Gastroenterologist in Austin, TX?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations for a good gastroenterologist in or

near Austin, Texas. My dad was diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer

(luckily caught early and removed) and his oncologist told him that he

should tell his four kids (well, we're all middle-aged...) get

colonoscopies just to be on the safe side. I had one the year before

last and all was clear, but I'm trying to get my sister to go in for

one soon. She's 46, but she's had stomach problems for most of her

life, so I really think she should have one done. If I can give her

the names of some good doctors in her area, maybe she will finally make

the appointment and do it. Thanks for any replies!

Karin

[Guest guest]

My GI is Dr. Willeford III with Austin Gastroenterology. He

is at the Square office. I've only seen him a couple of times

but he took his time and really talked with me and tried to make sure

he understood what was going on. I'll get my next colonoscopy

through him since my colon surgeon is not on my insurance any more.

I was seeing another Dr. in the same office but I got fed up with him

not talking to me, just grunts and ida knows. He knew his stuff but

he drove me crazy with his lack of communication.

The web page follows:

http://www.austingastro.com/directory.html#baily

Good luck and Miracles happen!

Cliff H.

> Hi all,

>

> I'm looking for recommendations for a good gastroenterologist in or

> near Austin, Texas. My dad was diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer

> (luckily caught early and removed) and his oncologist told him that

he

> should tell his four kids (well, we're all middle-aged...) get

> colonoscopies just to be on the safe side. I had one the year

before

> last and all was clear, but I'm trying to get my sister to go in

for

> one soon. She's 46, but she's had stomach problems for most of her

> life, so I really think she should have one done. If I can give

her

> the names of some good doctors in her area, maybe she will finally

make

> the appointment and do it. Thanks for any replies!

>

> Karin

[Guest guest]

My GI is Dr. Willeford III with Austin Gastroenterology. He

is at the Square office. I've only seen him a couple of times

but he took his time and really talked with me and tried to make sure

he understood what was going on. I'll get my next colonoscopy

through him since my colon surgeon is not on my insurance any more.

I was seeing another Dr. in the same office but I got fed up with him

not talking to me, just grunts and ida knows. He knew his stuff but

he drove me crazy with his lack of communication.

The web page follows:

http://www.austingastro.com/directory.html#baily

Good luck and Miracles happen!

Cliff H.

> Hi all,

>

> I'm looking for recommendations for a good gastroenterologist in or

> near Austin, Texas. My dad was diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer

> (luckily caught early and removed) and his oncologist told him that

he

> should tell his four kids (well, we're all middle-aged...) get

> colonoscopies just to be on the safe side. I had one the year

before

> last and all was clear, but I'm trying to get my sister to go in

for

> one soon. She's 46, but she's had stomach problems for most of her

> life, so I really think she should have one done. If I can give

her

> the names of some good doctors in her area, maybe she will finally

make

> the appointment and do it. Thanks for any replies!

>

> Karin

[Guest guest]

My GI is Dr. Willeford III with Austin Gastroenterology. He

is at the Square office. I've only seen him a couple of times

but he took his time and really talked with me and tried to make sure

he understood what was going on. I'll get my next colonoscopy

through him since my colon surgeon is not on my insurance any more.

I was seeing another Dr. in the same office but I got fed up with him

not talking to me, just grunts and ida knows. He knew his stuff but

he drove me crazy with his lack of communication.

The web page follows:

http://www.austingastro.com/directory.html#baily

Good luck and Miracles happen!

Cliff H.

> Hi all,

>

> I'm looking for recommendations for a good gastroenterologist in or

> near Austin, Texas. My dad was diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer

> (luckily caught early and removed) and his oncologist told him that

he

> should tell his four kids (well, we're all middle-aged...) get

> colonoscopies just to be on the safe side. I had one the year

before

> last and all was clear, but I'm trying to get my sister to go in

for

> one soon. She's 46, but she's had stomach problems for most of her

> life, so I really think she should have one done. If I can give

her

> the names of some good doctors in her area, maybe she will finally

make

> the appointment and do it. Thanks for any replies!

>

> Karin

[Guest guest]

Just to add to Joe's comments about radiation and chemo, for those of

us who have rectal carcinomas which are often are treated with

radiation prior to surgery. Tumors sometimes grow little fingers of

tumor that creep out into the surrounding tissue. Especially in the

case of rectal tumors where there is not a lot of space to work, that

can mean that surgeons can have a tough time seeing and getting all

these little fingers of tumor tissue out.

Radiation works best at killing off the tissue at the edge of the

tumor, making it easier to remove the tumor completely. They often

give 5-FU along with the radiation, not just for the effect on any

little clumps of tumor that might have snuck out elsewhere in the

body, but because it sensitizes the cells to radiation, increasing

the likelihood of killing them.

Tumor cells in the middle of a tumor don't have as good a blood

supply, and interestingly are because of the lack of oxygen, are more

resistant to radiation. They figure if they treat a bit every day

the tumor will shrink down and the cells in the center will get more

oxygen and get killed more efficiently, but because of the risk that

some of the cells in the center may survive, most surgeons want to

cut out what is left, if at all possible.

The radiation oncologists are not as enthusiastic about radiating

tumors in the middle of the abdomen because the normal small

intestine takes a hit also. In the pelvis/rectal region, there are

less normal tissues that are as sensitive to radiation.

Kris

> > Joe, You seem up to snuff on everything. Jac asked me last night

> if I knew the differnce between chemo and radiation treatment.

Would

> you be so good as to explain please. Hugs Jane

> >