have, for years, had Barretts esophagus. In May of 1997 I was diagnosed
as
having cancer of the esophagus. Prior to this (IN THE LATE 70'S) I was
lucky
to have met a man at the VA Hospital in Little Rock; Dr. Patel warned
me
about Barretts . This was back in the late 70's. I had a fundolication
(stomach
wrap) at VA Little Rock, Arkansas. This was before the real good
medicines
they have now. Then the only thing to do for this condition was
antacids and
wrapping the esophagus around the stomach to physically prevent acid
reflex.
Thats what usually causes Barrette and/or Cancer of the esophagus.

Dr. Patel was adamant that I have another operation somewhere else. But

where?I have a brother who is Chief of Pharmacy at a large VA hospital.
I
asked
him to find the best surgeon in the country. He found Dr. David Skinner
then
at
the University of Chicago. In 1983 Dr. Skinner operated and this
operation
holds This may have saved my life because it bought time for me while
luckily the PDT technology came along plus the new medication they have
now.
Dr. Skinner is currently at Columbia University in Manhattan.

To make a long story short; after I was diagnosed as having cancer and
after
exhaustive research; I went to Dr. Bergin F.Overholt in Knoxville,
Tennessee.

There I was treated with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). As of this writing
I am
cancer free and the Barretts is gone. I remained cancer free for three
years.

About a year ago Dr. Overholt found another cancer. It was a surface
cancer
near the spot where the first cancer was found. Dr. Overholt again did
PDT.
This time two PDT treatments on separate days. Upon his last exam; I am
again
cancer free.

UPDATE: I just returned from Knoxville where Dr. Overholt found no
cancer as
of 11 December 2000.

UPDATE: I returned from Knoxville where Dr. Overholt found no cancer as
of 13
Feb. 2002.
UPDATE: A local GI, Dr. William Martin; who found the first cancer,
scoped my
esophagus and founf no evidence of disease as of 10 July 2004.

Dr. Haydek, an associate of Dr. Overholt, is also accepting patients
for
evaluation for Photodynamic Therapy. I have personally been treated by
Dr.
Haydek and he is an excellant physician.

Dr. Haydek was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, attending a
Christian
grammar school and seminary high school prior to obtaining his degree
in
pharmacy from the University of Illinois. He subsequently obtained his
M.D.
degree and completed his internship, medical residency, chief residency
and
gastroenterology fellowship at Loyola University Medical Center in
Chicago.

Following his fellowship and prior to his relocation to Knoxville,
Tennessee,
Dr. Haydek worked for three years as an academic gastroenterologist and

assistant professor of medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and
Hines
V.A. Hospital.

Dr. Haydek's accomplishments include multiple nominations for
'Outstanding
Teacher" awards as well as recognition both as a Fellow of the American

College of Physicians (FACP) and as a Fellow of the American College of

gastroenterology (FACG).

I will be happy to discuss my case with anyone needing

information.  R. T. Rogers ; PO Box 66 ; Hiwasse, Arkansas 72739-0066 ;
phone
501-787-5542; e-mail rtr5...@aol.com. If you wish to contact Dr.
Overholt
directly; call the voice mail number 865-588-5121 and describe your
condition
and leave your name and number. They will get back to you. Also please
go to
his web site:

Kindest Regards.  Tony Rogers