MANALAPAN — This week, township resident Bart Frazzitta will relate his experiences as a 12-year survivor of esophageal cancer and his subsequent efforts at helping other people who are stricken with this illness.
The presentation will be held Jan. 26 at noon at the Manalapan municipal building, 120 Freehold Road (corner of Route 522 and Taylors Mills Road).
According to a press release from the township, Frazzitta’s post-cancer story is a remarkable effort of one man’s commitment toward helping other people work through their illness, partnering with health care professionals to enhance the information in the community about esophageal cancer, and developing a nonprofit organization raising awareness and providing support to persons with esophageal cancer.
The organization is the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation and is accessible via the Internet at www.fightec.org.
Esophageal cancer is a cancer of the esophagus organ which connects the throat to the stomach. It is a relatively rare form of cancer with about 17,000 cases diagnosed in a year, according to the press release.
The survival outlook is generally poor as about 14,700 people will die from the disease within a year. One of the primary reasons for the high mortality rate is that the symptoms do not appear until the disease is advanced.
Symptoms include chronic heartburn, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chest pain or burning, and frequent choking. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are the primary risk factors. Other risk factors are obesity and poor diet.
The presentation of Frazzitta’s journey and work is free and no RSVP is necessary. The presentation will be held in the courtroom at town hall. For more information, contact the Manalapan Health Department at 732-446-8345.