Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer occurs in the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach and moves food into your stomach to be digested. While it can develop anywhere in the esophagus, esophageal cancer most commonly occurs in the cells lining the inside of the esophagus, and it is more common in men when compared to women.

Esophageal cancer medical illustration

Globally, esophageal cancer is the sixth most deadly form of cancer. There are regional variations in the prevalence of this cancer, with some regions having higher rates due to smoking, alcohol abuse, nutritional habits, and obesity.

Applicable Procedures

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

What causes esophageal cancer?

There is no clear answer for what causes esophageal cancer, but people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which leads to precancerous changes in the cells of the esophagus, are at risk. Other factors like smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and a lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet can also increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

What is the treatment for esophageal cancer?

Treatment may involve surgery to remove tumors, or surgery to remove a portion of the esophagus, or a portion of both the esophagus and the stomach. You may require additional treatments, such as receiving food through a feeding tube while the esophagus heals, or having a stent placed to open a narrowed esophagus. Other treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. A doctor will work with you to determine the best course of treatment, depending on your health, preferences, and the type and stage of your cancer.

What are the complications of esophageal cancer?

You may experience complications, such as pain and bleeding. Cancer can also cause blockages in the esophagus, making it hard to swallow food and liquid.

Common Symptoms

“In the early stages, I had no symptoms, but I began to experience a worsening of my usual bouts of heartburn.”
“I felt burning and pressure in my chest, and I was losing weight without being on a diet.”
“I developed a bad cough, and I had difficulty swallowing during meals.”

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20356084

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What They Are Saying

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Excellent

Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

Based on 6231 reviews

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Rita R.

I had a telehealth visit with Dr. Bakken this week. She was excellent. Prior to our conversation, she reviewed my records, and it was obvious that she was fully aware of my previous visit to the ER and the results of tests administered there. She scheduled me for a necessary Endoscopy, and I am confident that I will receive quality, competent care. As a teacher, I would give her an A! Sister Rita Rinaldi, IHM

Ruth S.

Very Professional and always make you feel at ease no matter what your situation may be.

Stacey W.

The staff were efficient and kind. The wait time was nominal. Dr. Wille was great, very clear in his explanations and the plans moving forward. Highly recommend!

Kamal&Pooja S.

Loved the very personable, friendly staff putting me to ease right away. My overall experience mych exceeded my expectations- right from thd right i walked in to the time i left post-procedure. Most importantly, the wait time was minimal. I would very strongly recommend this office/staff.

John B.

Great initial meeting. Took the time to listen and then explained the testing and treatment path forward.

Michael S.

All but the scheduling, my colonoscopy wastimely, clean and on time. Total process from arrival to departure was 75 minutes. Thanks for your efficiency.

Jay L.

The scheduler (Mary) was friendly, knowledgeable, patient and took time to answer all of our questions. She worked with us on arranging a date and was able to schedule my surgery in a timely manner. When we arrived at the center the staff was very friendly, kind and caring. My surgery started on time and was completed professionally by a very skilled Dr. Donat. Thank You Very Much to the team for such a satisfying experience. Jay L.

Evie R.

I liked the location. My Primary Care, Dr. Buchanan is located in the same bldg. An easy trip to get to! I was assisted right away and the PA was most pleasant and very easy to talk to. She listened well. Asked great questions and made some suggestions. She recommended requesting a couple of tests to help diagnose my situation. I felt she did a throughal job of listening and answering my concerns and thoughts.

Findley D.

Professional, Courteous staff On time Well organized

Sally B.

I cannot say enough about this office - from the front office staff to the nurses and surgical staff and Dr. Wille the experience was efficient and professional. The entire staff showed courtesy and concern for me as a patient. The process ran like a well oiled machine without the feeling of being rushed.

Todd A.

Staff was incredible.

Caitlin K.

The whole visit was great. The team was efficient and kind. They explained what they were doing throughout and did a great job!

Jane B.

Great caring staff handled professionally. I will continue care at this location with Dr Donat and his staff.

Dean O.

I’ll get the negative out of the way first. The only issue I had is that they REALLY wanted you to buy the prep kit from them. Not a huge deal but they were more forthcoming with information on buying a prep kit than just letting you know exactly what you need to prepare. Other than that the experience (colonoscopy) was almost delightful. From the office staff to the prep nurse, anesthesiologist, doctor and recovery nurse. It was my first colonoscopy and they made me feel completely at ease. Everything went down EXACTLY like they said it would. I highly recommend the staff at the 22 mile and Romeo Plank Center for Digestive Health.

Deb D.

I will recommend this office to friends and family. Everyone is very professional and welcoming. I had a procedure done and I could not have asked for better care. The post-op nurse Denise was awesome. The pre-op nurse was excellent too (I wish I could remember her name). The nurse anesthetist had great bed side manners and explained everything that was happening. Dr. Nandi is very professional and will spend time to answer your questions. The nurse that walked me to my car was wonderful also. Every person I came in contact with went above and beyond. My husband had two procedures here a couple months ago, and he had the same experience. The efficiency is amazing. I was in and out in 1.5 hours.

Pauline S.

Was able to get the issue resolved

John J.

Dr. Nandi is the best: professional, thorough, and kind.

Ryan M.

While perhaps no test is really "enjoyable," this was as pleasant an experience as one could hope for. Every single person I engaged with at every step of the process could not have been more helpful, professional, or empathetic. Wonderful people to have looking after your health. All questions answered completely by people who aren't just "rushing you through" the process to collect more billings. Recommended..

Debbie D.

Staff was very friendly and courteous. They are a very well greased business. Everything was smooth and the doctors were thorough and knowledgeable.

Mike B.

Excellent team and experience from check in through helping me to my ride. Dr. Nandi and his crew is superb.

Nancy M.

Muy puntuales y muy profesionales gracias

Kathy M.

Everybody was so nice and very helpful there, great experience highly recommend them.

Salli D.

All the staff are kind & compassionate, they go above and beyond to make you comfortable and at ease.

Laurie S.

The check in was very quick. The nurse was amazing, nice, thorough. The Team in the operating room was pleasant and the Dr was quick and very friendly. We have used Dr Weber for 3 family members and referred him to several friends.

Brian W.

Dr. Willie and the staff were great. I was extremely satisfied with the courtesy and the care.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

Based on 6236 reviews

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Beverly St P.

The Center for Digestive Health makes having an EGD or Colonoscopy procedure as easy as possible. The staff is very professional and Dr. Donat is the best!

AMY S.

The care was excellent! Dr. Weber, Amy (RN), and Kevin were so kind and made me feel calm. 2023

joe H.

The staff were friendly, informative, and knowledgeable. They explained everything and put me at ease. They wanted me to be as comfortable as possible.

Polly M.

Colonoscopy… not something people look forward to but is something that makes you Proactive with your Health rather than having to be reactive later on. The staff is wonderful and a big shout out to Dr. Willie…my favorite doctor with the best laugh:)

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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