Sam Douglass - Real Patients. Real Stories. PagesfromBL111710_Plano_LR

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.
Sam Douglass with
his wife, Joanne
Life Changing
When his heartburn didn’t seem right, Sam Douglass lobbied for
early screening—and it uncovered a cancer in time to be treated
SAM DOUGLASS MAKES A LIVING HELPING PEOPLE ,
traveling the world to start
churches and coaching individuals through life changes. Earlier this year, he would
need to rely on others to navigate a life change of his own.
Th e 67-year-old from Rockwall, Texas, had heartburn for years, and his primary care doctor suggested
antacids, saying a little heartburn was normal at his age. Douglass knew something wasn’t right. “I said,
‘Th e refl ux is pretty serious. Th is is more than usual.’ ”
Already scheduled for a routine colonoscopy, Douglass urged his doctor to also check for the cause of his
heartburn. Th e additional test, an upper endoscopy—where a small, fl exible instrument is used to examine
the esophagus and stomach—may have saved his life.
Th e endoscopy revealed Barrett’s esophagus with dysplasia, which are precancerous cells. Douglass was
referred to the Center for Esophageal Diseases at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Th ere, an
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