Esophageal cancer care for Tennessee man

For almost 40 years, Roy knew exactly what to expect in an operating room. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, he spent decades working as a surgical technologist, eventually becoming the president of the Association of Surgical Technologists, representing nearly 60,000 members, and an academic dean teaching surgical assisting.

Roy had worked alongside top surgeons and understood the behind-the-scenes details of patient care. But in the spring of 2023, he suddenly found himself in a new role as the patient.

Roy’s initial symptom was subtle. It wasn't pain or weight loss; it was just a strange sensation when he ate. "It just felt like food would get stuck in the top of my throat sometimes, and I'd have to kind of cough to get it to come back up,” said Roy. “That’s the only thing I had. No weight loss or any other alarming symptoms.”

Because his symptoms seemed minor and his life was busy, Roy delayed seeing a doctor for four or five months. When he mentioned it to his internal medicine doctor, she urged him to get an endoscopy, a procedure that uses a small camera to look inside the throat.

The results brought his fast-paced life to a halt. Roy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction. He had a significant tumor located right at the "meeting point" where his food pipe, the esophagus, connects to his stomach.

Given his extensive background in the operating room, Roy approached his diagnosis not with panic, but with a practical mindset. "I didn’t want to wait any longer,” said Roy. “I wanted to get it taken care of.” His treatment plan at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West began with two months of chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Shih, medical oncologist at Tennessee Oncology.

On May 13th, Roy underwent surgery led by Dr. John Lazar, thoracic surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas, along with Dr. Patrick Wolf, general surgeon at The Surgical Clinic, to remove the cancer and reconstruct his esophagus.

Today, as Roy approaches his 75th birthday and his one-year anniversary post-surgery, his scans are clear. The cancer had not spread, and his lymph nodes remained clean.

Life for Roy looks a little different now. Eating requires mindfulness; he takes very small bites, avoids dry meats like steak. Thick liquids like smoothies and milk are his go-to. But despite these adjustments and a recent aortic valve replacement, Roy is back to living his life, tilling his garden and enjoying the spring weather.

With his retirement on the horizon this June, Roy is incredibly reflective on the care that saved his life. As someone who knows exactly what makes a good medical professional, he has the highest praise for his care team. “I don't have a word to describe how wonderful Dr. Lazar is,” said Roy. “I’ve worked with a lot of big-name surgeons over my career, and he’s right there at the top of the list. His talent and what he did—he saved my life."

Early detection is key to fighting esophageal and thoracic cancers. Learn more about the advanced care and specialized treatments offered by our Chest and Lung Program.