Overview of 
The Edwin Chesler
Esophageal Cancer Patient Advocacy Program

Because of our Generous Supporters, ICAN patients involved in
The Edwin Chesler Esophageal Cancer Patient Advocacy Program
have access to the following information services:

  • A review of signs and symptoms prior to presentation (gastroesophageal reflux, disphagia, weight loss, choking, coughing) [1]; a review of the patient's medical history, diet , lifestyle (alcohol, tobacco smoking) [2] [3] and risk factors (family history, gender, race) [4] [5] [6], current condition and comorbid factors [7] ; a complete review and analysis of the patient's pathology report relating to TNM staging ("Tumor Node Metastasis": esophagogastroduodenoscopy or esophagectomy) [8] [9] [10]; a review diagnostic criteria (for example, biopsy by esophagogastroduodenoscopy; endoscopic ultrasound/EUS and FNA biopsy; distal esophageal biopsy and retroflex cardia biopsy) [11] [12] [13] [14] and other complementary tests (CT scan, narrow band imaging, optic chromoendoscopy) [15] [16] [17], as well as prognostic factors (age, health, tumor length, stage, treatment) [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23].
  • A review and analysis of the patient's pathology report relating to TNM staging ("Tumor Node Metastasis"); review of the patient's medical history, diet, lifestyle and risk factors, current condition as well as any comorbid factors; and complete review of symptoms prior to presentation.
  • Referrals, at the patient contact's request, to medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, and additional specialists relevant to the patient's ongoing care.
  • Referrals to support groups that may be of assistance in handling the emotional impact that cancer has on the patient and the patient's family.
  • Referrals to esophageal cancer-specific organizations that may be of assistance in addressing insurance issues or employment termination issues (because of diagnosis or disclosure of metastatic disease).
  • Review of the nature/amelioration of specific side effects from chemotherapy (such as nausea and neuropathy) as well as from other treatment modalities.
  • Discussion of the interaction of diet and cancer chemotherapy drugs based on recent studies.
  • Delineation of the symptoms about which the patient should alert his/her oncologist.
  • Discussion of relevant imaging technology.
  • Discussion of pain management issues and treatment options that can be addressed with the patient's medical team.
  • Explanation of the recommendations given or not given by the patient's physicians; assistance in answering the patient's questions which remain either after or between appointments with the medical team.
  • Review of the relevant radiotherapy/interventional radiology options which the patient contact, in turn, may discuss with his/her medical team.
  • Discussion of the relevance of the patient's specific immunohistochemistry and cytogenetic results to available clinical trials so that the patient may explore all options with his/her medical team.
  • Analysis of relevant esophageal cancer clinical trials options as well as the nature and purpose of clinical trials using Remission Coach®.
  • Review of relevant esophageal cancer-specific drugs in the anticancer pipeline.
  • Review of all relevant and complementary and alternative medicine ("CAM") avenues.
  • Review of the merits of filing a "Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use" for a specific experimental cancer drug, if relevant to the patient's situation.
  • Exploration of options that might reduce travel costs for the patient contact, such as Corporate Angels Network, as well as ICAN supporters who have volunteered to host a clinical trials patient in a particular city.

[1] Current status and future perspectives on the etiology of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Thrift AP, Pandeya N, Whiteman DC. Front Oncol. 2012;2:11. Epub 2012 Feb 13.

[2] The influence of prediagnostic demographic and lifestyle factors on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma survival. Thrift AP, Nagle CM, Fahey PP, Russell A, Smithers BM, Watson DI, Whiteman DC; Australian Cancer Study Clinical Follow-Up Study. Int J Cancer. 2012 Sep 1;131(5):E759-68. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

[3] Tobacco, alcohol and tea drinking as risk factors for esophageal cancer: A case-control study from Mumbai, India. Ganesh B, Talole SD, Dikshit R. Cancer Epidemiol. 2009 Dec;33(6):431-4. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

[4] Does family history of cancer modify the effects of lifestyle risk factors on esophageal cancer? A population-based case-control study in China. Wu M, Zhang ZF, Kampman E, Zhou JY, Han RQ, Yang J, Zhang XF, Gu XP, Liu AM, van't Veer P, Kok FJ, Zhao JK. Int J Cancer. 2011 May 1;128(9):2147-57.

[5] Epidemiology of esophageal cancer. Wheeler JB, Reed CE. Surg Clin North Am. 2012 Oct;92(5):1077-87. Epub 2012 Aug 20. Review.

[6] Risk factors for esophageal cancer development. Falk GW. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2009 Jul;18(3):469-85. Review.

[7] Psychiatric illness delays diagnosis of esophageal cancer. O'Rourke RW, Diggs BS, Spight DH, Robinson J, Elder KA, Andrus J, Thomas CR, Hunter JG, Jobe BA. Dis Esophagus. 2008;21(5):416-21.

[8] The new era of staging as a key for an appropriate treatment for esophageal cancer. Tangoku A, Yamamoto Y, Furukita Y, Goto M, Morimoto M. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012;18(3):190-9.

[9] Impact of esophageal cancer staging on overall survival and disease-free survival based on the 2010 AJCC classification by lymph nodes. Li Q, Wu SG, Gao JM, Xu JJ, Hu LY, Xu T. J Radiat Res. 2012 Nov 2. [Epub ahead of print]

[10] Comparison of the 6th and 7th Editions of the UICC-AJCC TNM Classification for Esophageal Cancer. Koen Talsma, Pieter van Hagen, Brechtje A. Grotenhuis, Ewout W. Steyerberg, Hugo W. Tilanus, Jan J. B. van Lanschot, Bas P. L. Wijnhoven. Ann Surg Oncol. 2012 July; 19(7): 2142–2148. Published online 2012 March 7.

[11] Update on endoscopic diagnosis, management and surveillance strategies of esophageal diseases. Fornari F, Wagner R. World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Apr 16;4(4):117-22.

[12] Esophageal cancer: diagnosis and management. Lin SH, Chang JY. Chin J Cancer. 2010 Oct;29(10):843-54. Review.

[13] Possibilities of interventional endoscopic ultrasound. Nishimura M, Togawa O, Matsukawa M, Shono T, Ochiai Y, Nakao M, Ishikawa K, Arai S, Kita H . World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Jul 16;4(7):301-5.

[14] Prognostic significance of circumferential resection margin involvement following oesophagectomy for cancer and the predictive role of endoluminal ultrasonography. Reid TD, Chan DS, Roberts SA, Crosby TD, Williams GT, Lewis WG. Br J Cancer. 2012 Dec 4;107(12):1925-31. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

[15] Narrow-band imaging in the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions. Huang LY, Cui J, Wu CR, Liu YX, Xu N. Chin Med J (Engl). 2009 Apr 5;122(7):776-80.

[16] Tumor staging of advanced esophageal cancer: combination of double-contrast esophagography and contrast-enhanced CT. Yamabe Y, Kuroki Y, Ishikawa T, Miyakawa K, Kuroki S, Sekiguchi R. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Sep;191(3):753-7.

[17] Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma - precursor lesions and early diagnosis. Lopes AB, Fagundes RB. World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Jan 16;4(1):9-16.

[18] Mortality increases for octogenarians undergoing esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer. Moskovitz AH, Rizk NP, Venkatraman E, Bains MS, Flores RM, Park BJ, Rusch VW. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Dec;82(6):2031-6; discussion 2036.

[19] Presentation and survival of operable esophageal cancer in patients 55 years of age and below. Hamouda A, Forshaw M, Rohatgi A, Mirnezami R, Botha A, Mason R. World J Surg. 2010 Apr;34(4):744-9.

[20] Analysis of the tumor length and other prognosis factors in pT1-2 node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population. Song Z, Wang J, Lin B, Zhang Y. World J Surg Oncol. 2012 Dec 18;10:273. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-10-273.

[21] Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in esophageal cancer correlates with lymph node metastasis and poor patient prognosis. Tanaka T, Ishiguro H, Kuwabara Y, Kimura M, Mitsui A, Katada T, Shiozaki M, Naganawa Y, Fujii Y, Takeyama H. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Jun 28;29:83

[22] Effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on prognosis and surgery for esophageal carcinoma. Lv J, Cao XF, Zhu B, Ji L, Tao L, Wang DD. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Oct 21;15(39):4962-8. Review.

[23] The influence of prediagnostic demographic and lifestyle factors on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma survival. Thrift AP, Nagle CM, Fahey PP, Russell A, Smithers BM, Watson DI, Whiteman DC; Australian Cancer Study Clinical Follow-Up Study. Int J Cancer. 2012 Sep 1;131(5):E759-68. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

The Edwin Chesler Esophageal Cancer Patient Advocacy Program
is a vital part of ICAN's Cancer Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials Program Advocacy Services.

For more information about this special program, please click on.....

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  2. Photos
  3. Inspiration
  4. Memories
  5. Literature

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ICAN is currently working on The Edwin Chesler Esophageal Cancer Patient Advocacy Program. We are working to put together a Family and Friends Advisory Council for the The Edwin Chesler Esophageal Cancer Patient Advocacy Program. If interested, please email us at Edwin.Chesler.Program@askican.org.

If you would like to become involved as a donor and supporter or a member of our Cancer Research Literature team as a Research Team Leader (medical school students, physicians, nurses, and post-docs only please), you may reach us at Edwin.Chesler.Program@askican.org.


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