Throat Cancer Survivor Is Grateful For A Second Chance At Life

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06/30/23

Navy veteran Fred Escobedo battled throat cancer at Baptist Health's Miami Cancer Institute, with a multidisciplinary team led by head and neck surgeon, Dr. Geoffrey Young. Now cancer free, Fred says that the convenience of having all of his doctors, treatments and support services under one roof was helpful throughout his cancer journey.

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[Transcript]

(gentle music)

[Fred Escobedo, throat cancer survivor, in interview setting]

[Fred] My name is Fred Escobedo and I am a cancer survivor.

[Photo montage showing Fred’s 5 sons]

[Fred] I am the primary caretaker of my children since I have retired. We have five kids. They're all boys. This is the most difficult job that I had done my entire life.

[Photo montage showing Fred in uniform posing by helicopters]

[Fred] And I've been military for 20 years in a combat zone. This is far more difficult than that.

[Quick fade to black. Video fades up to Fred in interview setting]
(music changes to quiet, tense theme)

[Fred] I notice like something was in my throat. Like I couldn't clear it.

[Geoffrey Young, M.D., Ph.D Chief of head and neck surgery, Miami Cancer Institute, in interview setting]

[Dr. Young] Fred ended up having a squamous cell carcinoma which is the most common cancer we see in the head and neck area. In addition, his was caused by the HPV virus, which is now really the most common cancer that we see in the back of the throat.

[Fred] At first, I was in denial that, I don't smoke I don't do anything crazy, you know? So why did this happen to me?

[Fred stands by a large window at Miami Cancer Institute, looking outside, deep in thought]

[Dr. Young] We, as physicians, owe it to our patients to look at them, not as their disease but as an individual. We are very lucky at Miami Cancer Institute to be able to provide our patients with multi-disciplinary subspecialty access specifically in the head and neck. We see patients together, myself the medical oncologist, radiation oncologist speech-language pathologist, dental oncologist, when needed will also join the group.

[Fred seated on an exam table in an examination room with Dr. Young standing next to him, having a discussion about Fred's case.]

[Dr. Young] The good news is with this particular type of cancer it actually responds well to treatment, but we have to individualize which treatment is going to be best for the patient in the long run.

[Fred] I had received radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

[Dr. Young] The patients who receive specifically radiation and chemotherapy in the head neck it can be very difficult journey for them.

[Fred] It was hard to eat. I lost quite a bit of weight.

[Dr. Young] To have the support services that are able to provide nutritional support. Pain management is very important for our patients.

[Lobby of Cancer Patient Support Center, inside Miami Cancer Institute]

[Fred steps up to reception desk where a nurse greets him]

[Fred] Everyone was very caring. The team at pain management was extremely good. Nutrition people were always trying to find different ways for me to, to keep myself healthy. Everything was in one location. It was very convenient and very helpful.

[Medical scan of Fred's throat showing a small dot indicating cancer]

[Dr. Young] Subsequent imaging was concerning for a residual small amount of cancer in the back of his throat.

[Dr. Young wearing surgical scrubs and operating the controls of a surgical robot]

[Dr. Young] Fred was lucky in that we now have access to trans oral robotic surgery which is a minimally invasive way of getting to some tumors in the back of the throat. And we were able to remove his tumor through his mouth with the surgical robot. He spent one night in the hospital and went home the next day.

(music transitions to upbeat theme)

[Home video of Fred ringing the bell inside Miami Cancer Institute after his final treatment. People are heard cheering from off camera]

[Fred] I am cancer-free right now. The day I rang the bell I felt it was very emotional. I felt relief that the treatment was completed and I was hopeful for the future. I would like to see my kids grow up, see my grandkids and I feel blessed to have a second chance in life.

(music ends on upbeat note)

[Miami Cancer Institute. Baptist Health South Florida. Better. For You.]

[end transcript]