It's hard to pinpoint something as "heartburn" when you have never experienced it, but that was the best way Jo could describe her symptoms. After a few visits to get to the root of the issue, her care team recommended a gastroscopy to monitor the PH levels in her esophagus. When they went in to install her monitoring equipment, they identified a mass that eventually led them to a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. The good news: the cancer has not spread beyond the esophagus, which means it should be treatable.
Jo has a great care team in place spanning Ames and Des Moines, and her treatment plan includes six weeks of chemo and radiation, followed by surgery to remove the mass.
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