Published Oct 14, 2022

Beloved Retired TV Weatherman, 67, Had ‘Digestive Problems’ And Weight Loss For SIX MONTHS Until He Went To The Doctor: It Turned Out To Be Cancer

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Learning about Esophageal Cancer

Beloved meteorologist Rusty Garrett, 67, is currently battling esophageal cancer. The retired meteorologist recently shared that “digestive problems” were the first symptoms of his disease.
Esophageal cancer can be treated if caught early. The common symptoms like difficulty swallowing, weight loss and heartburn can often mimic other diseases, so it's important to bring any changes to your body up with your doctor.
The cause of most esophageal cancers is unknown though some risk factors like tobacco use can increase the likelihood of developing this cancer.

Esophageal cancer can be difficult to diagnose since its symptoms often mimic that of other diseases. For Rusty Garrett, 67, it was issues with eating and weight loss that preceded his diagnosis.

The beloved, retired meteorologist first noticed a change to his health when he began struggling to eat.

"I know for a fact that I had the symptoms fairly early. In fact, six months ago, I started having digestive problems," he said. "I would look at a plate of food and I would think, 'oh.'

“I would get so stressed because I knew anything real solid, I was going to have a hard time getting down and that caused weight loss.”

After eventually performing an endoscopy, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in Garrett’s esophagus that had yet to spread to other vital organs. He was diagnosed with stage 2 to 3 esophageal cancer in July, and he’s currently three weeks into chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He’ll also undergo a six-to-seven-hour operation to remove his tumor in December that will require weeks of recovery in the hospital and a feeding tube.

Thankfully, Garrett is finding ways to stay positive during his cancer journey.

"Sure, we all deal with struggles, and we all have things in life that we have to deal with, spiritually, physically, economically, financially, but if you just take a moment to stop and think about all the blessings you have – I know, for me, the blessings far outweigh the struggles," Rusty said. "I want to be able to live long enough to have [my 5-month-old grandson] run up and jump into my arms. That's what I want. It is a primary motivation to survive this.

"This is a struggle and there are good days and there are certainly bad days, but my intention is to try and encourage those that are in this same journey to focus a little bit more on the blessings, because if you woke up this morning and you were able to breath God's good air you've got one blessing already under your belt."

Understanding Esophageal Cancer

The esophagus is a tube that goes from the throat to the stomach and plays an important role in your digestive system. When cancerous cells form inside the tissues of this organ, you have esophageal cancer. Overall, this cancer is rare, often difficult to diagnose and more common in American men. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, alcohol consumption, acid reflux disease and obesity.

Some people confuse esophageal cancer with throat cancer, but they are, in fact, different. The cause of most esophageal cancers is unknown though some risk factors like tobacco use can increase the likelihood of developing this cancer but human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus also known as HPV, is a known cause of throat cancer. Treatment options for esophageal cancer include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Treatment Options for Esophageal Cancer

In a previous conversation about treating esophageal cancer, Dr. Raja Flores, chair of thoracic surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, told SurvivorNet the disease is often diagnosed in the later stages meaning it has already spread to distant parts of the body.

"Of [all the cases diagnosed in the U.S. per year], only about 1,000 get surgery, because the majority of them are identified at such a late stage," he said.

Dr. Brendon Stiles, chief of thoracic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, previously shared his expertise on this disease with SurvivorNet.

"We know that esophageal cancer is a tough one, it's one of the cancers with one of the lowest cure rates out there," he said. "But like many cancers, if we find it early, we can often treat it effectively. Either with surgery, or surgery and chemotherapy surgery, chemotherapy and radiation sometimes. My message to patients is the same as it is for most cancers, try to get diagnosed early."

Esophageal Cancer: Signs to Look Out For

But why is it often diagnosed so late? One reason could be that its symptoms weight loss, difficulty swallowing and heartburn often mimic that of other diseases, according to Dr. Stiles. Things like heartburn are generally not cause for any serious concern, but it's important to communicate any issues with your doctor. The more proactive you are about your health, the more likely you are to have an early diagnosis if something serious were to arise.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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