David Meeks

Hi, my name is Terri Barnes McGregor, and I'm fundraising for David Meeks. David is my cousin, who has always been like an older brother. I want to raise as much money as possible to help David and His wife Sheila with medical bills and future expenses. They are an incredible family that Cancer has attacked. I had to beg Shelia to let me set up this fundraiser, for they didn't want to ask for help. As we all know, everyone needs help at some point in their lives. So here is David's Story.

Early in 2021 David began to have problems swallowing and he assumed he needed his esophagus stretched as he had done years ago. During the endoscopy on June 21, 2021 a large walnut sized tumor was found and biopsied and the GI doctor knew it did not look benign. From there a CT scan was done on June 25th then a second endoscopy with biopsy on July 12th. After 2 biopsies that showed this was Esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) at the GE junction (which is at the bottom of the esophagus where the esophagus meets the stomach). On July 17th a PET scan was done which showed David was diagnosed with Stage 3 and there are several lymph nodes involved. Since he could not eat food by mouth on July 19th, he had surgery to input a port-a-cath as well as j-tube placement for feedings directly into the intestines.

Things did not move as fast as we had hoped because we knew the cancer was growing; from the first scan on June 25th to the PET scan on July27th the tumor had went from a walnut size to the size of a lime. A third endoscopy, ultrasound and biopsy were done for testing for the PDL1 and/or HER2 genes for immunotherapy which both came back negative. Beginning August 25th chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel regimen) and radiation began; he underwent 6 weeks of chemotherapy (1 per week every Monday) with consecutive 6 weeks of radiation (every weekday). This was to shrink the primary tumor to prepare for surgery.

A CT scan was done on October 26th to determine if the chemo/radiation had worked to shrink the tumor. It had not worked at all and the tumor had even grown slightly to the size slightly larger than a lemon and it showed a small spot on the liver. The cardiothoracic surgeon decided he would proceed with surgery in hopes that the spot on the liver would not change and maybe even not appear on the next scan. On November 16th David had an open Esophagogastrectomy where the entire esophagus and the upper part of the stomach was removed then the remaining stomach was pulled up and attached to the throat to act as the new esophagus. This means he no longer has a stomach since his stomach now acts as an esophagus; and when drinking or eating (in small amounts) any liquid or food would only go down using gravity. The surgery required 11 days of hospitalization with 5 days of those days in the ICU. It required a long recovery, but he did so well. Eating was not easy at first and still now he struggles to get enough nutrition so he still tube feeds through the night and that has been increased recently. The oncologist was monitoring the spot on his liver and wanted to do a repeat CT scan in late January to determine if there was any change or spread. The cardiothoracic surgeon ordered another PET scan which was done on February 1st which showed the cancer has metastasized to his liver and the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (this is the cluster of lymph nodes behind the intestines near the spine). The surgeon showed us the portion of the scan showing us the liver and in just one view alone there were well over 25-30 lesions. The scan also showed multiple lesions on both kidneys; the surgeon is leaning towards those being cysts but the last scan on October 26th showed nothing on either kidney, so he does want the oncologist to weigh in on that. A needle biopsy was also done on February 3rd which came back positive for adenocarcinoma (the original cancer).

After reviewing all the results with the oncologist, a new treatment regimen was scheduled to start on February 21st and follow up with a PET scan. FOLFOX (leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) regimen along with the immunotherapy drug Opdivo was started; one of the FOLFOX drugs (fluorouracil) was done with an at home pump over 48 hours. These were done every 2 weeks with a total of 6 treatments (should end on May 2nd). David’s pain began to get worse mid to late April, the oncologist decided to do the PET scan early (prior to his final FOLFOX chemo) on April 28th which showed that the cancer had spread so much.

The first round of chemo/radiation and the second chemo regimen did not help at all. The cancer has now engulfed the liver almost completely, spread to both kidneys, both lungs and surrounding lymph nodes. We knew that even if the second regimen of treatments worked it would only give us 13-14 months but given it didn't help its far less time now. On May 2nd the oncologist wanted to try one final treatment that he states will “give us a little more time” with David. On that same day (May 2nd) he started Taxol and Cyramza (this one can only be given every 2 weeks); every Monday for 3 weeks and 1 week off. He will do 2 rounds like that so a total of 6 treatments, the combo of both are really hard on David since it is weekly now instead of every 2 weeks he barely gets much relief. David will receive Taxol/Cyramza on treatment 1, 3, 4 and 6 so this will be tough; only treatments 2 and 5 will just be with Taxol which is much easier on him. Another PET scan will be done right after these 6 treatments to see if the cancer has continued to spread or held steady where it is. If it has spread at all then all treatments will stop, and hospice care will begin. We know this new treatment will not cure the cancer but only give us a little more time with David. If prayers are all you have then please do so because we do know our Lord and Savior will bring us through this so keep those prayers coming.