Everyone who heard Steve Hewlett’s moving account of his oesophageal cancer will be sad to know that, for him, there was no cure (Report, 21 February). But I write as the wife of a survivor of this disease. My husband, now 81, was diagnosed in November 2011.
After a course of chemo, he was operated on to remove the tumour just five years ago, one of thousands who are full of thanks to the oncologists and surgeons who saved their lives. The specialist nurse at the hospital where my husband was treated told us that this cancer is becoming more common, particularly for men, and the UK incidence is probably the highest in Europe.
I do want to point out that this month is oesophageal cancer awareness month, when pharmacists and GPs aim to make people realise that it is not normal to have to continually take over-the-counter remedies for stomach acid. In that case, people should see their GP so that further investigations can be put in train. As for all cancers, early diagnosis, before any cancer has spread, gives the best chance of a cure.
Susan Chesters
Winchester
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