Cleveland Clinic

Joe Bama · New User Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

Hello all, I am a 44 year old just diagnosed with esophageal cancer last week, arising from barrets. I have had no weight loss, nor trouble swallowing, so I am hoping we caught it in time.
I am heading to the Cleveland Clinic this week for staging tests,and ultimately surgery. I have heard good things about this facility, especially Dr Thomas Rice. Have any of you had any type of expierience in Cleveland?
Thanks in advance
Joe

Jenny King · Regular Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 27 Location: London

Hi Joe

Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with EC but it sound like they have spotted this early and everything is in your favour.

I am based in the UK, but my husband asked his surgeon if he could talk to some of his other patients - which he did before he went in for surgery - this helped him get answers to some very specific questions and get a good idea of what he should expect.

Ask Dr Rice if you could do the same.

Keep strong, and keep us posted of you news. If you have any other questions just post away!

Love and thoughts

sheridan · New User Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Toronto

My husband and I considered the Cleveland Clinic as well but as we live in Canada have since decided to stay here for the time being.

I have heard fantastic things about them and this may be an option for us in the future. They have been very helpful and caring in all interactions we have had with them.

Best of luck to you!!

Hugs,
Sheri
_________________
Sheri - I Believe!

Braveson · New User Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Phoenix

My sister's husband came under the care of Dr. Thomas Rice last week. My sister is a nurse and is very critical of doctors. Her and her husband who has been found with stomach cancer, already feel like Dr. Rice and his team mates are part of their own family. He truly cares about this patient. he is not a faker or MY SISTER WOULD KNOW IT. No matter what happens next, she knows they are at the right place with the right person who also happens to be a doctor!

swaggerstick1 · Regular Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Indiana

Go read Swaggerstick1 post of Jan. 2 2007. I have had the surgery. It might help you if you read the post.

Good Luck

dstoeck · Regular Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 22 Location: Alabama

My FIL was under the care of Dr. Rice and his team. Very good doc. He saved my FIL's life after some complications. Dr. Rice's reccomendations for chemo and radiation were very good.

The only problems that my inlaws had while there (at Cleveland Clinic) were the size of the rooms (small rooms. double occupancy) and they felt that the nursing staff (mainly the aids and such - not the actual nurses) were not very responsive to their needs. Be prepared to to have your family do a lot of things for you while there. If you are going to be hospitalized, line up the troops (i.e. family and friends) to assist you and your wife during the ordeal. My husband's family made sure that there was one person at anytime with their mom during their 2 month stay in Cleveland. It really helped.

just a heads up too.... in case you have to have a G-tube or a j-tube...be sure to get a dietician on your case AND be sure that your help (i.e., home nurses and such) are familar with the care of the tubes and how to use them. Do not be afraid to speak up and voice your opinion on anything.

This is your life that you are taking care of and you are the priority here! Ask all the questions you want. Keep a notebook of your questions and concerns and bring it with you on all of your appointments. One of you should jot down notes while meeting with the doctors. Or have someone else come along to write notes so that you can focus on what is being said and so that you can ask questions. My inlaws did this because they only had high school level of education and just didn't understand anything the doctor said. My SIL would interpret what the doc said for her parents and then would translate their concerns to the doctor. A lot of the times the communication barriers were semantics, e.g., they were saying the same thing but using different words to say it.

Keep that notebook throughout your ordeal. Review it and call the doctor if new questions arise. ASk. ASK. ASK.

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