-888 to make an appointment with one of our physicians.
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Be Proactive with Your Health
Symptoms of esophageal cancer are often only noticed after the disease has reached an advanced stage. Warning signs may include difficulty or pain when swallowing, sudden or unintentional weight loss, hoarseness, chronic cough, spitting or vomiting blood or pain in the throat, mid-chest or between the shoulder blades.
Fortunately, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing esophageal cancer by incorporating these healthy tips into your lifestyle:
- Stop smoking
- Avoid excess alcohol consumption
- Manage acid reflux through diet and lifestyle modifications or medication
- Eat a diet filled with fruits and vegetables — especially berries, which boast antioxidants and phytochemicals that help block cancer growth
- Maintain a healthy body weight
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